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Post by bikingmike on Apr 29, 2012 22:08:55 GMT -5
Ok, so there I was happily spraying my recently acquired Athearn BB GP9 (thread here dieseldetailer.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=huh&action=display&thread=10386 ) with oven cleaner to strip the paint. No problems, the paint all came off easily to reveal the bare plastic underneath. Then I decided to do the same to another, older GP9 that had been modified and repainted (not particularly well) by it's previous owner. Well, it took two doses of oven cleaner to get the paint off, and lo and behold, the surface underneath was badly wrinkled and pitted - so much so that it'd be virtually impossible to smooth it out AND retain the surface detail. I know these old wide body Geeps aren't held in too high regard, but I'd kinda like to have two so they can keep each other company. After what seemed like a glut of them on the local auction website (www.trademe.co.nz) it seems like there aren't any to be had now. Plenty to be had on Ebay, but the postage makes it unviable. Grrrrr.... So... either I bide my time and try and find another donor shell, or monkey around with the two surplus shells I do have - a GP40-2 and a SD9 and create a Frankenloco. Any ideas from those far more experienced in these matters? |
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Post by icghogger on Apr 30, 2012 8:01:26 GMT -5
OK, step back away from the bench, take a deep breath.......and order a Front Range shell from PPW A-Line.com.
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Post by Randy Earle on Apr 30, 2012 11:26:01 GMT -5
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Post by cnviaguy on Apr 30, 2012 16:49:47 GMT -5
I may have a spare shell laying around... not sure what postage to NZ is though...
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Post by iomalley on Apr 30, 2012 17:47:21 GMT -5
Yes, please use the widebody shell for holding open your hobby room door.
There's just some things you never go back on, dial phones, carburettors, knob-and-tube, bias plys, cod liver oil, etc etc...
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304live
Probationary Member
Posts: 5
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Post by 304live on Apr 30, 2012 19:08:16 GMT -5
so those Front Range GP9 shells come w/ the grab irons etc for that price?
wow...
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Post by bikingmike on May 6, 2012 2:01:55 GMT -5
I may have a spare shell laying around... not sure what postage to NZ is though... Yeh, it's always the postage that kills pretty much any dealings I might have with US suppliers. I did look on Evilbay but most sellers aren't too willing to ship outside CONUS. Cheers, Mike |
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krobar
Superintendent
Posts: 178
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Post by krobar on Jul 7, 2012 13:39:50 GMT -5
What's wrong with BB GP9s ( though they are really GP7s) and carburators? Besides when the sun decides to unleash that massive solarflare or some nutty leader of a foreign power uses a nuke to hit us with an EMP, the only vehicles that will go are the ones with carbs (and no computers). That is until you can't get gas.
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Post by cnrglen on Jul 8, 2012 22:02:29 GMT -5
I had the same thing happen when I stripped the paint off a friend's athearn SD-40. I wonder if they used a poor plastic compound at one time.
I just sold my last BB Geep-7's on ebay along with almost all my other BB engines.
Thanks for the address to A-line. Lots of project Ideas there
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Post by CP_8530 on Jul 9, 2012 12:45:23 GMT -5
I'm sure you'll be able to find another on eBay, at a train show or tucked away in the back of a hobby shop/on the used shelf. They're just not too hard to find at the usual places. But the shells, like most of the Athearn "widebodies", are badly dated. But we all knew that.
And despite their inaccuracies (that have been hashed out on the old Atlas forum in regards to the Athearn tooling that was based off whatever drawings FR also used) the Front Range units are a lot nicer to start from.
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Post by iomalley on Jul 10, 2012 9:00:00 GMT -5
EM pulse?!  ! Wow, krobar...  |
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Post by John on Jul 10, 2012 14:52:42 GMT -5
I have a factory painted Southern Pacific GP9 shell, you can have it for free, just pay the shipping to NZ. Drop me a PM if you want it.
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Post by sprailtrax on Aug 27, 2012 1:54:22 GMT -5
Hi all. Sorry this message is somewhat late.
From an Australian (former), customer of A/Line/PPW.
As for buying Frontrange body shells or any other hobby products direct from A/Line/PPW please read the following
Unfortunately for us O/S people (as in non US or Cdn citizens), A-line/ppw no longer ships items to O/S customers unless you have access to a US postal address.
I used to buy other "HO" model railroad items from them direct back in 2010 but got informed that this O/S shipping was no longer available in 2011.
Thanks.
Peter H.
Australia
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Post by John on Aug 27, 2012 2:58:47 GMT -5
I still have an athearn GP9 shell you can have for free, just need to pay the shipping. Drop me a pm and its yours.
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Post by sprailtrax on Aug 28, 2012 23:50:01 GMT -5
Hi bikingmike.
Just Peter from Australia here again. Have you managed to find a replacement Athearn "BB" GP7/9 body shell or are you not going to pursue that direction now?
I have an old Athearn GP7 complete but kitbashed as a non Dynamic brake version that i modified a short time ago (as in Early motor & drive w/metal sideframe type trucks), & its painted flat black so the paint would come off fairly easy.
By the way i use Acetone Free nail polish remover to strip paint off body shells although this is avery slow process.
As i'm just across the water from you, postage would be minimal, so i'm genuine in sending it to you FREE.
Please send me a txt message if interested on my mob.
0447 560 487
Regards.
Peter H.
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Post by oldrail on Sept 2, 2012 1:18:17 GMT -5
I would venture a guess someone painted the old Athearn with Floqual (sp) paint without a primer coat. From personal experience, turns the unit in to looking like 110 year old skin.
I too have a old (uncrazed) Athearn unpowered geep you can have for postage.
Dick Haave
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Post by diburning on Sept 6, 2012 13:45:49 GMT -5
Floquil is a solvent based paint. Solvents can attack certain plastics, so that might have been it.
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! Wow, krobar... 
