Wheelbase of a prototype GP35 is 41' 0".
Wheelbase of a prototype GP38-2 or GP40-2 is 43' 0". I think the earlier GP38 and GP40 had the same wheelbase as the Dash 2's.
It's unlikely that a GP35 shell will fit on your GP40 mechanism. Better do some measuring first.
Tom
A GP38 is built essentially on the same frame and wheelbase as a GP40. The GP35 is shorter, so shells won't be interchangeable. *EDIT* Tom just barely beat me to it.
Rob Spangler
The GP35 was still in production when GP40 production started. The start of GP40 production was earlier than the start of GP 38 production
From http://www.urbaneagle.com/data/RRdieselchrono.html
GP35 production Oct 63 - Jan 66
GP38 production Jan 66 - Dec 71, GP38AC Jan 71 - Dec 71, GP38-2 Jan 72 -
GP40 production Nov 65 - Dec 71, GP40-2 Jan72 -
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
Probably.. I would check the GP35 shell against the GP40 drive and it may require some minor modification-if Bachmann didn't use the same drive and frame for both engines.
I know a Bachmann GP30 shell will fit a Athearn BB GP35 drive with very little modifications.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
The Bachman GP 40 shell is a slightly reworked version of the old Roco/Atlas/ConCor GP 40. So a Atlas/ConCor GP 38 will fit it.
The GP 35 is too short to fit.
Jim
Soo Line fan The Bachman GP 40 shell is a slightly reworked version of the old Roco/Atlas/ConCor GP 40. So a Atlas/ConCor GP 38 will fit it. The GP 35 is too short to fit.
Unless Bachmann took some short cuts in that rework in order to use the same frame and drive.. I wish I could put the old eyeball on those two engines.
For the record, a GP30 used the same wheelbase dimensions as the GP35. Those two should be interchangeable IF THE MODELS ARE CORRECTLY DIMENSIONED. It's not safe to assume that without checking. The longer GP38, GP38-2, GP40, and GP40-2 should also be interchangeable with one another in the same way.
If I was to purchase an atlas shell, what version would i be looking for. Thanks
BRAKIE Soo Line fan The Bachman GP 40 shell is a slightly reworked version of the old Roco/Atlas/ConCor GP 40. So a Atlas/ConCor GP 38 will fit it. The GP 35 is too short to fit. Unless Bachmann took some short cuts in that rework in order to use the same frame and drive.. I wish I could put the old eyeball on those two engines.
Larry,
We talked about this before:
jeffrey-wimberly Perhaps the three best things I did for an Atlas/Roco GP40 were #1 put a Bachmann GP40 shell on it (cut off the screw lugs and it's a drop-on fit) and #2 put in a PPW can motor and #3 put in a Digitrax decoder. For the most part most of my Atlas/Roco fleet are FP7's, one of which was fitted with an Athearn blue box motor, flywheels and shafts.
Perhaps the three best things I did for an Atlas/Roco GP40 were #1 put a Bachmann GP40 shell on it (cut off the screw lugs and it's a drop-on fit) and #2 put in a PPW can motor and #3 put in a Digitrax decoder. For the most part most of my Atlas/Roco fleet are FP7's, one of which was fitted with an Athearn blue box motor, flywheels and shafts.
The full thread can be found here:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/p/225176/2506006.aspx
I looked at a Bachmann in the LHS for a while and to my eyes its the same shell. Look at the left front cab step (or lack there of) leading to the door way. This was always a primary spotting feature for this shell. The rear step on the right has the same filled in appearance.
The Bachmann pilots were also notched........
Atlas/Con Cor
Bachmann
Jim,Could Bachmann stretch their GP35 body to fit the GP40 drive?
I also studied a photo of the Atlas/Roco GP40 against the Bachmann GP40 and there's very little difference including the missing step going into the cab...I never caught that before now.
gregomacombI have a bachmann gp40. It needs a new shell and the gp35 happens to fit in with my timeline better than the gp40.
If the GP40 does not fit the timeline. how can the GP38 (which went into production after the GP49) fit the timeline better?
The GP38 start of production was 3 months after the GP40 start of production and the two models were produced concurently.
Sorry didnt know that part got in there. Also forgive me as im just starting out more or less. I was kinda figuring higher number meant later date but i looked it up earlier doing some research and yeah i know now that they were produced about the same time.
The idea of stretching a GP35 body to fit a GP40 frame defeats the very idea of "scale modeling". IMO, the idea is to accurately represent the prototype. If the prototype frame is too long, then the model frame will be too long unless it's an inaccurate model. Stretching the GP35 body will result in an inaccurate GP35.
ACY The idea of stretching a GP35 body to fit a GP40 frame defeats the very idea of "scale modeling". IMO, the idea is to accurately represent the prototype. If the prototype frame is too long, then the model frame will be too long unless it's an inaccurate model. Stretching the GP35 body will result in an inaccurate GP35.
While I fully agree we are talking about Bachmann not Atlas or Athearn.
Bachmann locomotives are far from scale modeling to say the least but,they do fill a void for the budgit minded modelers.
I owned three a GE70 Tonner,A GE 44 Tonner and a DCC/Sound Alco S4.
gregomacomb Sorry didnt know that part got in there. Also forgive me as im just starting out more or less. I was kinda figuring higher number meant later date but i looked it up earlier doing some research and yeah i know now that they were produced about the same time.
I had no intention of critizing you. I am sure many people make that assumption, which is generally true for EMD locomotives. There are exceptions due to different engines used, not turbochared vs turbocharged, and probably other reasons. I just wanted to make the cronology clear.
gregomacomb If I was to purchase an atlas shell, what version would i be looking for. Thanks
Frankly, a replacement Bachmann GP40 shell is probably the best way to go. Its no worse than the Atlas/Roco shell and you won't have to worry about fitment.
Atlas sells decorated bodies for the GP40 Master series, but they have a cab interior that would likely foul the innards of the Bachmann chassis/weight.
Unless you are modeling the early 60's, the GP40 is pretty close to the same time frame as the GP35.
- Douglas
BRAKIE Jim,Could Bachmann stretch their GP35 body to fit the GP40 drive? I also studied a photo of the Atlas/Roco GP40 against the Bachmann GP40 and there's very little difference including the missing step going into the cab...I never caught that before now.
Its not likely that was done. The Bachmann shells seem to be proportioned pretty well.
Per the replacement of the Bachmann a Atlas /Roco or ConCor/ Roco GP38 would also fit with the mod Jeffrey refered to.
Soo Line fanIts not likely that was done. The Bachmann shells seem to be proportioned pretty well.
I wasn't sure since I haven't paid that much attention to Bachmann's GP35 or GP40 other then a causal glance.
I would still like to see both models and compare the drive to the shells since both has a similar looking fuel tank.
I find this kind of stuff interesting since I enjoy swapping out drives or shells. I once fit a Walthers GP9M shell on a Athearn BB GP7 just to see if it was possible.The Athearn frame needed some light modifications for the GP9M shell to fit..
Even if so, when scaled down its a 2/5 of an inch difference between the two. Just food for thought. But either way im gonna go with the gp40.
BRAKIEI find this kind of stuff interesting since I enjoy swapping out drives or shells. I once fit a Walthers GP9M shell on a Athearn BB GP7 just to see if it was possible.The Athearn frame needed some light modifications for the GP9M shell to fit..
Well, before P2K came out, thats what we had to do in many cases. The GP30 shell on a BB GP 35. The LL F 40 on the Atlas FP-7 drive and all the Rail Power shells which were designed to be used on the old wide body Athearns.
I enjoyed the mounting of shells and repowering. Not so much the painting and masking.............
Soo Line fan BRAKIE I find this kind of stuff interesting since I enjoy swapping out drives or shells. I once fit a Walthers GP9M shell on a Athearn BB GP7 just to see if it was possible.The Athearn frame needed some light modifications for the GP9M shell to fit.. Well, before P2K came out, thats what we had to do in many cases. The GP30 shell on a BB GP 35. The LL F 40 on the Atlas FP-7 drive and all the Rail Power shells which were designed to be used on the old wide body Athearns. I enjoyed the mounting of shells and repowering. Not so much the painting and masking.............
BRAKIE I find this kind of stuff interesting since I enjoy swapping out drives or shells. I once fit a Walthers GP9M shell on a Athearn BB GP7 just to see if it was possible.The Athearn frame needed some light modifications for the GP9M shell to fit..
Jim,That Walthers GP9M/BB GP7 drive was done around 12 years ago.. I wanted a lowhood GP9.. I also added Horst air filter.