OK... I have what may be a dumb question- But I'd rather ask a dumb one than break something. And besides... the only dumb questions are the ones you don't ask, right? I have a couple of the Lifelike GP38-2's with the same number. I figured I'd take one apart and renumber it and do some weathering while I'm at it, but I sat down to do it one night and realized I have no clue how to get the thing apart. So.... How do I take it apart?!? Is there somewhere that has a view of what I'm going to find inside? I've always been pretty scared to take apart a perfectly good running engine (I don't want to mess it up), but I'm willing to go for it on this one.
I hate to burst your bubble, but LL GP38-2's aren't exactly the cadillac models on the block.... In my and other's opinions, they are good for a train set that continuously runs, and nobody gets too close looking.... In a modellers' prospective, they have their place, but not on an operating model railroad. I run only later LL locos, Katos, and Atlas locos. The GP38-2 is not what we consider a quality product for the following reasons found here: GP38-2 The rest of this site is helpful especially if you have little experience with what engines are good for the money, and what aren't: N loco encyclopedia . Good luck! In short, the lack of flywheels makes it a jerky runner, barely capable of crawl speeds. It also lacks a split-matal frame, using a plastic frame with lead weights. It at least has no rubber traction tires! It looks ok, but not nearly to Atlas' standards. Whatever you choose, Ignore me if you feel you like your loco better. It's your railroad, do what you want, and HAVE FUN!!! BTW, there's a deluge of these on ebay all the time, if you like them a lot. Always going for cheap. Even in BN. LL must have made a ka-jillion of these things!!!
I know these aren't the greatest locos around, But right now, I am still experimenting with what I can get done... I'd much rather experiment on a $14 loco than a $100 loco any day. Besides... These beat all the old Bachmann locos that I have laying around. Some day I'll go out and spend the $$$ on a Kato or something but for now, these suit my needs. I still need to know how to take em apart though.
These are pretty sturdy little locos so I generally use brute force to pry the shell off. But, to gently achieve your goal, I usually start by grabbing the fuel tank with the thumb and index finger of my left hand, then use my other hand to gently pry the shell outwards, just behind the cab on one side...you may here a "click" as it un-snaps. Then I get the other side, same fashion. (note: you can see where the clips are located by locating the horizontal slots near the walkways on the long hood) Once the front of the shell is free from the chasis, the rear comes off rather easily. There are weights that may fall out if they aren't taped on, their placement back on the chasis will be easy to figure out. Alternatively, you can use a fine flathead screwdriver to slide in between the chasis and shell and gently twist to release the clips. I've purchased many of these locos and have found them to be excellent for experimentation. Having had no prior experience in detailing with grabs, sunshades and custom paint jobs, there was NO WAY you were gonna get me to try my first attempts on a 80 dollar Kato. Have fun with 'em! -Mike
Have you tried dropping it on a hard surface, like the floor. That always works for me!.... I have detailed one of the Gp38's before the atlas model came around. I added a high hood and cab using a photo-etched set I got a local shop. There is also some parts still floating for the Life-like GP38. I believe it was Scale Replicas. They made a fuel tank upgrade (white metal side that glue to the current tank) and a upgrade set that had plugs for the holes in the side of the shell and the number boards above the cab. They also had some snow plowe packs. Check on N-Scale Supply site, I believe they still have some of these items.
