Walthers GP20's and GP60's arrived.

[SkipGear]

I was interested in a NS GP60 but,that gap between the truck and body is a turn off..

Do we really have to go through this again??

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=391908&nseq=5

The spacing is correct. Compare the height of the steps to various parts on the truck.  It is just that there is no frame there because the wheel flanges are larger than the prototype and the truck needs to swivel. If it bothers you and you have flawless track work with no grades, then glue some styrene I-beams in there to form a view block.

Here is one that makes the prototype look worse than the model... LOL

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=390971&nseq=7

[Brakie]

Tony,Maybe just maybe I'm use to seeing GP60s looking like this?
http://www.nslocos.com/ns7123.html

and this

http://www.nslocos.com/ns7150.html

http://www.nslocos.com/ns7142.html

I have never figure out why some  N Scale engines sits 2-3 scale feet  above the trucks while others don't.

[sizemore]

It sits about right. Add the bolster chocks underneath the sill, frame rails, and a plow and she'll look right as rain. If anything complain about the monstrous coupler box, and crap you have to shave off the pilot which is the hardest to correct.

The S.

[SkipGear]

Tony,Maybe just maybe I'm use to seeing GP60s looking like this?
http://www.nslocos.com/ns7123.html

and this

http://www.nslocos.com/ns7150.html

http://www.nslocos.com/ns7142.html

I have never figure out why some  N Scale engines sits 2-3 scale feet  above the trucks while others don't.

The loco is setting at the correct height, not 2-3 feet above. Look at the brake cylinder on the model and on the real thing. The sill is about 1 1/2 brake cylinder heights from the top of the brake cylinder. The only thing that makes it look like it rides high is the lack of a frame member above the truck. As I said, glue in a piece of plastruct I-beam, paint it black, and it will look just like the real thing, and have the same trackage limitations too.

[Brakie]

Tony,As I mention I find it very interesting some N Scale locomotives sit lower on their trucks then others and this geep 60 is in the higher on the truck clan.I'm not convince.It looks to high off the trucks.
------------------------------------------
Tony:and it will look just like the real thing, and have the same trackage limitations too.
-----------------------------------------
Are you saying the ride height is needed to go around 9 3/4" radius curves?

I'm not trying to cause a fuss here,I'm just trying to understand the various ride height of  N Scale locomotives.

[ljudice]

Larry, I agree it doesn't look exactly right, but I think Tony is correct in saying it is right - the problem is they don't have that additional part like Kato and FVM use between the frame and the fuel tank/trucks which fills this space in.

- Lou

[wm3798]

... but what about the jewel box?

[Brakie]

Larry, I agree it doesn't look exactly right, but I think Tony is correct in saying it is right - the problem is they don't have that additional part like Kato and FVM use between the frame and the fuel tank/trucks which fills this space in.

- Lou

Ahhh,makes sense..Some of the Atlas locomotives must use the same thing since several Atlas locomotives seems to be in the low rider clan.

I never paid that much attention to this till we started talking about this at the club some months ago.

Even though the height may be a tad to high I may still buy one or two NS GP60s since the ride height isn't all that obvious at normal layout viewing.

They are nice looking locomotives.

[bbussey]

... Are you saying the ride height is needed to go around 9 3/4" radius curves? ...

No.  He's saying that having an I-beam underneath the frame to act as a visual separator will impede the range of truck swivel.

... Even though the height may be a tad to high I may still buy one or two NS GP60s since the ride height isn't all that obvious at normal layout viewing...

Just curious - which part of "the ride height is correct" that was stated by numerous people multiple times above did you not comprehend?

[Brakie]

Bryan,I need not comprehend anything since years of observation of the prototype in photos and first hand I notice such things..Besides it sticks out like a sore thumb on a banjo picker.I haven't spent a life time around trains and not learn a thing or three.

You and other may think I'm wrong but,study pictures of GP60s and you'll see my concern.


First the model.
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/920-75404


Here's some prototype examples to get you started.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=370039&nseq=59

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=360659&nseq=86

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=303411&nseq=255

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=280470&nseq=314

[sizemore]

Bryan,I need not comprehend anything since years of observation of the prototype in photos and first hand I notice such things..Besides it sticks out like a sore thumb on a banjo picker.I haven't spent a life time around trains and not learn a thing or three.

You and other may think I'm wrong but,study pictures of GP60s and you'll see my concern.


First the model.
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/920-75404


Here's some prototype examples to get you started.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=370039&nseq=59

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=360659&nseq=86

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=303411&nseq=255

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=280470&nseq=314

The part you're missing is that all of the 2nd Gen EMD stuff has a drop sill which makes it look like it sits lower on the trucks the GP-60 does not. Not to mention it has the Type-M truck which doesnt have external hangars or high brake brake cylinders which typically sit a little higher on the truck.

The S.

[Brakie]

The S,Did you check the photos?

Those are GP60s..

[ljudice]

Larry, like I said I share your concern - I had one from the older run though, and it never bothered me (although other things about the model which seem corrected did)...  In other words from most viewing angles the lack of the frame/baffle/whatever is not so troublesome...

What actually annoys me more about this model is something Kato, Atlas and others also make a mistake on sometimes - the frame stripe is tape, not paint, and is too darned wide.

[Brakie]

As I mention I will probably buy one or two since the ride height can't be seen at normal layout viewing anyway..

Again I think they're nice looking engines.

[pedro]

Not helping is the photo of the NS model with the stark white sill stripe blending in with the white background being compared to an all-black proto unit. The photo is deceptive, the model is correct.

Atlas SD50/60s and IM SD40T-2s (among others) also suffer from the high-water look because of the missing frame parts and "junk" hanging down that should fill the gap. They are also at the right height. Easily fixed with very little effort. Note the improved "look" of Kato mid-prod SD40-2s with the frame detail insert versus the early version.