Older Athearn units.

[NIevo]

Does anyone know of a way to lower the older Athearn engines body's? I just bought my first new engine in years and noticed how high in the saddle the older Athearn's are in comparison, makes them look kinda top-heavy. Look really bad coupled together. Not sure if theres a way to do it or if I should just sell all my older stuff and get some new engines.

 

[jbaakko]

What kind of engine are we talking about? All of mine sit at or close to scale.

 

[NIevo]

Its a mid-late 90's I'd say GP38-2 Blue Box.

 

[CBCNSfan]

I'd say GP38-2 Blue Box.

Hi NIevo, what make and type of engine are you comparing it to?
Willis

 

[NIevo]

My old one's are a GP38-2 and a GP40-2 and the new one is a Athearn R-T-R GP35. Were the 38's and 40's really taller? It just appears that there is a unnatural amount of space between the trucks and the bottom of the frame.

 

[CBCNSfan]

I don't believe there is, but I'll have a look and compare some SD40-2's (a couple of Blue Box, and a couple of RTR's) tomorrow as it's it's a bit late to do that now.

Cheers Willis

 

[NIevo]

Well someone on another forum I posted this on went and checked a couple of GP35's he had, one new R-T-R and one old Blue Box. He said he had never noticed it but there is a difference. Here are a couple pictures he took.

You can see on the older ones how much more room there is between the trucks and the bottom of the shell.

 

[jbaakko]

Sure enough! My guess is you'll have to do some major fabricating to lower the truck, as thats the part causing it to be high (notice the fuel tank height).

 

[UP2CSX]

I can't see the pictures but the real question is which one is right - the old BB or the new RTR? Has someone looked at the prototypes and compared?

 

[NIevo]

Judging by most of the prototype photos I've seen the newer RTR is correct.

 

[zgardner18]

You know I saw the same thing with my Athearn BN GP50 and my P2K GP38-2. The Athearn is a blue box and it does sit higher and it bugs me. I too don't know what to do.

 

[kjd]

If you remove the rivet holding the metal parts in the center of the truck, the part that the bolster sits on can be lowered. Reattaching the metal parts is tricky but maybe a screw or careful soldering job. I haven't attemped the conversion myself but have read discussion on the subject. But they should all have the same deck height for sure!