Since the release of the Athearn Genesis GP15 recently, this might be a stale question, but…
For those folks who are more knowlwdgeable about such things, how accurate of a model is the P1K GP15? I know it lacks the application of fine details, and is a basic rerun of the old Walthers Trainline shell, but as far as being dimensionally correct and its basic tooling, does the P1K GP15 lack for accuracy in any significant way?
Best way to tell is use a google/bing image search for the GP15 in question.
Specific roads had specific details. For example: Walthers made all their ALCO RS-2 with the stack going longways down the hood. However the C&O RS-2 5500 and 5501 had the stack traverse perpendicular to the hood. They got this detail wrong.
Some had double headlights, either vertical, or sideways in addition to the standard single headlight. Again this is road specific. But Walthers chose to just use one on all their models.
I wouldn’t have known this if I didn’t go looking for pictures of the original to super detail it.
Am I complaining? No. For the price I think they are EXCELLENT engines.
Don,
Maybe they did not get the RS-2 stack wrong. Most every RS-2 had the GE ‘air cooled’ turbocharger(length-wise) factory installed. There were non-stop issues with it and most railroads replaced them with the ‘water cooled’ version(cross-wise exhaust stack). But, as you mentioned, there are a great value for the money!
The P1K model comes in two versions - internal air filters, and the Farr air filter version. It is an improvement over the original Walthers Trainline model and has a good drive. The basic dimensions look about right, but it is not on par with the Athearn model. It is a good starting point for someone who wants to add ‘proto-specific’ details like the C&NW ‘gong’ nose bell.
Jim
Thanks Jim.
I guess your quote above gets to the heart of my question. I know the add-on details of the Athearn are much more numerous and prototype specific, but as far as the basic shells ( both internal filter and Farr filter versions) do you think the P1K on par with the Athearn? Details I can add myself. Shell modifications are more involved than I would like.
A question like this might be more appropriate for another forum, like the Diesel Detailer, but I’m not a member there.
Anybody’s input would be appreciated.
The RS-2 stack issue also applies to RS-1 and RS-3 models. Crossways or lengthwise stacks depend on exactly WHEN you are modeling a particualr locomotive, if you are goign to be that detailed. Far as I know, the major dimensions of the GP15 are accurate. There may be some roadnames that should ahve slightly different specific details, since it’s a P1K model they didn;t make multiple shells with different detailing to match any specific roads. Unless you are lookign for an exact match to a picture of a very specific prototype unit, it should do fine as a startign point to add the grabs and lift rings and other small details they left out.
–Randy
Thanks Randy.
You and Jim basically confirmed my impression of the P1K/Trainline shell relative to the Athearn. No reason not to use it as a starting point for something more specific.
Despite having purchased two of the Athearn units I’ve still got plans for the 4 Walthers GP15s I’ve got. One undec is currently being Cannonized and detailed, will have something to show soon.
The drive isn’t bad at all.
I enjoy the tinkering part of the hobby, have spent a lot of time reworking blue box Athearns, etc. So I will make no apologies for my P1K locos.
The link below shows some up close shots I took of an undec when they first arrived. I’m a little bugged by that bulge in front of the fuel tank, but it’s really only visible close to eye level.
The key difference to me is that if you want to model a Chessie or Appalachicola Northern GP15T (or a CSX ex-Chessie GP15T, #1500-1524), only Athearn offers that variant with the turbocharger.
You can easily model one of CSX’s ex-Conrail GP15-1s (#1534-1563) with either an Athearn model or a Walthers/P1K model.
An RS-1 with a crosswise stack? I’ve never seen one. I think the switch to water-cooled turbochargers and crosswise stacks only applied to locos with 244 engines. The RS-1 is equipped with a 539 engine.