Body Inserts for Athearn BB Models?

[KB02]

I have an extremely eclectic mix of locos on my layout. Athearn Blue Box locos routinely MU with an Atlas, a Rivarossi and now a Rapido. One thing that has struck me as of late is the difference in the interior of these models. The BB's interior is basically just an empty shell where as the new models tend to have the interior cavity filled with an insert of sorts. This insert provides two advantages that I can see: 1.) Adds weight, and 2.) Add a place to easily mount things like lights or cab interiors.
On my non-BB locos, almost all of them have the head, back, and number lights mounted to the interior insert. The Rivarossi even has marker lights! And on all of those, I just take the shell off and the lights stay with the insert and can be serviced/changed/altered, etc, very easily. On all my BB models, the extra lights that I have added when they were converted to DCC have all been mounted into the can interior and usually glued into place with wires tangling down that get in the way when reassembling and generally create an issue when trying to stuff everything back together.

Okay, long winded rant, but with the above in mind, does anyone know if any kind of insert like the my new locos have is available to retro fit into the BB locos?
Or in this age of the 3D printer, anyone up to the task of creating one?

 

[Rico]

First thing I thought was 3D printing, yup

 

[TheXModelRailroader]

I have an extremely eclectic mix of locos on my layout. Athearn Blue Box locos routinely MU with an Atlas, a Rivarossi and now a Rapido. One thing that has struck me as of late is the difference in the interior of these models. The BB's interior is basically just an empty shell where as the new models tend to have the interior cavity filled with an insert of sorts. This insert provides two advantages that I can see: 1.) Adds weight, and 2.) Add a place to easily mount things like lights or cab interiors.
On my non-BB locos, almost all of them have the head, back, and number lights mounted to the interior insert. The Rivarossi even has marker lights! And on all of those, I just take the shell off and the lights stay with the insert and can be serviced/changed/altered, etc, very easily. On all my BB models, the extra lights that I have added when they were converted to DCC have all been mounted into the can interior and usually glued into place with wires tangling down that get in the way when reassembling and generally create an issue when trying to stuff everything back together.

Okay, long winded rant, but with the above in mind, does anyone know if any kind of insert like the my new locos have is available to retro fit into the BB locos?
Or in this age of the 3D printer, anyone up to the task of creating one?

Well, once I can do some practicing, it might be something I could do, but I am not there just yet (And it is too cold for me to print right now). But I might be up to it. Do you have photos of the parts? I have some BB locos, but I am ting to follow what you are saying.
You may, in the mean time, try searching for some 3d models. Maybe (if you have a Athearn manual) get the exact part name, and then search 3d model.

 

[KB02]

To better illustrate what I mean, here is a shot from the parts schematic from my Rivarossi U25C. This weight is under the shell and holds the front, marker and number board lights at the front and the rear (You can also see the radiator fan in the rear). It's the same set up in my Atlas and Rapido locos.

That vs a BB model without it's shell (from here):

I would love to create something like the Rivarossi insert for my BB loco's. I just think it would make DCC conversions and light installations 1000x easier, you know?

 

[Rico]

Yes, something that would clip over the motor mounts like that long metal strip.
Does a Nix decoder buddy clip like that?

 

[TheXModelRailroader]

I will look into it. I don't have one of those, so I cant measure it. But I might be able to make my own mock up...

 

[TheXModelRailroader]

Well, not exactly the same, but this might help. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7038042

Edit: this one too. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5545083

 

[wright]

The second one won't work on hood units, the ones with a walkway on the sides. The motor takes up all the width inside of the shell and the clips would make it too wide. It should work with F7s and F45s.