New Athearn Genesis GP38-2s

[madonnasuffolk30]

Athearn has announced new Genesis line Missouri Pacific GP38-2s that represent that last GP38-2s purchased by the Mopac. Scheduled to arrive next December.

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/122915/01_Genesis_GP38-2_122915.pdf

Nate

[John Garavaglia]

Saw them…I asked if they were including the flush exhaust base plates…if the spark arrestors are not mounted.

I was hoping they would offer an MP version Undecorated…But these are very tempting.

I might just get four more GP38-2’s.

[bargetanika]

Are these the right ones to pair with a GP 15?

[clemmie_doris12]

Pat,

I’m not sure about the context of your question, but these GP38-2 units would have been used in consist with GP15-1 units after their delivery.

[John Garavaglia]

What do you guys think about the North Little Rock UP repaints? Wow!

[clemmie_doris12]

I much prefer blue to yellow. Are you trying to make me ill?

[peggyrothschild]

@kwlove126 wrote:

I much prefer blue to yellow. Are you trying to make me ill?

I really wish they’d do the ‘as delivered’ scheme with the MPL buzz saw on the cab, the small numbers on the hood and the 3′ striping. They’d already done this scheme. The red and white GM&O units are attractive; I use to see them at Venice Yard in East St. Louis tied up with their F-3’s in the mid-1970’s.

[John Garavaglia]

Kevin: I feel the same way…Just having some fun 😈

Charlie: The original paint scheme wouldn’t work for those units…as they were delivered much later.

I am working on two of them…however. MP 2030 and MP 2102. I am using different Athearn long hoods to accomplish these.

[John Garavaglia]

There are couple of issues with these engines…and I sent an email to Chris Palomerez at Athearn…

1. Fuel Tank: 3600 gallon fuel tank should have the top mounted fuel gauges…and no side-mount tank gauge. This is also a problem on the GP50’s…and I’m not sure if they will correct it.

2. Numeral font is wrong (Again). The long hood of the engine has the wrong font design for MP lettering and numbers. I sent the correct font recommendations to Athearn…but no replies yet. Basically, the numeral “2” is incorrect…and resembles a T & P style number…but the correct numbers and font would mirror the Microscale Decal (87-113)set…but maybe just a bit thinner…This was also the case on the first run of Genesis GP38-2’s…and they don’t look right…I’d rather not strip these new units…they’re a pain in the rear to take apart.

3. Spark Arresters…Hopefully, they’ll either include the flush exhaust plates to equip the units with Spark Arresters…or supply them on the engines…because I could actually see these showing up from China with just the Spark arrester on top and no exhaust plate with bolt patterns…

I copied Nathan in on the issues…so hopefully they’ll get back to him (at least)…Things aren’t too good there since Shane Wilson left Athearn about getting back with people…(I was a long time contributor)…I have a much better time getting in touch with Shane now that he is at Scale Trains…This is my opinion, BTW.

[James Pruitt]

I put in my preorder for one today.

Regardless of what Athearn delivers, it will get stripped and rebuilt from the ground up. If it is as good as their GP15-1’s, not a whole lot of work needs to be done.

I am looking forward to adding it to my roster. Now I just need couple quality B23-7 and and my locomotive purchases will be complete.

Brian

[John Garavaglia]

I might buy a couple of them…but await an answer on an undecorated version. I agree on the B23-7…and there might be light at the end of the tunnel. Not ATLAS…Tom Bacarella is looking at the suggestions…and we’ll see if they can correct the fuel tank issue or not. Tooling costs might dictate what happens there.

**I edited this post for those who have read it…I’ve softened my position on the issues…It’s up to Athearn to fix or not to fix.

[John Hall]

@cduckworth wrote:

I really wish they’d do the ‘as delivered’ scheme with the MPL buzz saw on the cab, the small numbers on the hood and the 3′ striping. They’d already done this scheme.

Couldn’t agree more. Do the original version in the ‘as delivered’ paint scheme Athearn.

David

[John Garavaglia]

They have all the parts to do them…including the correct fan spacing…pilots…and walkway…and short hoods.

I went ahead and ordered mine. I’ll just strip them and repair the issues I have. No sense in going on and on.

I’ll leave the model business to the MPHS. I’m concentrating on building the layout and my GP15-1’s and GP38-2’s in house.

At any rate…it’s nice to see GP38-2’s in MP blue!

[John Garavaglia]

Athearn informed me today…they are correcting the font on the numerals…and the spark arrestors will indeed have base plates installed on them.

There was no mention of the fuel tank gauge…just passing along information.

[John Garavaglia]

Update on these:

No undecorated versions. But, they are fixing the numerals to match photos…there are different fonts of MP numerals…in the post 1974 paint scheme. The Spark Arrestors will be corrected when they receive the pre production model.

The fuel tanks will not be corrected on these…but might be in the future. Too bad we don’t have the clout that SP modelers do. They are getting new shells for their SD40Rs!!

Anyway..these will be just fine to use as “runners” until I get around to shopping them one at a time.

I ordered two numbers.

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