N GP50 Check-In, 2022 Edition

[Rivet Miscounter]

Greetings,

Just curious about the state of the art with regards to an N-Scale GP50.

My assessment:
-Kato's are still roaming around, almost 35 years later.
-The best previous idea is to graft a Kato shell onto a GP40-2 mech if you wanted an updated mech for DCC or due to failed Kato mech.
-Other ideas included scratchbuilding from a GP40-2 and a GP60.  Not an indictment on the Kato detail necessarily, but related to specific phases and/or the general difficulty of getting the Kato unit apart and also cleanly getting it merged with the GP40-2.
-EDIT: Mark4Design did some GP50 longhoods designed to fit on an Atlas chassis. (GP40-2???)
-EDIT: One other one I left off...the Southern Digital frame option. https://sodigi.com/product/kgp50n-digiframe-kit-for-kato-gp-38
-Read somewhere that someone finally has 3D Printed the elusive battery box covers so maybe that can revive a few more Kato's from the parts bin.
-I believe there was a copied Kato shell done in resin, including one mod'ed with the BN crew cab.   Not sure if any phase specific changes were made on those, and I don't think they were great.  And, don't think they're still available aside from eBay possibly.
-The "give up" plan is just painting a GP40-2 or GP60 in a GP50-appropriate paint scheme.
-I'm not aware of any 3D printed effort.  I checked Shapeways, and did not find anything, but their search tool is so bad one may very well exist.

Anything to add to this list?  I've been out of the loop in N for several years so I'm not aware of anything beyond the above....no rumors or anything that I am aware of.

I was ridiculed about 10 years ago for suggesting that a newly tooled GP50 with phase variants would be commercially viable in N.  (Same person said BN wasn't a popular railroad/roadname, so I had my reason for skepticism)  But I have to say, I guess I deserved it....wouldn't dream we'd still be here in 2022 without a new player.   (I'm equally astonished that nobody has done an ATSF GP7u in N, but I digress).     But we do have some pretty unconventional stuff in N now (Carbon Black cars, airgas cars, C39-8's, etc.) so it seems that a loco like the GP50 would be as viable as those.  Especially one that already has a mech available.

I would think that 3D printed could be one route given the GP40-2 mech from Atlas is available....new run with Loksound hitting soon I think.  Hopefully someone has done this already and I just didn't get the memo.    Anyway...did I miss something?....thoughts?

[pjm20]

With some small changes, you can also produce a NS GP38-3, which I would imagine would be popular.

[ryan_wilkerson]

Didn’t I hear that Atlas has shell designs for a GP50? I think it’s the same mechanism as the GP38/40 series they have. I’d buy a couple. BN white face would look great!

[Rivet Miscounter]

Well, I guess there's one reason I created this topic...I hadn't heard anything about Atlas going down this path.  But that would be epically good IMHO.   

And yes, I suppose getting a current catalog of possible phases and roadnames would be good to collect.  I'll try to put something together.   I did have that same thought about the NS locos, for sure.

Personally I'm in for about as many Tiger Stripe BN's that they'd do.   And also probably one whiteface BN and maybe an ATSF.   I'm easing back into N, but this time I'm ditching BNSF and going BN 1989.  Both tiger stripes and WF could be in play from '89-'91, depending on the road numbers though if you're picking nits.     Of course I would also buy one of the BN extended cab units, if they went there.

[kiwi_al]

I think you missed the memo from quite a few years ago, Mark4Design did some GP50 longhoods - yes I bought two back then. They were accurate and purdy  . Fit on Atlas running gear - can't remember if it was the GP40-2 or not. 

[Rivet Miscounter]

I think you missed the memo from quite a few years ago, Mark4Design did some GP50 longhoods - yes I bought two back then. They were accurate and purdy  . Fit on Atlas running gear - can't remember if it was the GP40-2 or not. 

Ha, yes wasn't that like 15 years ago?  I haven't been out of N *that* long.      But yes, I did forget to add that to the list of hacks, so thank you...I'll edit it.

[James Costello]

If it were me, until something better RTR came along, I'd be looking at a FVM (now Scaletrains?) early dynamic GP60 with 3D printed cab (especially for the 5 man version) and any other parts you need.

http://www.foxvalleymodels.com/sitebuilder/images/SSW_Early-600x206.jpg

Maybe you could see what Marshall @SSW7771 / MP Scale Models could do something similar to their MP15 cab kit:
https://mpscalemodels.com/products/mp15-dc-ac-cab-kit-full-sp-lights-n-scale

Otherwise, @bnsfdash8 has been prolific with printing his specific NS unit needs.

[Ike the BN Freak]

I have one of the resin "crew cab" BN GP50 shells, I think it was JnJ, but don't quote me. As mentioned, its is a copy of the Kato, but has the pilots filled in, and an angled blower duct.

I have a small stash of Kato GP50s, that I was planning on putting on Atlas GP40-2 frames. But I've also been trying to get Atlas to do it, I believe it and the GP39 are the only two GPs they don't currently have in their catalog.

[ryan_wilkerson]

Mark4Design had 3 GP50 shell versions:
https://web.archive.org/web/20080509093254/http://www.mark4design.com/html/n_gp_hoods.html

Come on Atlas, make us a nice GP50 with sound!

[bnsfdash8]

Otherwise, @bnsfdash8 has been prolific with printing his specific NS unit needs.

A GP50 (and the NS rebuilds) has been on my todo list for awhile.

Maybe if I get them started and almost finished a manufacture will be compelled to do them as well. 

[Rossford Yard]

Why I would love some real sales figures.  Rivet Mis Counter wonders the same thing I do....how can a C-39-8 be viable (maybe it wasn't although my two are my best sound locos) then why not GP50's?  For that matter, tunnel motors were thought to be too limited to sell well, and I think IM did pretty well with those. 

Some say it's because they are so iconic, whereas most casual modelers probably couldn't quickly identify the differences between the GP 40, 50, and 60.  Since Atlas bought some or most of the LL tooling, you think it would fit their business model to use existing mechs to bring out new shells to save cost.

On the prototype, there were a total of 160 GE C39-8 vs. 278 EMD GP 50's, and both had limited road names.

[James Costello]

I wouldn't overthink why we haven't seen a modern GP50 yet versus some of the other manufacturing decisions made in the last 5 or so years.

Whilst we've seen some incredible new models and new manufacturers, the landscape is very different and we're still feeling the effects of AFFA - Atlas, Wheels of Time, Trainworx, FVM etc.

The only consistency we've seen in announcements and product shipping are those that either control their manufacturing - MTL, JTC, the ex-Walthers Atlas stuff (that was at a different factory) and Athearn (although their delivery times have blown out this year).

As to the C39, it's clear ScaleTrains are plugged into the South-East needs and I'd imagine they've sold a bunch to all the NS coal haulers. Plus, all owners have their pet models that get made more for love then dollars.