GP38 Atlas or Athearn

[squeaky]

I would like to buy an HO GP38, i've been looking out for an Atlas GP38 for a reasonable price but haven't found one in a livery I like.

 

So if I were to go for an Athearn GP38-2, Atlas Trainman GP38 or even a Proto 2000 lifelike GP38, which is the better model?

 

I'd like a CP, CN, CSX or something else quite up to date.

[Glorious NSE]

Okay, first off there's two different prototype loco's involved in your list above:

 

Atlas is a GP38

Trainman, Athearn and Proto are GP38-2

 

"Dash 2" loco's are (broadly speaking) post 1972 built, non dash-2 loco's are 1966-1972 built, there are design differences between the two, so - if you're modelling something specific save yourself hassle by picking the right starting point. Both designs are still around so either will work on a modern layout. Dash 2's were built from 1972 well into the 1980s so there are a lot of production changes (phase differences) over the course of production as well.

 

Nice models can be made from all of them, but here's a rundown:

 

**Atlas GP38** - Superb model straight from the box, equipped with high levels of detail, superb chassis, now available with/without sound, formerly dcc equipped, non DCC versions convert easily.

**Trainman GP38-2** - basic model, no "stand-off" detail (dimples provided to drill your own holes for grab irons etc) - high quality chassis shared with the Atlas GP38 above, 8 pin socket for easy DCC install, moulding quality not the best and some inaccuracies present, but a nice model can be made with a bit of work.

**Athearn RTR GP38-2** - based on the old "blue box" kit, early runs had no plug & play DCC capability (there were bespoke kits available) - chassis okay but probably the least smooth of the three, does have stand-off detail but also big holes in the pilots from it's blue-box days. Nice tooling though. Again a nice model can be made with a bit of work.

**Proto GP38-2** - IIRC there were a couple of inaccuracies in the early runs - Stand off detail, albeit mostly done in plastic so it can be a bit fragile, DCC install is confused slightly by extra bulbs for number board lights (I reccomend ripping the extra ones out personally then it's just a case of installing a DH165LO) - otherwise a very nice looking loco, proto tooled up for a number of "phases" so several detail variants are capable of being modelled, includes a useful baggie of customising bits as well, also ended up discounted heavily to clear from some outlets so can be found fairly inexpensively. Decent smooth running qualities, i'd rate as the middle of the three drives involved.

 

If you want something to look good and run straight from the box and you don't have a clear idea of wanting to model a specific loco i'd look to the Atlas GP38 or Proto GP38-2 as being the least-hassle ways of getting it running.

 

If you're modelling something specific then you might want to delve a bit deeper, find the tooling that best matches what you want and/or the livery you want in the ranges and go that way...

[Scottish Modeller]

Okay, first off there's two different prototype loco's involved in your list above:

 

Atlas is a GP38

Trainman, Athearn and Proto are GP38-2

 

"Dash 2" loco's are (broadly speaking) post 1972 built, non dash-2 loco's are 1966-1972 built, there are design differences between the two, so - if you're modelling something specific save yourself hassle by picking the right starting point. Both designs are still around so either will work on a modern layout. Dash 2's were built from 1972 well into the 1980s so there are a lot of production changes (phase differences) over the course of production as well.

 

Nice models can be made from all of them, but here's a rundown:

 

**Atlas GP38** - Superb model straight from the box, equipped with high levels of detail, superb chassis, now available with/without sound, formerly dcc equipped, non DCC versions convert easily.

**Trainman GP38-2** - basic model, no "stand-off" detail (dimples provided to drill your own holes for grab irons etc) - high quality chassis shared with the Atlas GP38 above, 8 pin socket for easy DCC install, moulding quality not the best and some inaccuracies present, but a nice model can be made with a bit of work.

**Athearn RTR GP38-2** - based on the old "blue box" kit, early runs had no plug & play DCC capability (there were bespoke kits available) - chassis okay but probably the least smooth of the three, does have stand-off detail but also big holes in the pilots from it's blue-box days. Nice tooling though. Again a nice model can be made with a bit of work.

**Proto GP38-2** - IIRC there were a couple of inaccuracies in the early runs - Stand off detail, albeit mostly done in plastic so it can be a bit fragile, DCC install is confused slightly by extra bulbs for number board lights (I reccomend ripping the extra ones out personally then it's just a case of installing a DH165LO) - otherwise a very nice looking loco, proto tooled up for a number of "phases" so several detail variants are capable of being modelled, includes a useful baggie of customising bits as well, also ended up discounted heavily to clear from some outlets so can be found fairly inexpensively. Decent smooth running qualities, i'd rate as the middle of the three drives involved.

 

If you want something to look good and run straight from the box and you don't have a clear idea of wanting to model a specific loco i'd look to the Atlas GP38 or Proto GP38-2 as being the least-hassle ways of getting it running.

 

If you're modelling something specific then you might want to delve a bit deeper, find the tooling that best matches what you want and/or the livery you want in the ranges and go that way...

Hi all,

 

I'm with Martyn on this as well....

 

I needed both GP38 and GP38-2 versions for what I'm modelling in US stuff.

 

Guilford - Pre Pan-Am, era is where I'm at.

 

As a result I need to represent the ex-MEC GP38 and the ex BM GP38-2

 

I started out with the Athearn ex Blue Box GP38-2 for the basis - then quickly changed my mind!

 

Now I'm working with the Atlas GP38 and either the Trainman GP38-2 or Proto GP38-2.

 

The choice for the GP38-2 depends on what I cna find and what price!

 

Currently I'm busy doing a couple of GP40-2 to fit the roster.

 

These are GP40-2(W) and GP40-2L(W) versions - the modelling of the GP38/GP38-2 will follow once these GP40's are completed.

 

Still to do (and even think about base models for) GP38 and GP38-2, GP39....

 

Thanks

Phil H

 

 

 

 

[Andrew Peters]

Hi all,

 

I'm with Martyn on this as well....

 

I needed both GP38 and GP38-2 versions for what I'm modelling in US stuff.

 

Guilford - Pre Pan-Am, era is where I'm at.

 

As a result I need to represent the ex-MEC GP38 and the ex BM GP38-2

 

I started out with the Athearn ex Blue Box GP38-2 for the basis - then quickly changed my mind!

 

Now I'm working with the Atlas GP38 and either the Trainman GP38-2 or Proto GP38-2.

 

The choice for the GP38-2 depends on what I cna find and what price!

 

Currently I'm busy doing a couple of GP40-2 to fit the roster.

 

These are GP40-2(W) and GP40-2L(W) versions - the modelling of the GP38/GP38-2 will follow once these GP40's are completed.

 

Still to do (and even think about base models for) GP38 and GP38-2, GP39....

 

Thanks

Phil H

 

Sorry to slightly hijack the thread,

 

But Phil H, have you got some Gilford Rail System decals for your loco's? If so where did you get them?

 

Cheers

Andrew

 

Back to thread

 

Atlas do seem to be the best, more people sugest them than anything else + in my case they are sounds equiped which makes life even easier

[Scottish Modeller]

Sorry to slightly hijack the thread,

 

But Phil H, have you got some Gilford Rail System decals for your loco's? If so where did you get them?

 

Cheers

Andrew

 

Back to thread

 

Atlas do seem to be the best, more people sugest them than anything else + in my case they are sounds equiped which makes life even easier

 

Hi Andrew,

 

Guilford Decals - Yes.....

 

I have decals form Microscale. Pack No 87-951 for HO.

 

Also available in N - no idea what the reference is though!

 

Hope this helps!

 

Thanks

[Accurascale Fran]

I've got a Proto 2000 GP38-2 that I picked up fairly cheaply whilst in the States and I have to say that its a little beauty. Looks good, runs superbly. Only black mark for me is that it has no cab interior. Oh well, somewhere to fit the speaker when I install sound maybe...

[highpeak]

Here's a pair of MEC GP38s, pre-Guilfraud. About all GTI probably did to the GP38s was install ditch lights, I'm afraid I lost interest after they took over. Danville Jct, switching the interchange track with the GT.

[squeaky]

I've bought both an Atlas GP38 and an Athearn GP38-2.

 

I have not received the Atlas one as yet its gone missing on its way from the states

 

The Athearn was a bargain from Ebay at ??20.

 

 

Well to be honest i'm not impressed with the Athearn effort, there is alot of detail that needs adding and the mech is not exactly DCC freindly

Anyone want an Athearn WC GP38-2?

[Oldddudders]

I've bought both an Atlas GP38 and an Athearn GP38-2.

 

I have not received the Atlas one as yet its gone missing on its way from the states

 

The Athearn was a bargain from Ebay at ??20.

 

 

Well to be honest i'm not impressed with the Athearn effort, there is alot of detail that needs adding and the mech is not exactly DCC freindly

Anyone want an Athearn WC GP38-2?

A great shame to be disappointed like that. Current Athearn models are very much the biz, but the GP38-2 was their first 4-axle diesel with a scale-width hood, so must now be about 20 years old. At the time, "doing up" a diesel with parts from Detail Associates, Details West etc was seen as the only affordable answer to brass. Atlas's GP38 has been in their catalogue since shortly after the ark landed - the one I bought in 1985 was made by Roco - but I believe the current offering has all-new tooling now and loads more detail, so hopefully yours will appear and cheer you up soon!

[squeaky]

I suppose the old saying "you get what you pay for" is true here. I paid ??20 for the second hand Athearn GP38-2 and ??75 for the new GP38.

[CraigZ]

For a straight GP38 the Atlas is the only game in town, and it's a darn good game.

 

For a GP38-2, the general consensus over here is that despite its age that the Athearn shell is simply the most dimensionally accurate. The Atlas GP38-2 has strange issues with the doors being off to the point that the grills are a mess; the Proto shell also has some serious issues. And one other thing the Athearn has going for it - the Athearn Blomberg bogie sideframes. They're 25 year old tooling and still the undisputed best ones out there...to the point that an adapter kit exists to retrofit them to Atlas bogies!

 

Now, what this means to you depends on how much effort you're putting into the model. If I were to be building one for my Penn Central modeling, I'd start with Athearn, replace the cab with a Cannon cab, replace the fans with Cannon fans and rework the pilots and steps with Cannon bits as well. Depending on the particular example I had in hand, I might or might not repower it with a better motor - most of the Athearn motors can be very good runners with a bit of tuning.

 

But if you're looking for a GP38-2 to run on a layout and not go full bore modeling, go for the Atlas Trainman. Great runners - in fact they use the same mechanism as their Silver/Master series. The straight GP38 that I'm finishing up now is in fact build on a Trainman GP38-2 mechanism that I got for free with another model that I've since sold off...I ordered correct sideframes and a complete GP38 shell from Atlas and I'm in business. That's another great thing about Atlas - you can actually source spares from them...and they are not expensive. Availability comes and goes but it's generally good.

[signalmaintainer]

Atlas will give you the best value -- just my experience.