Dan, the worst part of the conversion was removing the Dash-2 electrical cabinet behind the cab, and filling that hole in. Otherwise, body modification really only involves filling in the water sight glass on the engineer's side on the long hood, carving off a little bit of cab roof overhang; and cutting out some thin styrene disks for the radiator and dynamic brake fans. I also carved two horizontal ribs off of the big air duct thing behind the cab.
Parts added include: CNW nose bell, Plano nose bell bracket (a God-send, makes installing the nose bell almost goof-proof), a different electrical cabinet, snow plow, radio antennae, and strobe beacon. I also added drop steps, MU hoses, the MU boxes on the front and back walkways and coupler cut levers as well as grab irons. Like I said...detail to taste. I think I also added a new dynamic brake vent after carving off the Athearn one. I don't know why I did other than it was in the article. I really didn't see much difference in that modification once I was done with it. In fact, the more I look at photos, I'm not even seeing that part. Hmmmmmmm. Wonder why I didn't catch it before.
Of course, by the time I'm finally done, the final price may end up close to an Atlas...but personally, I'd still have to carve in the nose bell, add the electrical cabinet, antennae, beacon, etc. even if I had the Atlas version.
Again, detail parts and paint/decals to suit your personal tastes! Heck, you could probably put some parts on a Con-Cor GP-40 and have a decent looking unit as well.
Chris
All photos by me.
The Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: Proudly Shipping Yesterday's CrunchBerries Tomorrow!
AmanaMedic One option for you to consider, grab an Athearn bluebox GP40-2, do a little (easy) shell modification, add a handful of detail parts, paint and decals to suit your individual taste...and viola! A CNW 5500-series unit. Here's a shot of the CNW 5511 currently under construction. As you can see, decals, paint touch-ups, handrails and a bit more weathering work are yet to be done. The July 1993 issue of Model Railroader had a "Paint Shop" feature on modeling these units. Good luck! Chris
One option for you to consider, grab an Athearn bluebox GP40-2, do a little (easy) shell modification, add a handful of detail parts, paint and decals to suit your individual taste...and viola! A CNW 5500-series unit.
Here's a shot of the CNW 5511 currently under construction. As you can see, decals, paint touch-ups, handrails and a bit more weathering work are yet to be done.
The July 1993 issue of Model Railroader had a "Paint Shop" feature on modeling these units.
Good luck!
Not a bad idea!
Dan
Here is a photo of the two Atlas C&NW GP40 diesels on my layout:
Alton Junction
The PWR means powered, this way you know it's not a "dummy"
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
Closest I could find was a GP-7
http://www.nicholassmithtrains.com/store/product/44592/ATL-C%26NW-GP-7/
And SD40-2
http://www.nicholassmithtrains.com/store/product/28987/ATH-C%26NW-SD40-2-PWR/
U33
http://www.nicholassmithtrains.com/store/product/28984/ATH-C%26NW-U33C-PWR/
GP38
http://www.nicholassmithtrains.com/store/product/8440/ATH-C%26NW-GP38-2-PWR/
GP50
http://www.nicholassmithtrains.com/store/product/20343/ATH-C%26NW-GP50-PWR/
Edit: I don't know what the -PWR means at the end of the part number. Before buying make sure they're not dummies. The part number should tell.
Springfield PA
You may have some luck on HOyardsale, if all else fails, you should get those decorated shells from Atlas. Can always wait to come across any GP38/40. Someone actually has a good no. of GP38's there now at reasonable $$.
Atlas did C&NW GP40s in two road numbers back in 2002. Good luck finding any now.
However, Atlas has the shells (in both road numbers) for sale on their web site. The only problem is you'll have to buy another pair of GP40s to stick the C&NW shells on them.
Is it just me or are these impossible to find? I've checked eBay, Google searched, done everything short of finding a Genie. Did anyone make a model of one in HO scale? I'd like to get 2 or 3.