Athearn GP40-2 Review
Athearn
GP40-2...
Athearn makes a perfect GP40-2. I would recommend
you purchase this kit before any other. My strong opinion of this
centers around two points. First, the Athearn kit is very reasonably
priced at around $30. I have gotten two on eBay for $20. Finding
them at a train shows is a cheap alternative too. Secondly, they
are dead on for a phase I GP40-2 which is what started off the Chessie
Era.
The first units in Chessie paint (1977 and GM50) were
phase I GP40-2's. Units 4100-4246 are perfect for this kit.
At 146 units total, this makes a significant chunk of the Chessie units.
GM50, the one of a kind gold painted unit, and 1977 the 150th Anniversary
of the B&O unit were also a phase I GP40-2.
Even better, you can put a new nose from Details Associates
and make a Phase II GP40-2 out of it. This will add units 4246-4371.
In addition you can put on some "Q-fans" and turn a Phase II into a Phase
III and add 4372-4447. As you can see, with some quick changes you
can get closed to 350 total units out of this kit. What a deal!
Compare that with the 20 or so units of a GP15, U30C or U23B. The
GP40-2 is THE CHESSIE UNIT.
Below are two Dean Heacock pics of a Phase I (left) and
Phase III on the right.
Below are pics of my finished GP40-2. To see more
on GP40-2's look on my GM50
tips page or my GM50cs-b&o
locomotive page.
((Working on this now)).
