Model Railroading > Atlas Phase 1 C40-8?

I never realized Atlas did their HO scale C40-8 in both Phase 1 and Phase 2 variations.  It is my understanding that the differences between Phase 1 and Phase 2 units are the following:

Phase 1: Rear sand filler on the roof, flat bottom on the fuel tank recess where the air tanks are mounted

Phase 2: Rear sand filler in a notch below the headlight, tapered bottom to the fuel tank recess

Did Atlas capture both of these differences in their models?  

Looking at photos on their site, I see Atlas also does versions with the dynamic brake grilles behind the cab either on the roof or on the side.  I am not sure if this is a Phase 1 vs. Phase 2 thing or not.  From reading about Union Pacific C40-8s, it sounds like the change from roof mounted DB grilles to side mounted DB grilles happened on the third order, after the above mentioned changes to the sand fillers and fuel tanks on the second order.  I guess that would make some UP units "Phase 3".

Also, for those who have the UP 9100-series units from the 2009 release, did Atlas fix the Armour Yellow so it is not so orange?  I have one of the 9200-series units from the original 2004 release and there is way too much orange in the yellow.  It is not that noticeable on its own, but when you couple one of the first release C40-8s to another manufacturer's UP unit, the C40-8s look really bad.

Neil; I notice most of the manufacturers have at one time or another screwed up paint schemes. Atlas was terrible on their 1970's releases. But, many have used the wrong shade or tint.

For example, I model RF&P among other RR's and see the blue being too light or tart on even the early Athearn RTR releases. UP and CNW have often been the wrong shade. The CB&Q gray on the Hornby U25C and other models is too light.

TIM

neilgross Wrote:
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> I never realized Atlas did their HO scale C40-8 in
> both Phase 1 and Phase 2 variations.  It is my
> understanding that the differences between Phase 1
> and Phase 2 units are the following:
>
> Phase 1: Rear sand filler on the roof, flat bottom
> on the fuel tank recess where the air tanks are
> mounted
>
> Phase 2: Rear sand filler in a notch below the
> headlight, tapered bottom to the fuel tank recess
>
> Did Atlas capture both of these differences in
> their models?  
>
> Looking at photos on their site, I see Atlas also
> does versions with the dynamic brake grilles
> behind the cab either on the roof or on the side.
>  I am not sure if this is a Phase 1 vs. Phase 2
> thing or not.  From reading about Union Pacific
> C40-8s, it sounds like the change from roof
> mounted DB grilles to side mounted DB grilles
> happened on the third order, after the above
> mentioned changes to the sand fillers and fuel
> tanks on the second order.  I guess that would
> make some UP units "Phase 3".
>
> Also, for those who have the UP 9100-series units
> from the 2009 release, did Atlas fix the Armour
> Yellow so it is not so orange?  I have one of the
> 9200-series units from the original 2004 release
> and there is way too much orange in the yellow.
>  It is not that noticeable on its own, but when
> you couple one of the first release C40-8s to
> another manufacturer's UP unit, the C40-8s look
> really bad.