Well here it is, the GP15-1 kit from Smokey Valley. Lots of tasty bits and pieces, and I've already lost a couple - D'oh. Hence the plasticard pilot and anticlimber. What usually happens is that as soon as I make/buy a replacement, the original turns up. Here are the pieces. You also need a dash-2 cab - mine is a spare Athearn GP38-2 one, although if I do a decent job, I might donate my last Cannon thinwall kit to the project. I have also ordered a two-strap signal box for the engineer's side of the short hood. BTW - the packet says FRISCO but the kit is definately Conrail The chassis and motor are coming from a Walthers GP15 RTR model, which is a very nive model in it's own right, but totally wrong for Conrail Here's a pic of a couple like the one I'm modelling. Jon
I made a start last night, and was well impressed. Once the castings had been cleaned of flash and moulding pips, the whole process, including photography, took 36min 11sec - the total playing time of 'Hemispheres', by Rush. Heres some progress pics. Sub-assemblies long hood Complete (It really is as simple as it looks) Comparison with the Walthers Now to check out the Walthers Chassis - this may not be as easy as I thought. Jon
Jon, your project is looking great! I didn't realize there was so much of a difference between the GP15s. Can't wait to see this one done. Bill
Cool! looking great! What are the differences between the Walthers shells? I know the Frisco/BN version has older grilles, but the mopac one I have has the modern grilles. Hemisheres eh? Really put me in the mood to dig out some old Rush.....haven't listened to the old stuff for ages!
Brian - Eyesight. the parts are moulded really well and lend themselves to ease of lining up. However, this is now somewhat out of date as you will see. All change! Yesterday, I sat down and stared at the two body shells for ages and compared them with all the pics I could find of Conrail GP15's. I made a list of all the bodyparts I liked best on the two kits and came up with a compromise by assimilating the three different makes into a hybrid (you will be assimilated) Here's what I ended up with. I decided the Walthers hood ends were a closer match than the SV ones, which are too pointy (something spotted in a Jim Six atricle, and once you notice it, the worse it gets) The SV long hood details are probably the more accurate of the two models, but my heavy handed painting would obscure most of it, so I stuck with the Walthers long hood. Some of the other details on the radiator and roof are also better for the Conrail loco. The SV blower and filter grill parts are perfect for a Conrail loco, but carving away the walthers hood section is tricky. The Athearn cab is easily better than the Walthers cab, especially round the numberboard and light area. The Walthers short hood is a good copy but needed the riveted plate removing from the top. Finally, the pilots and steps on the SV kit are the best looking, but I opted to keep and modify the Walthers ones to try and retain the rigidity of the model, especially after the major surgery on the long hood. Now for some detailling work..... BTW, as you may have noticed, I am only trying to recreate a model which includes all the main spotting features of a Conrail GP15, rather than an exact replica a la Jim Six, Dave Plumber, Mike Chapmon, etc. If I can get the finished model past Brian (NYC-BKO), who knows his way round these beauties, I'll consider the project a success.[ ] Jon
Jon waived his wand and does his modeling magic again. Now I'm getting out the super size magnifying glass. Looking good Jon.
Ah, the old air drill. Frisco and C&NW came with Carbody Central Air System (Basic). All the others came with Inertial Carbody Air System (Special Order). Frisco went to BN and C&NW went to UP. Any time you see long hood doors with louvers in them, you have the basic system.
Here's the latest update, with anticlimber altered, grabs and bell on. The main Conrail spotting features here are where the nose grab- irons are, the shape of the front and rear ploughs. Jon
The handrails and front detail are now on. I retained the Walthers stanchions but drilled them out to accept brass wire. the plough has also been heavily modified, although it might currently be sitting a bit low. Next for the rear end and the cab before going to the paintshop. I also have some long-shank 20 series Kadees on order to clear the plough. Jon
Now that looks great Jon! I like the added plate on the plow, just like we used to do to strengthen it.. Nice!!!! Now you're making me want to build my kit, might have to set that as a winter project or I'll look for a Trainline one, ha! I have the SV frame I only need trucks and a drive.
Heres the latest pics. The rear end is finished and the primer is on. I hope to get the blue on tonight. Jon
Here's a few pics with the fuel tank detail and pipes in place and the basic colours on. However I only just noticed the trucks are wrong. they only have 4 clasp brakes on each truck (1 per wheel), and the Conrail ones have 8. I wonder if Smokey Valley do the correct ones? See you after the decals are on. PS, Jim check your inbox Jon
This is a great thread. I have a half completed SV kit at home (painted and decaled) but, I could never get the frame, the trucks and the motor to "work with each other." The frame on the SV kit also sits way too high on the trucks. There's like a scale 2' gap between the fuel tank and the rail head. I have one Walther's GP-15 painted and decaled for the California Northern, not as detailed as this project. It's still my pride and joy. I just have to finish the second one. Can't wait to see the final results!
Jon: Isn't there some type of detail part to add that missing brake? Seems like it would be easy to do.
One of the Jim Six's articles had a how to on lowering the frame on the trucks and also on dropping the tank.
