Ya, me too! I want to have a GN GP-30 on the head-end of my freights for goin' thru my Cascade mountains layout over Stevens Pass!
Sgt. Tim contacted me today about making some castings if I make a set of master parts. I think I will go for it, as there are lots of people who want them. If you have never seen Tim's castings before, well you are in for a treat, as he does the best job casting I have ever seen. Bubble free work. It will take a little time to put this project together though, so I will let you all know when it's ready. I just started production of the covered hopper kits yesterday, but I will take time out to make some GP master parts this week. -Robert
This will take a while, as Tim is in the middle of a move, and I'm in the middle of releasing the covered hopper kits. I'm hoping for around Christmas. -Robert
i installed the BLMA fans on the GP-35 - they look great and fit almost perfectly -- ok ... maybe completely perfectly! caboose only had one set of #87 36"fans with the center disk (which they call GP-30 type)., so i only did the rear two (larger) fans. i painted the fan blades white as suggested in the instructions and i think it helps alot -- these fans are small and the whilte on the blades helps make them a little more visible. the support part (peace-sign looking part) fits inside the shell without any problem. i can't get a good picture because my digital is just not that good at close-ups. but face to face it looks very nice. the only modification i attempted was to bend the center post a little shorter, to keep the fans from extending up too high and possibly touching the top-screen. but i'm not sure i needed to worry. it might help having them that close for visibility sake. in any case they do look good. when i get another package (they're only 2 to a pack) i'll do the remaining dynamic fan too. i did buy one of the #88 (without center plate/disk) to try to do the smaller third fan -- but i'm not sure it's worth the effort. the end fan support encrouches on the center fan space and may not allow the installation -- even if i can trim the fan down that small. but i'm thinking on it. in any case -- good news -- the BLMA N scale 36" fan detail set works just fine!! dave f.
I order one set each from BLMA. I hope you them in a couple of days. The shipping was only one dollar, so it was a no brainer. Post a picture anyway. Sometimes a bad picture is better then no picture at all. John
Was it hard to drill out the fan, and what was the hardest part of the installation. Most digital camera take good macros. Just dont get too close, and blow it up with some type of software. When taking macros, I alway like to use manual focus. John
fan installation: i started with a small drill (like #62) and tried to get it right in the center of the circle (us always go from the inside of the shell outwards). if i miss a little then i use the drill and try to move the circle more to the center. the i use a larger drill (like 1/16th and do the same - working up to the right inside diameter. take is slow and easy and don't force anything. sharp drills help! now i didn't look at what i finally ended up with -- i'll go check. trial fit of the fans showed there was plenty of room, and the fan "top" fit just great. only problem now is i'll have to put some silver foil of some kind under the fans, because the light shines up through them in reverse. not a big problem though. if i do it again i will only use the #87 (with top plate -- 2 packs) and not worry about the little center fan ... and i hope to do it again! re: picture? i'll try. we'll see what comes up. dave f.
Ok, such as it is, here is a picture of the fan installation. i worked the hole up to 3/16 and with that the fan blades fit inside with room to spare and the outer shell of the fan was thin, but not too thin. these are the BLMA N scale 36" fans with plate (for GP-30). the next photo just shows some details of the repainted GP-35. dave f.
You have single handedly upped the bar for Z Scale modifications. I have to try out some BLMA fans now myself, as they look fantastic! Painting the blades white really does give them a nice 3rd dimension to the project. I went to all that trouble scratchbuilding my plow, and I think I will try my hand at grinding down an N Scale one for my next locomotive. Which part number did you use for your plow? I got 4 more to modify, as I have been quietly buying up all the PRR GP35's I could afford before they are replaced by models with too expensive paint schemes. -Robert
hi robert, thanks for the nice words. i used an intermountain plow, but the atlas one has essentially the same dimensions. on the n scale forum hemi referred to you and your laser machine as the agent for his Rio Grande caboose sides. any chance you would do that in Z scale. I love a wide vision too, and that would translate to a lot of other roads. it would sure be neat to have a decent wide vision caboose in Z. i'm currently modifying a marklin caboose for Rio Grande, but keeping the windows as is. it's just too hard to file good and correct windows -- but you could do it and get it right! true? well, think about it, ok? dave f.
David, I am glad that you din't do the third fan, because it shows how much better the modify fan looks like. While at the BLMA site also order their winshield wipers. I hope I can cut them down to Z scale. Thank You for your help. John
