GP-9 B unit (N scale)

[asciibaron]

i'm looking to build an unpowered GP-9 B unit.  any suggestions where to start?  did someone make a kit?

-steve

[3rdrail]

i'm looking to build an unpowered GP-9 B unit.  any suggestions where to start?  did someone make a kit?

-steve

Des Plaines Hobbies makes a kit for the replacement of the cab that you can add to an Atlas GP9.

[atsf_arizona]

Hi, I just started on mine, using the Des Plaines Kit, DPN1003, and putting it on an powered unnumbered N scale Atlas GP7.

The kit is from
Des Plaines Hobbies (www.desplaineshobbies.com) in Chicago, and here's the part number:

DPN1003 N scale

EMD GP7/9 B unit conversion for newer (Chinese manufactured) Atlas units, plastic kit Includes handrails. To do ATSF GP7B’s and PRR/PC/Conrail and UP GP9B’s

$13.95 each (kit to do one GP7B or GP9B)

It's a pretty simple kit, thx to UP1950s who had generously posted this picture of the kit previously for us all to see:



UP1950s, I tried to find the old post of yours with the URL to your web site's picture, but I couldn't find it... so hope the above link is OK to a copy of your picture, let me know if it is not and I will pull it.

**Please note** the above picture shows the contents of *two* DPN1003 kits.  i.e. if you order one DPN1003 from Des Plaines, you will get parts to do *one* GP7B or GP9B.

I just started the rudimentary steps.

Disassembled shell:



Removed cab.  Two tabs, need to gently squeeze them out (as you
can tell, I sheared one of the tabs off!  Of course, will not
need cab so it's OK):



Side view of shell with cab removed:



Overhead view of shell with cab removed:



Kit instructions say assemble the side / top pieces first...
I am thinking about how I want to cut away or file down the existing plastic shell to allow the
pieces to fit.  I am thinking maybe grind down instead of completely cut out....
Cannot just place the side pieces on the existing shell (too thick), so will
need to cut out or grind. I want to make sure everything is perfectly straight
and also well supported... hmmm... thinking.

Test fit of replacement cab side:



Slowly working on it.....  hope this helps. 

[Sokramiketes]

John-

If you're worried about maintaining the proper spacing between the long and short hoods (so everything snaps back into the walkways...) then you can keep the two hoods attached at the bottom where the battery boxes and cab sub-base would hide it.

The channels for the cab make a great line to follow when cutting to remove plastic.  If you then cut straight across the bottom where the channels end... then the base will still hold the hoods in proper alignment.  Then just carve and file the top and sides to remove all traces of the channels, and the new B-unit hood section should drop into place.

If you over-do it, or have a slightly crooked gap between new and old, I make sure the pieces are tacked into place with some glue (plastic cement or just superglue). Then, I run a generous amount of thin super glue along the seam on the INSIDE.  There will be enough capilary action to pull the superglue into the seam, and out to the outside of the shell.  All going well, it won't leak out the front, so your seam gets filled in perfectly and you don't have to worry about the mess of body putty and sanding, etc.

Hope that helps.

[atsf_arizona]

Thx, Skibbe.   A couple of others had suggested same things (both in keeping
the bottom portion of the shell, as well as using CA to fill in any gaps), and your
suggestions will also be exactly what I am doing.

And Asciibaron, hope this thread helped give some info about your question?   

Another thread on another forum said that Des Plaines Hobbies has a couple of these
kits in stock at the moment.......  in the past, the DPN1003 kit was out of stock for
a long time, then sometime this year, another run was made......  so if you know
this is the right kit to help you, give them a call while they still have it in stock.

http://www.desplaineshobbies.com/n_parts.html

 

[atsf_arizona]

Skibbe, took your (and others advice), here's how I decide to do the shell cutout:



Slowly working on it.....

[atsf_arizona]

Finally finished the N scale Santa Fe GP7B:

Santa Fe GP7 B unit  - Des Plaines GP7/9 B unit kit ( http://www.desplaineshobbies.com/store/product/43003/N-GP7-9-B-CONV-KIT/ ) on a standard Atlas GP7 shell/mechanism, completed in 2008:



More info at:

https://pbase.com/atsf_arizona/gp7b_construction&page=all


Hope this helps out the original question asked on this thread.   

[Matthew Roberts]

Nice John. Anyone else besides ATSF have GP7/9 B-units?

[Bob Bufkin]

Nice John. Anyone else besides ATSF have GP7/9 B-units?

PRR and UP has GP-9b's.  They were the Phase III (I think) with the 3 48" fans instead of the 36" fans.

[atsf_arizona]

Hi, Matthew,

Bob Bufkin is right on - UP and PRR had the only GP9Bs.

Santa Fe had the only GP7Bs - 2788A-2792A, a total of 5 GP7Bs.  They spent almost all of
their service life with Santa Fe in Texas.