Proto 2000 LIRR GP38-2

[Rscott417]

I just purchased this P2K gp38-2 on ebay. <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/920-31051">www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/920-31051</a><!-- w -->.
I was wondering if anyone knows if the trucks and fuel tank are the correct color. The only pictures I've seen of these are sort of dark and can't tell whether the trucks and tank are black or if they really are the same color blue as the body paint. Also what color blue should I use to paint any detail parts this model will need to match the blue on this shell?

[eightyeightfan1]

Fallen Flags site has two pictures of that exact unit. One, there are wires in the way and really can't see the trucks or the tank. The second one, and all the others of the LIRR GP-38's I looked at the trucks and the tank look like a grey, or even a weathered black. But #266, had a splash of clean spot on the tank, and the color looked blue like the rest of the loco.. I did notice that there seemed to be a sooty, grey weathering on the locos of all the pictures I looked at.

Depending on how you want your loco to look, road weary or right out of the paint shop.

[cnw1961]

Bob, I think the trucks and the tank on these engines were painted black and that LifeLike got it wrong. BTW, Atlas released their LIRR GP38-2 with black tank and trucks: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://download.atlasrr.com/Images/HOLoco/HOGP38/0308/10000295-A_TQ.jpg">http://download.atlasrr.com/Images/HOLo ... 5-A_TQ.jpg</a><!-- m -->

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=129363&nseq=38">http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 63&nseq=38</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/lirrGP38/lirrGP38.htm">http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/lirrGP38/lirrGP38.htm</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/LIRR%20Named%20Diesels.htm">http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/LIRR%2 ... iesels.htm</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=493014&nseq=6">http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 014&nseq=6</a><!-- m -->

[Rscott417]

Thanks for the info Kurt, really great links. I had a feeling LifeLike got it wrong. I had the option between the Atlas and the Lifelife model and I still went with the lifelike even though I thought the colors were wrong because it just looks like a much more detailed model. I also haven't seen too many of them so I went for it. The Atlas has too many incorrect parts and details. I think painting the tank and truck colors to black would be easier than the fixes the Atlas needs.
Also Athearn announced a LIRR MP15 so I thought they would make a great tandem. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/092614/01_Gen_MP15AC_092914.pdf">http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/09261 ... 092914.pdf</a><!-- m -->

[Sumpter250]

I could found two photos of the class E-20m, #s 270,taken in 1976, and the 277 taken in 1977 ( closer to your scheme ).
In both of these pictures, trucks, frame, and tank are all black. There was also a photo of 271 ( not dated) in Red White and Blue. The frame, trucks, and tank, are the typical weathered black.
The source: "Diesels of the Sunrise Trail", John J. Scala. The release date was 1984.

[jwb]

It could well be black, but it's so heavily weathered that it's very hard to tell.

   

[Sumpter250]

jwb, that's the red, white, and blue scheme I was referring to. The photos of the engines, "new", show shiny black frame and trucks. Your photo shows the typical "fade-dirt-weather-look", of almost every well used diesel loco's trucks and frame, that had originally started out "shiny black" ( it's Mother Nature's way of showing us "she", is still "in charge" ) :o

[faraway]

The left upper corner of the tank looks blue to me. The left bearing of the front truck too.

[Rscott417]

But then there's these images from the link Kurt posted, fresh out of the paint shop. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/lirrGP38/de_page24.jpg">http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/lirrGP38/de_page24.jpg</a><!-- m -->

[faraway]

I assume they used both versions. 251, 261 and 266 look blue and 252 is black. May be blue is the right color but when the shop ran out of blue and black was at hand it was used. There was a paint shop foreman faced with the decision to keep the engine for one week in the shop until new blue paint arrives or do it black now. That's an easy business decision.
I would paint/keep the model blue except I have evidence that specific engine you model had black tank and trucks at the time your layout is related to.

[Rscott417]

Yea I don't think they were ever blue. That photo of #251 was taken at the EMD plant brand new with black trucks and tank. I think it's just the quality of the pictures and the amount dirt and grime making them appear blue. Im going with the theory of an over sight by LifeLike.

[Rscott417]

I got the train in the mail today. Anyone know which paint I should use to match any add on parts with the blue body color?

[eightyeightfan1]

"Grimey" or a flat black are two choices I would probably use.
That's what it looked like in the pictures.

[Rscott417]

It funny, even in the pictures I took of the model each picture makes them look a slightly different shade. The color doesn't seem as blue as it does in the walthers link either. It almost looks like a dark purple but it could definitely be my lack of lighting.

[Rscott417]

I looked into Tru-Color Paints (<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://trucolorpaint.com">http://trucolorpaint.com</a><!-- m -->) they seem like they'll be a good alternative for RR colors since Testors discontinued theirs. Anyway they said they'll have LIRR colors around March or April next year. I'll have to wait until then to finish this but it's not so bad since the Athearn LIRR mp15s aren't scheduled to come out until June of next year. So I'll check back in a few months when the paint becomes available.