Athearn BB F7 rescue

[Charles Smiley]

I took a 2001 era P2K chassis from a GP9 and robbed all the mechanical parts to attach to a 1978-ish Athearn F7 bare frame. The fuel tanks are different of course and mine was milled years ago to look more correct.

I had to replace all 4 P2K cracked axle gears of course on the doner trucks. The only clearance probelm was some of the brake cylinders limited truck pivoting on curves when they hit the ladders. So a bit of grinding the truck frames where some of the brake cylinders mount fixed that. Also a thinning of the ladders on the back side.

After cutting the P2K weight to clear the truck's swing it all went together. I added the second wire lead from each truck frame, like the newer P2K trucks have, as well. A Yelloglo LED in the nose door was added with a sanded off spot on the back of a MV lens. Wow! It really looks like a headlight. Mars light is next.

The other thing I like is that the standarized PC board mount will make adding DCC easier later on.

The shell was decorated long ago as a SP (T&NO) passenger unit. I had a ton of time invested in cutting the shell to have the gussets and structue show through the side screens. But it never ran well with the crummy iron wheels and other problems with the gears. The new mechanical parts from the P2K are a huge improvement.

 

[lmackattack]

very nice kit bash. and you just gave me a idea with an old P2K GP18 that I could use parts for a athearn F7 i have wanted to repower...I like these better than the run of the mill RTR stuff that everyone shows off. nice job...

 

[Charles Smiley]

Don't delay it's a lot of fun. It's the workbench-fun, like the old days, but with better results. The best of both eras.

And it's nice to revive something you made long ago that has a lot of "sweat equity" built in. I like the new models, but like you said, they are like everyone elses in a way.

I thought about buying a Stewart chassis but they seem kind of pricey. Then I stumbled onto my friends bunch of cracked-gear P2Ks he bought used and it looked like an opportunity -- since he has no interest in fixing them himself.

 

[ICG/SOU]

Nice work.

 

[NWCanuck]

I like it, very nicely done. Oh and by the way I got an email from Atlas about upcomming arrivals and in mid to late May these GP40-2's will be on the shelves and might be right up your alley.

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I like the roof detail on this one. I think if I had it to do all over again I just might have gone SP.

 

[diburning]

Is it true? Is it true? Atlas finally using the correct fans? Or is that a trainman model?

I have a few GP40s and Atlas uses the same dang cap-top fans that are inappropriate for the prototype (they used the cap top fans on everything EMD!)

And yes, two of my geeps are from the most recent run of GP40s (the run that was released/shipped in February/March)

 

[Charles Smiley]

That thing looks pretty nice.

It's hard to imagine making something that nice and pull a bonehead mistake like the wrong fans to spoil it.

It's out of my era but maybe it would look good on the display shelf. It seems like SP has been neglected lately considering its size and fan-base. All I see are those Daylight colored diesels that look a little too festive for my tastes.

 

[CNR Glen]

Nice work on the old athearn model. I'm doing something simular except I slipped an Athearn shell onto a Bachman plus chassis.

 

[Espeefan]

Nice work. But a T&NO passenger unit? That one is equipped for the Overland route, and service in the Sierras. Not much use for the snow plow pilot, or those icicle breakers in Texas!

Great modeling.

 

[Charles Smiley]

Quote: "But a T&NO passenger unit?"

As I recall, T&NO turned over passenger F7 and GP9 power to the Pacific Lines around 1962(?) when T&NO quit the passenger game. I know the F units were used all over the west. Not sure if any really had ice breakers installed.

 

[Espeefan]

They did. I have some photos.