I just purchased a LL GP60 for the purpose of bashing it into a phase I unit....probably in SP but maybe ATSF. This bash would require a lot of work to the dynamic brake box as seen here.... GP60 Dynamic Brake Detail Photo Gallery by David Hussey at pbase.com Aside from the dynambic brake box, the only other mods I can see would be the nose headlight and the non-recessed brakewheel. Did anyone here make a phase I unit before? Russ
Really? Guess I'll need to look for that. I have some ideas of how to approach the dynamic brake blister already, but it might be worth waiting to see this article. Russ
Forever I could not figure out if Santa Fe had a late model GP50 or a early model GP60. We do not see to many GP60's up north and when I do I am always doing somethying so I can not get into the cab to check the bluecards. I learned long ago not to trust the model designation on the frame, for examle BNSF GP50's are called about 3 differant things GP25,26,53, and 50 but most of them say GP50 on the frame regardless what the blue card says. Kevin
Not the best pictures. If these help and you need better ones, let me know and I will head down to the layout a get some photos there in better lighting.
Sorry, I didn't mean to mis-lead you into thinking this was a step-by-step construction article that will guide you on how to build what you want. My article will be one step before that. It is part two of the Philosophy of Kitbashing series I was doing. And it just happens to be an in-depth treatment of the GP60 phase 1a (the EMD Demonstrators- which CSX owns). These will be a bit different from the ones ATSF owns, but there will be some similarities. For example, you will be able to see the toilet situation Robbman was talking about. What I did in the article was compare the OMI brass model (which is pretty good, but not perfect and has an inaccuracy or two) with the Life Like model and explore with words what it would take to kitbash the Life Like model to make what I want. Actually, OC Engineer's work might be more helpful. What great job. I remember when N Scale of Nevada kitbashed a GP60 shell and sold castings: they just cut off GP50 dynamic brake blister parts and made them stick out further from the body than the GP50 did. Then they added the extra piece on top. That's probably not a good description, but that's essentially what they did. I haven't studied this project to the point of doing it with razor saw in hand, but I'm assuming you would need Kato GP50 shells to get the Dynamic brakes right.
I don't think any prior model GP or SD dynamics would be really helpful... the fairings are unique to this phase GP60 (and to some extent, the demo GP59s, though the blisters are shorter)
Thanks for all the help and input, everyone! U18B, thanks for the clarification. looking forward to seeing the article! OC, thanks for all the pictures! They are helpful although it looks like Overland guesstimated some of the dynamic blister details and their's looks symmetric from the top. Whereas, the prototype unit is assymetrical towards the rear as can be seen here..... GP60 Ph1 Note the length difference on the right for the access door photo - David Hussey photos at pbase.com Russ
Back in 1996 I operated ATSF GP60 4030. Behind that I had an SD45B and an F45. They accelerated beautifully across the flat Ohio tracks to MI! The 4030 was very nice and rode beautifully. One of my favorite trips.
Here's another GP60 I renumbered to 4030, adding the flags and builders plates. This is one of my favorite models.
GP60 Hi - its been a bit of time since I gave the GP60 any thought. Back when this puppy first showed up in the SPARKS YARD - it was a Phase 1 and I somehow got a shell together, but never offered it for sale via NSN. Before I could do that - the Phase 2 showed up and to me it looked sexier - so I crafted that and offered it for sale via an ad in N SCALE that came out two months after the cut off date. Splish, splash - I took a bath on it in as far as recovering my time via money. Still have both Master Patterns but not the RTV tool - darn. In a day or two I'll locate then and take a photo so we can ALL see what is what and how to help Tehatchpie get his job done. Have a Happy Christmas and a Glorious NEW YEAR John Coots
