I started putting the handrails and stuff on a couple years ago and was frustrated. Well I spent a couple years building plastic models and when I returned to this it was a simple evening project. Nice to see my skills improving! Anyone know if I put knuckle couplers on it if it will still work on r1 or whatever the tight curves are? No big deal if not, I have cars with different couplers on either end so I can adapt things. I used to own a “real life” GP-9 so super happy with this model! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I have two with Air Wire and batteries, been ran a lot. Took my layout down outside so don't get much running now.
What makes this a GP9 and not a GP7. Forgive my ignorance, but the only spotting difference I know of is that a GP7 has 3 or 4 louvers below the cab (like the loco pictured), while a GP9 should have only 1 or no louvers. Can someone please clarify this for me?
I thought I read 728 was a GP15? or GP15AC? A "yard" machine. John Guess I was wrong, numbers 700-729 were UP GP7s according to American Rails .com. Built same years as me, 1953! John
Yeah, UP GP7's have different fans on the long hood, and were numbered in the low 100's. GP9's have bigger fans and were numbered in the mid 150's to almost 300, if I remember correctly.
There only are a couple of external spotting features. The model pictured is actually a GP7. The 3 sets of louvers along the bottom edge of the cab, plus the two rows below the radiator grills make it so. A GP9 has one or none on the cab, and does not have those sets below the radiator grill.
Early GP9 units had the same four 36 inch fans on top as the GP7. The later Phase III GP9 had the two 48 inch fans. UP GP7 units were delivered as 700-729, later renumbered to 100-129.
If nothing stated yet, Kadee 785/1785 couplers fit the USA GP7/9. Might have trouble, but you'd have to try and see if it'll work. I'm not 100% sure! Doesn't state what the minimum radius is for them though. I run my GP30's on a 4 foot minimum Radius/8 foot Diameter curve. The rear footboards will come in contact with each other, but doesn't cause any major issues. Run 5 foot Radius/10 foot Diameter curves for the most part now.
Don't know if you are interested, I body mounted couplers. Used a left over plastic from the roadbed on the layout. It's a little crocked now but was straight when I was done. .
That looks great. I think I will have to truck mount for my tight curves. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
