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Alaska Railroad #2005 an EMD GP38u as of 1998 Modeled by Pat Durand
GP 38 Serial No. 35381 was built in 1969 to become Penn Central # 7752. It then became ConRail #7752 and was acquired by the Alaska Railroad in 1986 to become #2005.
Starting with an ATLAS #8980 GP38-2 Locomotive with DCC Alaska RR #2005 and follow up with the following parts list.
Source Photos: Robert Krol Roster Photo as of 1998. Gravel Train at Nenana as of 2005 by Pat Durand
Process: Start by snapping out the Dynamic housing and extending the blister toward the rear and adding the small door per the photos. This was done with styrene strip stock and sheet. Also add two more exhaust stacks for a total of four.
Modify the Miniatures by Eric horn by clipping off and reversing the larger of the two rear facing bells. This is an easy solder job if you take the time to clean and tin both surfaces to be joined. Add the Firecracker Antenna, the Overland speaker horn to the roof.
The extra horizontal Pyle headlight was drilled to accept MV lenses. You can drill the lamps out and insert mini bulbs if you insist. On many occasions I see the prototype running with only the lower vertical lamps lit so I saved some effort and plan to do the same. The large beacon is mounted on a standoff to make it visible over the headlight. I simulated the stand with a piece of round clear styrene and painted the three legs on with yellow paint. I drilled out the center to accept a mini bulb which will get the flasher treatment as a function on the DCC Decoder.
If you have the cab off, you might want to open one of the side cab windows to give the crew some fresh air. No awnings on 2005 as of 1998. Small wind deflector mirrors were mounted forward of the windows on each side and I build these out of small strips of packing plastic with stainless paint creating the frame and mirror.
There are some distinctive green filters under the frame over the trucks on the right side both fore and aft. Locate these from the photos. I used small pieces of green wire insulation with a section of brass wire pressed into a hole in the frame.
The speed recorder is mounted on the right rear journal of the front truck. Position the ground effect lights at the edge of the frame under each cab window. Tall MU stands go on the deck forward of the handrail on each end. The horizontal tank was simulated on the rear of the fuel tank with styrene box section and sheet.
The locomotive was finished with light weathering to blend new additions and match the photo taken by Robert Krol. The reflective red and white stripes on the tank were done with adhesive printer label material with alternating red and white stripes printed and cut in strips. Gloss was painted on these strips and other "glass" reflective areas.
I selected 2005 to modify because it was an easy project detailing the excellent Atlas GP38 to become the ARR GP38u with the distinctive 75th anniversary decals provided by Harold Emerick. Try It you'll like it.