Modified RTR - A Canadian GP38-2 in N (Part 1)…

This latest Canadian adventure was going well and nearly focused on just Canadian National - until the Budd RDC arrived in CP Rail…

That meant, in my simple mind, that whatever follows has to include both CN and CP trains. My lovely Intermountain F7s would need to be joined by something else, something action red…

It seems as if prototypical Canadian N, unless modeling the prototype in the last twenty years or so, is almost non-existent. Not helped of course by GMD practice, vertical corner step wells, markers and bells on cab number boards, nose mounted headlights - all tooling options not progressed by Atlas, Kato or Lifelike. Even Rapido have shied away from freight units - just their lovely (yet CN only) Dash 8 and GMD-1. Beyond the first generation GP7 and 9 the Canadians skipped the later EMDs 18/20s and 35s really and didn’t buy until the unveiling of 645 powered second generation units; CN had a batch of 40s and CP some 38s. It was the upgraded electronics of the 38-2 and 40-2 before larger batches of 4 axle road power began to be delivered on Canadian rails from GMD.

In N you have examples of most of these, but it is the ex-Proto/Lifelike tooling that has the finest handrails. That means a GP38-2 then - and as I said in the intro, it was a CP unit I need - which explains why I’m not building a model of 4732 (yet), instead turning attention to a locomotive my Dad saw in the late 1990s. Not 3092 though, as that has a later ‘blower’ duct on the secondmans side, rather the trailing unit, 3027…

The Walthers GP38-2 is basically the Lifelike model but DCC friendly (note, strangely now Atlas own the tooling, and have released another batch more recently). I picked one up in Conrail blue from Rails for a wallet friendly price and once I was happy it ran it was dismantled and the paint stripped in IPA, revealing some beautifully sharp and neat tooling. This is going to respond well to the detailing work and thinner paint I will apply. As you would expect it is whisper quiet and incredibly slow running.

A quintessential late model CP GP38-2, Sutherland Yard, Saskatoon, circa 98/99. Keith Hilton photo.

CP 3027 from the first batch of CPs 38-2. Sutherland Yard, Saskatoon, circa 98/99. Keith Hilton photo.

I have enjoyed surveying the shell and comparing with my photographs, physical 5x7”’prints. Making a list of work to undertake, tasks to make this a Canadian model. Whilst sadly a few tasks look too difficult (namely the truck side frames - Lifelike used a different moulding to Atlas and Kato so I’ve not found a Blomberg replacement) most should be feasible - and certainly the standout Canadian features. We’ll tackle them slowly on the blog over the next few months I’m sure… 

Work this weekend started with the step wells in each corner. The GMD units have a distinctive vertical arrangement and at the bottom, a switchmans larger first step. Whilst this isn’t easily replicated without an etched or 3D printed replacement I thought I could probably suggest the shape by altering the original moulding and adding some styrene inserts, cut and shaped from various sections. The result is pleasing whilst not perfect, but in black and part of the overall transformation, I think will be satisfactory. 

Athearn GP38-2 reworked by me over thirty years ago - back then I didn’t tackle the steps!

This work, modifying a generic tooled body to be Canadian specific reminds me of my 1990s endeavours with generic Athearn blue box SD40-2 and GP38-2. A smattering of detail parts scavenged at North American themed shows and exhibitions allowed some semblance of Canadian features to be added. The results were ‘good enough’ at the time. In the many years since I’ve honed my skills yet that touch point, those memories feel warm, as if my mind and my hands are on familiar territory. 

Revisiting old friends with new ideas.

Practically the next step is to remove details on the bodywork before preparing to add some… I’ll be adding seperate grab irons from BLMA and then more Canadian details - some scratch built others from the usual suspects, Detail Associated and Kaslo Shops. I’ll document the processes yet talk about the feelings. Hopefully this may give you some ideas on how to approach personalisation and modifying your own ready to run models in any scale, gauge or prototype. A modelling skill hard earned but deeply rewarding. Until next time, more soon…

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