TR&W Athearn SD9 project

[cf7]

Well, it's time for another cheap build. This is an Athearn SD9 that will be equipped with the parts shown, plus a few other odds and ends.



Right now, I have right at $91 in it including the Digitrax sound decoder. I will end up replacing the exhaust stacks, will add lift rings and cut levers so I'll end up right at $100 when it's finished. I'll begin tomorrow evening and post pics in a day or two.

[Randy Earle]

A Rail Power shell will drop right on that frame and have a scale width hood. They are pretty cheap.

[cf7]

Yeah Randy, I know....I've used several of them throughout the years. I just wanted to have a little fun with an Athearn, and to me the SD9 looks pretty good.

I did look on eBay several times and the only RPP that I've seen listed is the shell and frame for $39. It's not worth it to me.

[Packer]

ppw-aline.com/railpower_products.htm#bodies

Only $20 from PPW/Aline

[cf7]

Thanks for the link, Vince. I think I'll just go ahead and build the Athearn body. It's still $30 with shipping. Don't want to spend it. If I went that route, it would be better to have purchased an LL SD9,

I am doing this because I want to build an old Athearn into something useable. At least I'll have something that ain't China made!

[cf7]

Here is the frame after a bit of work...I filed the fuel tank smooth, added bare bones tank plumbing, painted the trucks after I soldered track pick up wires to each side and removed the truck electrical towers (?). I painted the wheel faces and then began weathering with an airbrush. I hope to finish the sideframes tomorrow.

One thing I did is install the DW coupler pockets on the shell. I originally planned on body mounting the couplers, but I found that if I shorten the frame coupler mounts so the frame fits inside the shell, I can still use the factory mounting holes. This lets me slide the couplers in place and secure them with a 2-56 screw to hold everything together. I then removed the 4 body mounting tabs off of the frame. I hope that is clear...I hope to add a picture later.

[icghogger]

Those wheels look great, Chuck, very realistic!!

[cf7]

Here are a couple of photos of how it looks now. It runs good, but does have little gear noise. I imagine that will get a little quieter the more it runs. The sound decoder sounds OK, but It was a cheap one, so I shouldn't expect too much.

[Deleted]

Coming along nicely. Just goes to show that the old BB models can be made to look and run pretty neat with a little TLC.

[CP_8530]

Hmm, what road will this one belong to when it's complete?

[T]

Can't wait to see the finished project.

Tom

[Deleted]

Nice to see this model coming together. The chop looks good. I too look forward to seeing the finished model.

[tamaman]

Nice work.

[cf7]

Thanks everyone for the kind words! I plan on getting back on it in a day or so....I've been busy ballasting track.

Mr. Dan - It will be painted for my Trinity River & Western, and will be in a similar scheme to my cheap build H10-44 that I have shown here. I'm considering painting the sills, steps and pilots black, but with blue handrails.

[montyvox]

That is a sharp looking project so far. Nice job!

[catt]

cf7,
Don't know if this would interest you or not but the PLANO SD7/9 intake grilles for the Proto 2000 SD7/9 work very nicely on these old Athearns (I am in the process of installing mine now)

It looks like a huge improvement for a minimum investment of money.If your interested the part # is 14870.

Nice to know I am not the only one working on one of these old war horses.Bought mine in January of 1980.