Nothing special to update, other than a couple of RTR models delivered today, both 2 rail and both (even including income tax and shipping) cheap as chips.
The GP60 is a nice model for RTR, there are the usual issues with Atlas models, over width truck frames, psuedo fuel tanks plus lack of chassis rails and battle ship plate work for the cab and corresponding glazing that would be better suited in a panzer tank periscope! All of which is fixable with a modicum of effort.
Not sure where this one will go, may keep it as a pure SP unit or pimp it out to a tired and patched UP unit. I did manage to get up close and personal with one in Florida back in 2013 so have enough detailed information to trick it out.
Quite why a UP GP60 was on the CSX Autorack ramp in Taft for three weeks is beyond me. Possibly because CSX doesn't actually own any production GP60's it's self, it has the three demo units with rounded cab/noses, but these work locals out of Winston just down the road. I suspect the extra 700 hp was handy for some of the longer cuts of cars and if CSX used it's own power would probably end up with paired GP40-2/GP38-2's.
UP 1949 was ex Cotton Belt SSW 9692. Taft FL 2013
The second model was another Atlas Trainman Dash 8 -40CW. The trainman range is a lower spec and it shows in certain areas, the model is good for your TOFC hotshot blatting around the garden railway, not so good for your indoor switching or depot layout.
Nice to see that Atlas have at least tried to get the major differences right between railroads, something MTH didn't manage to do with it's ES44AC model, well, not the one I have, I believe there are some variants in the shell work but they try to cover too many real railroad variants.
The usual American RTR issues abound, again, like the GP60 all fixable to a lessor degree. The truck frames are really not worth any effort, far easier to develop some 3D replacements and move them inboard. Same with the fuel tank and lack of chassis rails.
Fortunately the cab appears to be separable, hence the correct gull wing profile for the ATSF model, it also means I should be able to tweak the GEVO cab etches I have to replace the whole cab section; both on this ATSF model and my previous UP model.
Handrails and ditch lights are other areas on both models that could do with tweaking, I'm at the point now where I have enough models to perhaps consider getting a production run up for cast brass replacements, something I'll ponder on in due course.
Not sure that quarter light window is quite right.
Whilst this is a much later and bigger AC44 (UP C45CTTE basically an AC44 with updated traction control giving an....on paper....extra 100 Hp) the cab (what I call Mk I) is fundamentally the same. There are differences in number boards, front doors and steps etc but the basic shape and windows remained constant throughout the Mk I range.
UP 5386 Mojave 2019.
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