More information on the prototype IAIS 600
IAIS GP38 600, with its extended cab face, is one of those units I just had to include in my IAIS roster. The best starting point for it is the Atlas Early GP38, with the undecorated version being Atlas item #9100. IAIS 600 has a 2600 gallon fuel tank, so use the smaller of the two provided by Atlas.
Modifications for IAIS 600 included the following:
- Horizontally shortened a Cannon #1901 paper air filter, splicing it into the forward end of the Atlas blank roof piece. Note that, as received by IAIS, 600 had a rectangular paper air filter such as that supplied in the Atlas late GP38, but an engine fire in 1999 or 2000 damaged the original filter box, so it was replaced. To represent the scars left behind by this repair, I spliced a section of styrene into the Atlas blank roof piece at the rear of the original filter location.
- Added the Atlas MU pocket bar on the rear pilot with the footboards removed.
- Using a new X-acto blade and a metal straight-edge, carefully scribe vertically down from both sides of the numberboards through the windshield and horizontally across the top of the numberboard until the windshield and numberboard assembly is freed from the Atlas cab. Fashion new 11" wide side extensions from styrene, and a roof extension from a spare Atlas cab (available for $2 from Atlas). Note that Cannon cabs aren't recommended for this application, since the dimensions and angles of the Atlas roof vary slightly from Cannon's.
- Other details added as listed in the Detail Parts section.
Contributed by Joe Atkinson
Overall view of IAIS GP38 600 showing the cab face extension, paper air filter modifications, and some initial detailing. By: Joe Atkinson
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Close-up of those beautiful new Cannon & Company #1704 radiator fans. By: Joe Atkinson
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Front view showing extended cab face and cab roof modifications. Barely visible over the engineer's side front window, below the roof extension, is the conduit running out of the cab face and up to the EOT antenna. Note that the horizontal red/yellow stripe is several inches too low, as per the prototype. The standard IAIS scheme has the top yellow stripe falling on the bottom edge of the cab side windows. By: Joe Atkinson
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Conductor's side view showing Operation Lifesaver decals from Oddballs Decals IAIS Diesel set. By: Joe Atkinson
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Roof view showing air filter modifications and cab roof detail. IAIS 600 started life with a squared air filter box such as that provided with the Atlas GP38, but received roof modifications and was retrofitted with the newer angled-style box in 1999 after an electrical fire. It was this work that led to the unit being repainted by an outside contractor, and it's at that time it received the OLS logo and incorrect low stripes. By: Joe Atkinson
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Conductor's side front view. Class lights lenses were painted with a mix of grimy black and old silver. By: Joe Atkinson
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