I bought this Atlas locomotive used at a train show. Is this a GP38 or GP38-2?
That lookslike an Atlas/Roco GP38.
On the real thing, the oval water sight glass on the long hood is the easiest spotting feature. In case of the model, the widely-spaced fans, molded-on grab irons, molding sprue in the forward exhaust port, big sand-filler hatch in the nose, and step-down handrail on the engineer's side (which should be level) mark this as the old Atlas-Roco model, which is a GP38.
They were great models for their time, smooth runners and strong pullers. The detail may be crude by today's standards, but they're still good locos (assuming you have a drive to go with that shell). The dark blue color indicates a custom paint job.
If you want a GP38-2, the Athearn blue box models are nicely detailed, with spot holes that make it easy to drill for and install metal grab irons and lift rings.
More about the model:
http://tycotrain.tripod.com/atlashoscaletrainscollectorsresource/id7.html
http://ho-scaletrains.com/atlas-emd-gp38/
More on spotting differences for the real loco:
http://dieseldetailer.proboards.com/thread/6166/gp38-2-differences
HTH
Aaron
I think it’s an old school Atlas GP40 from the 1970s or 1980s. I have two of them. They run pretty nice. The are better than old Athearn blue box kits. They do lack some of the details of more modern productions. I added aftermarket details to them. One telltale sign is tall the sand filler on the nose. Another is the handrails and molded chain. The GP38s that Atlas made back then were the high nose versions.
Lone Wolf and Santa Fethe high nose versions.
Russell
I have the running gear with it, and it was previously painted. Original color of the shell was red. I plan to repaint it as a Clinchfield GP38 2002.
GP40s have three radiator fans at the rear and a single fat turbocharger exhaust stack. GP38s have two radiator fans and two oval exhaust stacks, one fore and one aft of the center (dynamic brake) fan. Atlas made both -- same drive, different bodies.
Atlas did indeed make a high-nose GP38 -- but they made a low-nose version as well. I owned a pair of the low nose UP units, but they've been lost to time.
Here is the OP's loco
[url=https://flic.kr/p/22vg22P]
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Its a Atlas/Roco GP38 without the paper air filter box-early production GP38s did not have the paper air filter.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I agree Larry, the dash-2's had a filter box that sat higher. And, yes, the gp40's had 3 fans.
The one spotting thing on the 1:1 GP38, and GP38-2, the dash 2 had the radiator site glass, on the engineers side, just below the radiator grill. Not sure if older Atlas body's had this molded in or not. The OP's picture are hard to figure it out. More closer pics, and in good lighting, of all four sides, along with the trucks, would be needed. The dash-2's also had rear classification lights, "blocked off".
I'd say that Aron is right, along with his links, that the OP's model is the GP38
The battery box thing, about being hinged or bolted on, seems to be questionable.
I'm stickin with the GP38.
An unrelated story, not to get too far , I have the newer Atlas, with the dual mode decoder, and the box and paper work says it's a GP38-2, painted for the MILW. After studying tons of prototype photos, what I actually have is a GP40.
Mike.
My You Tube