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I am wanting to build a pair of GP7u's but need to low nose the short hood on each unit. Cutting down the short hood is the easy part, its fabricating the rounded headlight/numberboards for the cab front that has always given me issues. The old tyco/mantua GP20 or the Walthers trainline GP7 both have low noses but the cab casting is crude and the trainline is a fat body shell. I wish cannon had done a thin wall cab with numberboards/headlight for a low nose GP7/9. Any other options other than using the headlight/numberboard casting from like an Athearn GP38-2 shell then building up the rounded part with modeling putty and sanding to shape? I am using a pair of the new Bachmann GP7's as a starting point. Thanks Mike
Buy a P2K GP7. Then, buy a P2K GP18 low nose version. The low nose GP18 will supply your cab and nose and will be correct for the prototype (unless you're modeling a GTW/CN angle cab geep). You can then swap the cabs and noses, and then do whatever you want with the GP18.
I wont buy proto 2k stuff, we have nothing but issues (beyond the gear cracking btw) with them at the local club. My two Bachmann GP7's run as quiet and smooth as my old Atlas/Kato engines and without all the molded on detail to shave off. I was going to find a couple non dynamic Atlas yellow box units till I ran the new Bachmann units. For the money you cant go wrong, just make sure to track test them before paying and leaving the hobby shop. Took a couple tries to find ones that ran nice. Typical Chinese quality control, and its not just Bachmann on that aspect. I do the same with anything engine wise, dont care what the brand. But finding a junker low nose GP18 to salvage the cab from the shell is an option. Mike
Mike,
I would not reccomend going with the GP18 low-nose & cab, unless you want a one piece windshield and a sloping nose.
Your plan to chop the nose and rebuilt the cab is the correct one. As for the cab front, here is what I'm doing for a Missabe SDM that is currently in the works, was to take the front of an Athearn cab and apply it to a Atlas GP7 cab. See Photos below.
Dan
That looks good and I happen to have an extra Athearn cab off a GP50. Post up a pic once you sand down the roof line to match the roof line. I am curious to see how it looks. I have the GP7 to do the work to, the cab I can salvage the front wall off. I need to pick up a new razor saw to cut the cab face off and reuse the top of the high short hood for the new low hood.
Mike,
Here are a couple of shots after the number board area was sanded down to match the roof line.
Dan
Looks great! I picked up a razor saw at the LHS tonight. I will start on removing the front wall of the Athearn cab later this week. I know I have some internal weights to cut down on the Bachmann GP7 I am low nosing. I need to email my custom decal guy and get him started on the decals, although I can modify the "Central" part from the PC decal set that has the slanted letters. Here is pic of the subject I am modeling. Mike
Here is my in progress pic of my low nose unit. I am modeling the 1750 as she was at the start up of the shortline in the late 80's. Back then the horn was up above the headlight and she sported an amber strobe at the back edge of the cab roof. Sound/DCC will be installed as well. Mike
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