I have been wanting to start this project for quite a while, but my back injury has really been keeping me down. Medications that give me the shakes, therapy that causes serious pain, etc. But, luckily, LOL, I ran out of medication last week and lost the shakes long enough to get started. William Cowie asked me to do up three of these beautiful models for him, and the starting point is JnJ's GP60M shells. These will be put on LifeLike GP60 frames. Here's the three shells after cleaning all the flash off. JnJ did a really nice job on these.
Here's the detail parts I've gotten for the trio. Many were purchased in CT at the N Scale Convention, and of course, many from Craig at BLMA. Books out for reference. More photos to follow as I get more done.
I'll be watching closely Jerry, as there on my to-do list one day. If the JnJ shells are good enough for you, they'll do for me too! ;-) Are you using their handrail kit too? Can you do a parts list for those hoping to follow in your footsteps? Thanks!
Man I'm jealous of people with a GP60M. Should I be ordering my JnJ shell for when I finally get to this project in ten years?
I am going to use the Lifelike GP60 handrails except on the left side where the GP60 and GP60M are different. There I will modify the LL handrails and add the correct handrail/stanchions by the blower duct. I'll do a parts list for ya.
This morning I drilled all the #80 holes on all three shells. On the nose I am going to add the proper grab irons. Sunshade holes were drilled out. Above the windows are the holes for wipers, and on the roof are the holes for the radio/EOT antennias. At the rear, not seen in this picture, I drilled the holes around the radiator fans for the lift rings. Thats a total of 22 holes per shell for detail part.
Hey Jerry - Looking good. I've been contemplating doing a few of these also. How are you going to do the windows/windshields?
I think I am going to carefully cut clear styrene to fit the windows. If that don't work, maybe window maker. We'll see.....
What are you going to use to make the ditch light brackets/ light housing? I have five shells, but only three mechs. Careful, the left side is a HUGE pain. I'm about to order some BLMA parts out the yabababa.
It seems from this board that the GP60M is one of the best-liked locomotives. (It's a favorite of mine, too.)
Hummm...haven't thought that far ahead. I will probably look at the different detail parts and pick one of them.
Absolutely!! Wouldn't it be nice if someone from Atlas or Lifelike took the hint? Hopefully now that Jerry is doing his, an RTR version will be released shortly thereafter (Sorry Jerry ...)
