How did you do it, Robert? I have some single-piece Hallmark 36" fan grilles I could replace the originals with, but I have BLMA kits on order... Just have to be patient and wait for them. The ones I ordered have the solid center. I think I saw something on your GP39E conversions that shows the solid-center fans are from the GP30, and the full grilles are from the GP35? Thanks, Adam
Actually David F. started it in October with his discovery that BLMA N Scale 36" fans fit Z Scale 48" fans perfectly: Yes, the GP30 fans are the ones with a solid Disc in the center, and the GP35 fans are 100% grill. I did not research that, it's just as the BLMS parts are listed, and I know Craig does his research. -Robert
After David disclosed his find in October, we all jumped on the bandwagon and started modifying our geeps to include fans. John Mui has some photos posted of his CXS build: GP35 CSX Mod
It was David's fault. Now I have to drill out all my conversion. Here is David's explanation. web page
So he started with a #62, then worked up to 1/16", and up to 3/16", and just enough to not compromise the fan housing completely. Got it. I'll work on that tomorrow, and order the right kind of fans from BLMA for the GP35. Thanks! Adam
I'm missing something here... The CSX GP35s (which either they modified or they were from pre-merger roads) had the center 36" fan removed? This is a nice job of repositioning the fans so it looks seamless. Adam
Adam, what kind of fans each engine has is a engine specific thing, because I have seen engines with both types of fans. I also find it very hard to find overhead shots of engines. I will have to go through 300 pictures to find one overhead shot. One thing I like to do on the fan conversion is to test fit the fan before I glue the grill. After supergluing the grill, I airblush the whole engine , and then glue the fan. I hope this helps. [ February 17, 2006, 09:33 PM: Message edited by: shamoo737 ]
'nuf said. dave f. ok ... maybe not. i wondered about the fan types too. seemed to me that MTL got it wrong putting the disc in the center of the grill. but as john said it seems to have varied by railroad. that and rebuilds or modifications created all kinds of variations. i've done both types. i like the disc center and so kept with the MTL modeled version for all but one of my engines. now if craig (blma) would just release the diesel detail kit, we'd be "stylin"! df
I'm not sure what the DT&I had... Maybe I can find a photo with a hint. I'm doing a complete detail makeover of a GP35 to turn it into a non-dynamic brake DT&I model. Working on the grabirons right now... Thanks for the info... Adam
