GP 9 Chop Nose Kits

[Westcoast_Trains]

Hello everyone, I have been looking for a good N scale GP chop nose kit as I am going to make two high nose BN GP9's into two chop nose MRL GP9's. for my future layout. Can anyone make any recommendations or give any tips, appreciate it in advance!

[mcjaco]

I've been looking at the CMR kits.  And there was a discussion about them a couple weeks back, and their quality and order to delivery time. 

[randgust]

The printing quality of the RP shells has dramatically increased - Chris333's stuff and several other have no visible printing lines, period.  I'm not sure  how far NEW CMR stuff has progressed.   They did resin shells for years, now they are RP printed.

https://www.cmrproducts.com/N-Scale-EMD-GP9-Chop-Nose-Dynamic-Brakes-p629591861

The bugaboo, of course, on all these is handrails.   I'm putting on custom brass wire soldered handrails, here's one I finished last week on a customer GP20:



Link:  http://www.randgust.com/GRR02.jpg

The shell has striation lines, but I'm also not sure how long ago it was printed.   I think it was a while back.   If you look at recent stuff from some of the members here, you'll see that's been beaten.

For me that's pretty easy, about a 3 hour job with the right materials and tools, but it's only done on a shell that has everything behind the handrails already done, possibly paint and decals, as they are permanently mounted.

[wm3798]

I have one of the last CMR resin cast shells.  Bought it on clearance at N Scale Weekend in 2019.  I had to reinforce the inside of the roof as the casting was pretty thin.  I layered in a few coats of white glue and let it set.  Seems to have done the trick.  If you find what you need in this form on the second hand or new old stock models, I'd say it's worth the gamble.

I can't speak to the prints, but the quality and detail fidelity was pretty good on the casting.  One of these days I'm going to finish it!
Lee

[sizemore]

With the CMR stuff pay attention to the fans on the first-gen GP's (9, 10, 18, 20 & rebuilds) and your desired model. For instance the WM GP-9 shell clearly shows a 48" second-gen EMD fan on the DB blister while most WM units retained their original 48" first gen fans.

The S.

[Westcoast_Trains]

I appreciate all the advice, you guys are great. I was totally unaware of the CMR kits, and if I find one Ill be getting it for sure. I figured a 3d print might be suitable, but I have yet to find one looking at files.

[jpwisc]

I still have a couple of Mark4Design chopped nose GP cabs, I can see if they match your prototype

[Westcoast_Trains]

I still have a couple of Mark4Design chopped nose GP cabs, I can see if they match your prototype

That would be awesome! thank you, much appreciated!

[jpwisc]

Unfortunately the M4D cabs I have don’t match the MRL units. These are nose headlights and the numberboards are slightly different.
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[nwline]

ILSX 1354 ?

[jpwisc]

ILSX 1354 ?

You know I’m an addict for ILS units…. Dang it, I’ll add the decals for that one to my next custom order!