MTH Premier GG1s Question

Here is an article that may help.

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...-gg1s-live-on?page=1

I think the later MTH PS3 versions have slightly better detail. I have a JLC Lionel GG1 in the five stripe green scheme. It has the best detail of the four GG1s I own. You just have to be careful of the zinc rot issue that is present in SOME versions…

Tom

Thank you, Tom! That was a great read, and your thoughts of the JLC is much help. Now I know what to search for.

Jim

Jim, I have a 20-5518-1 the Brunswick Green version from 2002.  It is really nicely detailed, but as Tom posted and I suspected, the JLC version would be better detailed.  Unfortunately, mine just sits on a shelf since I don't have 072 curves.  However, it really looks great on the shelf.   Good luck on your search!!!!

According to GG1 expert and connoisseur Jonathan, the JLC model is only truly correct scale G of the several popular models out there. If I remember correctly, he says the Lionel is about 1/2" longer and I like the spoked wheels that I've not seen on the others.

@c.sam posted:

According to GG1 expert and connoisseur Jonathan, the JLC model is only truly correct scale G of the several popular models out there. If I remember correctly, he says the Lionel is about 1/2" longer and I like the spoked wheels that I've not seen on the others.

That only applies if you get one that the sideframes aren't rotting away on!

Thanks again, guys. Always great help from the OGR forum.

@Mark Boyce posted:

Unfortunately, mine just sits on a shelf since I don't have 072 curves.  However, it really looks great on the shelf.   Good luck on your search!!!!

I'm like you ... I don't have the big curves, either. Except at Christmas time, when my carpet-central FasTrack layout around the room goes up. Rest of the year, my two nicest locomotives .... Vision GG1 and Legacy Y6b ... are on the shelf. You're right, though .... they do look nice up there.

@c.sam posted:

Awesome photo!

@c.sam posted:

According to GG1 expert and connoisseur Jonathan, the JLC model is only truly correct scale G of the several popular models out there. If I remember correctly, he says the Lionel is about 1/2" longer and I like the spoked wheels that I've not seen on the others.

Looks about right, compared to motor I ran!

@CNJ Jim posted:

BTW ... is it officially GG1 or GG-1? I see both in various locations.

The Pennsy did not use "-" in their designations, so it is GG1.  By the way, since the wheel arrangement was 4-6-6-4, or 4-6-(0) (0)-6-4, it was like two back to back 4-6-0 "G" steamers.  So it got the GG designation.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

That only applies if you get one that the sideframes aren't rotting away on!

Ah, but an easy fix is to print new side frames.

@ThatGuy posted:

Ah, but an easy fix is to print new side frames.

Well, there are a bunch of people that would love to see you do that.  Talk is cheap...

The market is there John! We need them side frames!

The Hennings frames are perfect. It was a easy swap…

Tom

Yep, I hope he gets back on track and starts cranking them out again.

@CAPPilot posted:

The Pennsy did not use "-" in their designations, so it is GG1.  By the way, since the wheel arrangement was 4-6-6-4, or 4-6-(0) (0)-6-4, it was like two back to back 4-6-0 "G" steamers.  So it got the GG designation.

All electrics for the Penn Central were called “motors”

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Well, there are a bunch of people that would love to see you do that.  Talk is cheap...

Sorry John multiple people sell them all the time on that thing call the internet.

@ThatGuy posted:

Not heard of the internet?   Lol they have been sold by many people for about 3 years, I guess you don’t get out often.

Can you point us in the direction of 3D printed sideframes? I looked at a couple sites and couldn’t find them. Thanks in advance…

Tom

That's what I was thinking.  It would be a good thing if sideframes, maybe domes or other neat but hard to build items were available.

I don't need GG1 trucks - mine are actually more accurate than JLC - and in fact may be waiting for a JLC body.  But I could use a set of Flexicoil for one of my switchers and a Skytop observation.  Both would be on their way to the brass foundry right now if they were actually available.

Yeah, Sam.  Nice photo. No way will I repeat it a fourth time.

@Krieglok posted:

Can you point us in the direction of 3D printed sideframes? I looked at a couple sites and couldn’t find them. Thanks in advance…

Tom

Yup, I went to the three places (people) I knew made the trucks with 3D printing. I stand corrected all three stopped making them, so I will see what I can make I have a 3D printer and a CNC machine. It will take me a while as I am rewiring a friends sons first house. But I will come up with a solution to this.

@ThatGuy posted:

Sorry John multiple people sell them all the time on that thing call the internet.

There is exactly one I place I know of selling replacement GG1 sideframes, that is Henning's Trains.  I've been tracking that project since it's inception, and I was one of the guys that tested the first prototypes.  Our molder is currently not up and running, though more production is anticipated soon.

Name any other person or organization selling replacement GG1 sideframes that fit the Lionel JLC GG1.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

There is exactly one I place I know of selling replacement GG1 sideframes, that is Henning's Trains.  I've been tracking that project since it's inception, and I was one of the guys that tested the first prototypes.  Our molder is currently not up and running, though more production is anticipated soon.

Name any other person or organization selling replacement GG1 sideframes that fit the Lionel JLC GG1.

First off I responded to this already. The people who I knew selling them are not at the moment. Why a mold would have to be made is just crazy. Any good 3D printer would do the same thing. There was 3 people 3D printing them and selling on EBay. I asked one if he could make a few and he told me when he gets a chance as 3D printing for him is his business. When I get done with my project I will also make a few either in a printer (synthetic) or on my CNC machine out of aluminum.

This is not Apollo we are not building the lunar lem. Simple is always better.

@Krieglok posted:

The market is there John! We need them side frames!

The Hennings frames are perfect. It was a easy swap…

Tom

problem is the market is very small but the work involved is not. Truthfully the market should not be correcting this Lionel should do a run of them and sell them but then again it is Lionel.......LOL

@ThatGuy posted:

First off I responded to this already. The people who I knew selling them are not at the moment. Why a mold would have to be made is just crazy. Any good 3D printer would do the same thing. There was 3 people 3D printing them and selling on EBay. I asked one if he could make a few and he told me when he gets a chance as 3D printing for him is his business. When I get done with my project I will also make a few either in a printer (synthetic) or on my CNC machine out of aluminum.

This is not Apollo we are not building the lunar lem. Simple is always better.

There is a ready market, and this was pretty extensively discussed here a while back.  Nobody came forward with either a source or even a hint of anyone producing them.  The situation hasn't changed as near as I can tell, I still don't know of anyone besides Henning's that is now producing them, or even planning on it.

If someone is now, or has in the past, produced a replacement sideframe for the Lionel scale JLC GG1, please point it out to me.

@ThatGuy posted:

problem is the market is very small but the work involved is not. Truthfully the market should not be correcting this Lionel should do a run of them and sell them but then again it is Lionel.......LOL

Lionel plainly stated they were going to do nothing about this issue.  So, whether Lionel should or shouldn't make and sell them is a moot point, because they aren't going to!

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

There is a ready market, and this was pretty extensively discussed here a while back.  Nobody came forward with either a source or even a hint of anyone producing them.  The situation hasn't changed as near as I can tell, I still don't know of anyone besides Henning's that is now producing them, or even planning on it.

If someone is now, or has in the past, produced a replacement sideframe for the Lionel scale JLC GG1, please point it out to me.

The market is very small in the world of markets that is, the guys I knew on E bay had machine shops and did it when they had down time. This was about 3 years ago I think. If you like when I start the project I can set up zoom so you can look over my shoulder.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Lionel plainly stated they were going to do nothing about this issue.  So, whether Lionel should or shouldn't make and sell them is a moot point, because they aren't going to!

I think I did say that..................