Another Penn Central GP38-2 Project

Greetings All,

After the posting of the Penn Central GP38 #7675 project in P.C.C.M. 28G on March 1, 2017
http://newyorkcentrallayout.blogspot.com/2017/03/pccm-28g-dispatch-of-train-ls-1.html   fellow modeler ATJOE1972 offered some noteworthy comments on the Penn Central GP38 fleet. With that info and a little more research I found this spread sheet online
http://trainweb.org/jfuhrtrain/PC/PC_GP38_Data.html

This is part of the information from the above link;

The 7675-7737 series matches the old Atlas/Con-Cor GP38.

The three series in bold below are the group of those locomotives that the new Atlas factory painted PC GP38 matches.

The 7940-8162 series GP38-2 units can be modeled using the Athearn blue box kits.

PENN CENTRAL GP38 Roster^[1]

Road Numbers	Built	Controls	Cab Type	Air Filter	Dynamics?	Fuel Tank
2000-2004 [2]	1967	dual	extended front	oil-bath	no dynamic	2600 gal
2005-2009 [2]	1969	dual	extended front	paper	no dynamic	2600 gal
2010-2014 [3]	1970	dual	extended front	paper	no dynamic	3200 gal
7675-7737	1969-71	single	standard	oil-bath	equipped	2600 gal
7738-7814	1969-71	single	standard	paper	equipped	2600 gal
7815-7824	1969-71	dual	extended front	paper	equipped	2600 gal
7825-7903	1969-71	single	standard	paper	equipped	2600 gal
7904-7907	1969-71	dual	extended front	paper	no dynamic	3200 gal
7908-7939	1969-71	single	standard	paper	equipped	2600 gal
7940-8162 [4]	1972-73	single	standard	paper	equipped

With this information in mind I turned my attention to a forgotten engine in my fleet, an Athearn BB GP38-2 that I painted for the New York Central assigning it number 2933 in 2010. Once one of my favorites after awhile as I learned more and more about the NYC and PC this 'fantasy' schemed engine went into the box and pretty much remained there for the last five years.

As I began to further explore both the PC and NYC I considered repainting the NYC 2933 into a more prototypical PC GP38-2. Now this was blasphemous as never before had a NYC engine that I painted been stripped and repainted for the PC. So I did what I did best when confronted with a modeling project that I was not fully committed to. I procrastinated. But ultimately I put the engine into a four unit consist and, well...the rest is history.  

The subject of this blog entry, New York Central GP38-2 #2933 is in the #2 position of this four unit consist. This lash up ran extremely well and was a big factor in the repainting of NYC #2933. Sharp eyed modelers will note that the paper air filter box on the 2933 is in the wrong position. Something else to fix. All of the below units were painted over the past 7 years. 

The four unit lash up looks pretty cool on the Empire City viaduct. The PC units are all pretty accurate but as you know the NYC unit is not. The 7675 was the first GP38 purchased by the PC and it features oil bath air filters. You can see it does not have the paper air filter box behind the cab. This info was pointed out by ATJOE1972 and the above chart shows that standard cab GP38s 7675 - 7737 were so equipped.

Seven years ago NYC GP38-2 #2933 was OK. The should I paint it or leave it alone question has been mulled over for several years. Below we can pretty much hear 1/87th scale PC Ralph saying 'John, it's a no brainer'

So NYC GP38-2 #2933 became the first ever custom painted NYC unit to be stripped and painted for the Penn Central. How prototypical is that! It is now Penn Central #8038

Some of the trainmen and tower men of the PC / N.Y.C.T.L. have gathered at Terminal Yard for the unveiling. Note that I corrected the paper air filter box location by removing and turning the dynamic brake blister.

PC 8038 and friends take the curve over Water Street with a priority freight train.

A close up of the newest GP38-2 in the PC fleet.

A four unit lash up of PC GP38-2s and a GP-38 run light on the lower level of Empire City.

Penn Central four pack on a priority freight thru Empire City. How cool is that!!!! All units painted by the N.Y.C.T.L. Paint Shop.  

While this has been a very rewarding project it was not without it's difficulties. Stripping the paint from the units turned out to be a major pain in the neck and it looked doubtful for awhile that I could accomplish it. First I soaked the shell in 91% alcohol. No results. 

Next I soaked it in brake fluid. The lettering and numbers came off along with some of the paint. A week later it was still soaking with no real progress made. 

With nothing left to lose at this point I used a spray can of Super Tech non-chlorinated brake parts cleaner and an old toothbrush to get the stubborn paint off the model. The can says it is safe on most automobile plastics so I gave it a shot. After many more shots outside and much scrubbing the model was finally cleaned of the old paint. 

After a thorough washing with soapy water and rinsing with cold water the model was allowed to air dry and was finally ready for paint. 

Thanks for reading!!!!