I have 3 Atlas N scale GP9 torpedo tube locos that I'd like to remove the TTs from to make regular GP9s. Can I do that just by removing the torpedo tubes/piping, or is there something else I'm missing? Thanks for any help!
Kiz, Looking at the ATLAS GP9 TT Diagram NGP9TTLoco.pdf it Looks as if the TT -Torpedo Tanks- are a separate section. Personally I would place them up for a trade for the Non TT . GP9. Tom
You should remove the roof mounted air tanks and the air line. They will come up from the roof if you pry them gently with either an eXacto knife or a jeweller's screwdriver. You use the broad side of the eXacto blade, of course. You must then remove the steam generator stacks on the short hood. They will come up in a similar manner. One thing that you can do is remove the shell, upend it and look for the pegs for the air tanks, the air line and the steam generator stacks. If you push on them with a screwdriver, that will get them started. You then can turn over the shell and get them off of it. After, you must swap out the passenger fuel tank for a freight fuel tank. The passenger fuel tank looks plain. This is because most roads that ran passenger GPs had extra water tanks around the fuel tanks. The water tanks were for the steam generator. The freight GP fuel tank has he small fuel tank and the small air tanks that sit across the underframe. Finally, you must get some Squadron Green® and plug the holes left by the roof mounted air tanks, the air line and the steam generator stacks. You must paint over them, as well. If you do not have a freight fuel tank and want to make a trade, I have a torpedo boat GP-9 that has the freight tank. I want a passenger tank for it. PM me if you want to make a trade. If you have no use for the torpedo tubes and steam generator stacks in your parts box, I have a use for them.
Kiz, I believe the fuel tanks are different also. The air tanks on a regular geep are behind the fuel tank for short hood forward, for long hood forward they would be in front of the fuel tank. For a TT geep they moved the air tanks to the roof to increase the tank size to carry both fuel and water. You may be able to get rhe regular fuel tanks with the moulded on air tanks from Atlas parts, if so that would be a simple swap. Ralph P.s. Sorry, I was typing this as Brokemoto was posting his reply and sounds like the man with the experience and good advice.
I'm rethinking everything right now. I guess I'll keep the TT GP9s, since with my fat fingers and bad close-up vision I'd probably bungle up the conversion to regular GP9s. Thanks, everyone, for taking the time to reply! I appreciate it.
You can definitely do that conversion Kis! As stated, the air tanks would have to be removed. I did this modification when I was modeling the Housatonic RR #7324. The air tanks and tubing pry off easily with only small holes to fill. I also scratchbuilt the boxy air filter housing to match the proto unit. Of course, after I painted the unit, I remembered that the steam generator equipment needed to be removed from the short hood. That was an easy fix and only required a little touch up. I did not bother to mill the frame to change the fuel tank so I could add the air tanks down there, since I had to remove a bit to add a speaker when I added an ESU sound decoder to the loco. Eric
I can sympathize, Kiz, because I am in the same boat, with age. My hands and eyes just can't do what they once could. Time was when I didn't think twice about tackling any and all N scale projects. Now, I avoid them as much as I can and just run them. I'm surprised, however, that Ms Dee Rayle didn't write a derogatory comment to your post. Doug
There seems to be something quite unfair about this. When our knowledge and skills near their zenith, our eyes, hands and minds rebel.
