Atlas GP38-2s are in!

Martin Station Feb 24, 2020

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  1. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    I dont know what Atlas's problem is. EVERY Atlas locomotive I have the headlights are so dim. One I have you have to look hard to see if its even on !!

    Bright or super bright headlights on our models are the norm from manufactures these days :mad::mad::mad::mad:
     
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  2. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    They should take a lesson from Kato. With some Katos, I need sunglasses (not a complaint). :ROFLMAO:
     
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  3. bill pearce

    bill pearce TrainBoard Member

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    Guys, guys! go to a store that sells audio gear, or pro sound stuff. Tell me how many speakers are totally enclosed in a box? So why would that make your locos sound better?
     
  4. grymg

    grymg TrainBoard Member

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    I would tend to agree. Although the volumes are the same, my BLI's have a much less muffled sound than the others with enclosed speakers.
     
  5. tehachapifan

    tehachapifan TrainBoard Member

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    While I'm no sound engineer, I believe it's due to resonance. The speakers used for N scale installs are quite tiny by comparison and, as such, do not reproduce bass very well but do reproduce higher tones. By my experience, mostly doing sound installs in N scale diesel hood units, having the speaker (itself with an enclosure attached to one side) also enclosed inside an unopened loco shell produces, IMHO, a much deeper and fuller sound and reduces the tinny sound (the shells typically don't produce a completely air-tight seal anyway, so there is still an opening). I've done several installs where the sound quality was absolutely awful with the shell still off but sounds great once the shell was on. It's really amazing, actually. That said, out of all of my sound installs, I do have one N scale loco (a cowl unit [FP45]) where the sound may be a tiny bit too muffled sounding, for lack of better term, that might benefit from a small opening in the shell somewhere. Perhaps there's a little too much resonance in that one due to the wider shell....or it the shell is perhaps too air-tight over the frame on that particular model. Anyway, guess it comes down to taste and is something you need to experience and experiment with.
     
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  6. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    That's comparing apples and oranges. The operating conditions and limits are totally different between the two. Otherwise our locos would have a tweeter, mid range and woofer.
     
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  7. Rich_S

    Rich_S TrainBoard Member

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    OT replay, but wanted to thank you for the link to Mark's GP38 page. He has an awesome bit of trivia near the bottom of the page.

    ICG/IC fans can make an SD28 by simply taking a GP38 shell and mounting it on an Atlas SD35 mechanism

    I checked this out with one of my GP38's and my SD35 and sure enough you just use the GP38 body shell and use the SD35 walkway and mechanism and you're good to go. Talk about a super easy kit bash. (y)
     
  8. grymg

    grymg TrainBoard Member

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    Finished a sound decoder install on my older (1997 chassis) GP38. Have to split the chassis open but wasn't too bad. The DCC LED's make a huge difference in brightness. Even the number plates are fully lit!
    IMG_0892.JPG IMG_0894.JPG IMG_0895.JPG IMG_0897.JPG
     
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  9. Rich_S

    Rich_S TrainBoard Member

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    Comparing the GP38/SD35 kitbash to a real SD28:

    I've not seen an n scale locomotive yet with a working diesel engine driving a alternator to produce current for traction motors to make the model move. And yes I know a little bit about this subject, since I'm a locomotive electrician working for a class one railroad. Now lets get down to some of the nitty gritty details, the prototype SD28 is 60' 8" long, the prototype SD35 is 60' 8" long. The Prototype SD28 Truck Wheel base is 13' 7" The prototype SD35 Truck wheel base is 13' 7". In fact the only difference between the SD28 and the SD35 out side of the rad fans is the long hood width. And we are only talking about a 1" difference between the two locomotive, which in N scale is 6 thousandth of an inch, close enough for me.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 18, 2020
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  10. NS Top Gon

    NS Top Gon TrainBoard Member

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    cjm413:
    What are the differences between a SD28 and a GP38-2? I know the trucks are completely different, but what about the differences in the body?
    I am interested in the details for building a SD28 or a SD38 for my layout so any details you can provide would be helpful.
    Thanks;
    NS Top Gon
     
  11. cjm413

    cjm413 TrainBoard Member

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    The SD28 long hood has the same clean air room, engine room doors, and radiator section as the SD35 (assuming same phase of production for both units).

    The GP38 long hood lacks a turbocharger and has a fan hatch for two 48" fans like the SD28, but it has a different clean air room, different radiator section, and different radiators. SD28's with dynamic brakes (e.g. Reserve Mining) would need to use the SD35 dynamic brakes with two 48" fans (vs one for the GP38), but would need to modified based on the lack of a turbocharger. All SD28's were built with oil bath filters like many early GP/SD38's, but some, if not most or all, were likely modified with paper air filters.

    Assuming the same phases of production, a SD38 long hood is basically the same as a GP38 long hood from the engine room back, the exception being SD38's with dynamic brakes. In theory (or in HO) one could build a SD38 without dynamic brakes by making a cut between the clean air room and engine room on a Kato SD40 and swapping the engine room, etc with that of an Atlas GP38 long hood. Unfortunately, there is too much variance between the widths of the Kato N SD40 and Atlas N GP38 long hoods to do this in N. A company called Mark 4 used to make SD38 (and SD39) long hoods that were designed to be direct replacements for the Kato SD40 long hood, but production stopped after his 3D printer crapped out.

    Sent from my LM-X410(FG) using Tapatalk
     
    Last edited: Mar 16, 2020
  12. cjm413

    cjm413 TrainBoard Member

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    Re: SD28 from SD35

    HO has it pretty easy, Plano makes a GP38 fan hatch that is reasonably close, if not an exact match, that could be used to replace a fan hatch on a GP35 or SD35 when building a GP28 or SD28.

    http://www.planomodelproducts.com/187.htm

    On the other hand, the Atlas N SD35 trucks will accept Kato Flexicoil truck sideframes from the SD40/SD45 for CAGY/ICG/etc. In HO, it's my understanding that the entire powered trucks need to be swapped...plus modifications for the Atlas HO SD35 chassis to accept the Kato trucks....

    Sent from my LM-X410(FG) using Tapatalk
     
  13. RBrodzinsky

    RBrodzinsky November 18, 2022 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    I have been monitoring this, and the thread was very close to being locked, so please, all, play nice
     
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  14. cjm413

    cjm413 TrainBoard Member

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    Re: SD38(AC) from SD40

    If you do manage to find a Mark 4 long hood or are willing to modify the Kato SD40 long hood into a SD38(AC) long hood, also keep in mind that EMD moved the location of the handbrakes during SD38(AC)/39/40/45 production while keeping it in the same place for GP38(AC)/39/40 production.

    Kato's SD40 is based on an early phase SD38(AC)/etc. that had the brake ratchet in the short hood, just like their GP counterparts. Later SD's had the handbrake relocated to the rear of the long hood.

    Short hood without brake ratchet:

    http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/eje/eje650bmr.jpg

    Brake stand at end of long hood:

    http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/eje/eje650agd.jpg

    Sent from my LM-X410(FG) using Tapatalk
     
  15. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Just trying to help clear the confusion and calm things down. No need to jump all over Rich. He was just quoting from another website.

    The statement "Still more trivia - ICG/IC fans can make an SD28 by simply taking a GP38 shell and mounting it on an Atlas SD35 mechanism. It may be necessary to file a small amount of metal off the ends of the frame to get a good fit." Came from Mark at Spookshow.net

    You can find it here>>>> http://www.spookshow.net/loco/atlasgp3840.html

    If you have a problem with with Mark stating that on his website you can email him from his homepage>>> http://www.spookshow.net/index.html

    Good Luck(y)(y)
     
  16. jpf94

    jpf94 TrainBoard Member

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    for those with the new atlas GP-38 how does it pull? Is it much lighter then the previous runs if you can tell please? I'm not a sound guy, in fact it's banned on my layout, much prefer operational ability and pulling power. Thanks
     
  17. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Why are we getting so wound up here? Let's take a deep breath.

    BoxcabE50
    Administrator
     
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  18. Martin Station

    Martin Station TrainBoard Member

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    Go look at Ron's Trains and Things review on YouTube, it pulls great. Mine ran really smooth after a short run time. I think you will really like Ron's review.
    Ralph
     
  19. SOO MILW CNW

    SOO MILW CNW TrainBoard Supporter

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    Geez,
    What did I miss??
    I have not had a chance to test the pulling power yet.
    I do know, I think the sound is pretty good.

    That is all,
    Wyatt
     
  20. jpf94

    jpf94 TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for the tip on Ron's Trains N Things, appreciate the information.

    Joe
     
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