changing gp9 nose

[rambo1]

Is it possible to change the short high nose on a gp9 proto 2000 to a low nose are there parts available? rambo1.....

[ndbprr]

Easiest way may be to just buy a Walthes GP9m that has a low nose already. Alternately you could just buy a shell and chop and fit to another shell.

[rambo1]

I was hoping maybe cannon would have something . thanks I will consider the walthers idea  it sounds the best.I will try to post a pic of the end product.rambo1...

[chpthrls]

Hi Rambo1

     Since you're from "Trona" I'm guessing you're modeling CN. Walther's sells an undecorated GP-9 with a low nose that's pretty accurate for the geeps that the CN uses. The shell has dynamic brakes though and I think most of the GP-9's that CN (and the GTW) uses for roadswitchers have had the DM brakes removed. An alternative is to use a GP-15 shell as the side sills and long hood is more accurate (just have to change the fan configuration). The greatest thing about the Walther's engine is that it can be found for around $25.00 on the internet! Good luck with your project.

                                        Gerry S.

[cv_acr]

chpthrls

     Since you're from "Trona" I'm guessing you're modeling CN. Walther's sells an undecorated GP-9 with a low nose that's pretty accurate for the geeps that the CN uses.

No, it's really not. Apart from the lower quality, the Walthers unit has a one-piece wide windshield, while the CN units have two-piece windshields, and the cab has a bit of an angled peak to the front of it. Some series also have rebuilt battery and equipment boxes in front of the cab as well, and if it's a slug mother then of course it has added equipment on the front that you won't find in any off-the-shelf diesel.

Best bet is to take the Proto2000 unit which the OP said he had, cut down the nose (when you disassemble the locomotive the nose is a separate piece) to modify it correctly; you'll have to rebuild the front of the cab and also cut down part of the metal weight inside the locomotive as it'll be too tall for the chopper nose.

Since these chop-nose jobs were all home-done custom jobs, no railroad's units ended up the same as any other railroad, and to really do it right you'll have to add your own details.

 The shell has dynamic brakes though and I think most of the GP-9's that CN (and the GTW) uses for roadswitchers have had the DM brakes removed.

While GTW units didn't have DBs, CN's GP9s did. The rebuilds do have them removed, but the bulge is still there, with the fans and intake grills removed.

 An alternative is to use a GP-15 shell as the side sills and long hood is more accurate (just have to change the fan configuration).

 A GP15 is not remotely similar to a GP9.

 The greatest thing about the Walther's engine is that it can be found for around $25.00 on the internet! Good luck with your project.

The trade-off is that the detail quality sucks compared to the Proto2000 geep he already has.

[Lee 1234]

I have a similar project on my list. The proto cabs and noses interchange. The bad part is Walthers doesn't sell them as pieces. I don't have a Walthers GP9m but I thought it was a wide body. A wide body nose will not fit. An Atlas SD24 cab and nose is available to purchase. One thing to remember is that a factory low nose is slanted and a chop nose is usually flat. The only way to get a flat nose is cut down a high nose.