Atlas GP60's

[nscaler711]

I just got my Atlas GP60 yesterday and haven't added any pictures of it to my website yet. I'm talking about the pictures I posted here.

-Mark

I do have a question about all that too, How do you go about buyout/take overs on the manufacturer side of your list?
Especially considering Life Like -> Walthers -> Atlas are different companies almost completely. Doesn't that make it a bit difficult, or are you adding hyperlinks to the previous manufacturers?


As far as the drooping fuel tanks on the Atlas model I think the speaker and the lack of double sided tape is an issue with them. I have a few of the LL/W 60s and they all had tape to help secure it.

[peteski]

I just got my Atlas GP60 yesterday and haven't added any pictures of it to my website yet. I'm talking about the pictures I posted here.

-Mark

Well, duh (for me).  That's what I get for not reading the earlier posts. 

I went back and I noticed that the model turbowhiz has doesn't seem to have low-riding fuel tank.



It is also interesting seeing all those different ways Atlas designers deal with the truck wire routing, I think I have seen 3 or 4 variations so far.

[turbowhiz]

Well, duh (for me).  That's what I get for not reading the earlier posts. 

I went back and I noticed that the model turbowhiz has doesn't seem to have low-riding fuel tank.



It is also interesting seeing all those different ways Atlas designers deal with the truck wire routing, I think I have seen 3 or 4 variations so far.

So a couple of points; Its a GP-38-2, not a GP-60, so its a different model. However the truck sideframes appear identical.

(Rivet counting on... These trucks aren't quite right for the GP-60, with the most significant difference being the spring style amongst other details. The FVM GP-60 trucks appear correct based pictures I found on Mark's site)

And, the fuel tank was clearly filed down by the previous owner.... So someone was having trouble with the fuel tank dragging at some point in its life. The front pilot was also filed down a smidge, so I'm thinking the trackwork this guy operated on was on the rough side of things.

Note the pilot/tank file-down in my sideframe pics....



Not measured to see if the wheels are undersize, but its entirely possible. They're pretty nasty.

[nscaler711]

Ok small update on one of my horrible ideas.

With SOME modifications, you can get a FVM GP60M shell on to these mechs. I have not attempted the 60M/B as I only have a pair and I am not willing to modify those... yet?

Basically all I did is removed the cab light block and cut the sill towards the coupler box mounts. Of course If i want to remove the shell, I will have to remove the coupler boxes first.




It does seem the the FVM Light pipe front and rear fit and work ok without modification.
Granted the fuel tanks are too long, trucks are mid at best but at least the FVM shells are an upgrade.
I have had no luck adding sound to a factory stock FVM GP60, no room for a speaker without milling a frame and loosing a fair amount of weight, no drop in decoders that fit the weird light board.
For me this will have to do until ST decides to drop us a bone with a new GP60/M/B. 

[robertjohndavis]

My reluctance to purchase any Atlas locomotive isn’t lessened by this thread. It seems they are going through the motions and not giving their N-scale locomotives the attention to quality and improvement that the MSRP would suggest.