Athearn BB SW1500 questions...?

[biggeorgeiv]

Good evening,

    I think that I have stalled and delayed enough and I am finally ready to tackle my first detail attempt. My plan is to model the NS 2202 sw1500. First thou I have a couple questions... The first and second picture are of an older athearn. Can that loco in pic. 1 and 2 be updated like the athearn in pic 3, specifically the fuel tank? Also the previous owner has brazed two wires instead of the factory metal strips; is that good or bad? Last question is whether or not the shell is salvageable. It was over heated by the previous owner.

Thanks for your help,
Big George

[iomalley]

Hey Big George

You can bring all the 'parts' from the old frame across to the SW1500 frame, motor, trucks etc, but the frame itself won't fit your shell.

Soldering the wiring is a better solution to the metal strap.

Your shell is pretty much junk. I'd find another one, and move your handrails and details across to it.

Hope that helps...

[m a y o r 79]

If you're getting a new frame you might as well just get a new motor/trucks as well (though the first two pictures look like plastic sideframe trucks, not the old metal ones).

I agree, I always solder a wire from the trucks to the motor, the meta strap is unreliable at best.

I don't think the shell is junk unless the damage is worse than it looks. Doesn't look like the walkways or roof of the hood warped, from what I see it's just 4 sections of doors. Cut them out and patch Cannon doors back in and the shell should be usable again.

[biggeorgeiv]

Thanks guys, 

As far as the the switch goes a dummy sw1500 that I picked up off ebay arrived and I am in the process of switching it over. As far as the Conrail shell goes I would like to try to save it. If anything just for the practice of cutting and splicing. Where would I find the hatch or compartment doors? Who know if is works out I get the practice and save my self the few bucks for another...

Thanks,
Big George

[AJ Kleipass]

I don't know if the heights match, but Cannon & Co. is my first thought for hood doors. Alternatively, you could cut open the damaged section and use strip styrene to model the doors in open positions.

[biggeorgeiv]

Does anyone know which hood doors are on the sw1500? I found the below offering from Cannon &  Company.


Cannon & Company HO Plain Hd Door 18x78"
Cannon & Company HO Plain Hood Doors 18 x 78"

Cannon & Company HO Latched Hd Door 18x78"
Cannon & Company HO Latched Hood Doors 18 x 78"

Cannon & Company HO Plain Hd Door 22x65"
Cannon & Company HO EMD Hood Unit 22 x 65" 3 Hinges & Sight Glass

Cannon & Company HO Plain Hd Door 22x78"
Cannon & Company HO Plain Hood Doors 22 x 78"

Cannon & Company HO Latched Hood Doors
Cannon & Company HO Latched Hood Doors pkg 22 x 78"


Thanks Big George

[jakeloyst]

I don't believe any of the doors will fit the any of the SW series engines, your best choice is to get another shell, or to rebuild them using evergreen styrene stipes in different widths and sizes

[rjm]

Hey BG
The question about fuel tanks is that Athearn made a few different frames for their switchers. Your 1st & 2nd picture are of a smaller fuel tank, I think they were 800 gallons and thus square side. The third picture is of a 1000 gallon tank which is rounded. As far as the motors fitting, the rubber mount is a one lug mount and should fit either old or new. The key is the flywheel clearance along the side channels. If you want to clean up the older motor go to "http://www.mcor-nmra.org/Publications/Articles/Athearn_TuneUp.php". The shell lugs are different for the different frames also.
Have a spare 1500 shell in Conrail PM me trade, cash...
RJ

[simulatortrain]

I think the top frame is for the SW7, which Athearn originally called a SW1500. It is one of the wide body engines because of the wide motor and will not fit the actual SW1500 shell.

[iomalley]

I'm with Jake. Using Cannon doors will be a chore, and a couple packs of doors will quickly add up to the price of another shell. Talk to RJ, you'll be much happier to just do a swap, because it doesn't look like you've gone much further than the handrails on your shell. You may also want to look at Details West for a proper bell, because the plastic one supplied by athearn is a cable operated bell style, circa steam era. (even too old for the SW7)

Adam's correct, the 1500 shell won't fit the chassis in the first 2 pics. The frame is also physically lower, and intended to have plastic 'covers' on the sides of the 'tank' to show a depiction of the final look of the fuel tank.(mostly a rendition of an flattened air tank)

The SW7 frame fits either the SW7 cow, calf or the (foobie) Baldwin S12 shell...that's it.

[m a y o r 79]

Speaking of the SW7, ive got a cow and calf set that (someday) will become a TR4 set. One is the older drive, same as your first pic, and the second is the newer drive with the brass flywheels. When cleaned up and decodered will they run together or am I in for a chore? (sorry didnt mean to hijack the thread)

[biggeorgeiv]

Thanks for the great info, for now I have disassembled the older frame and cleaned the components and set it aside till another time. Presently I am working on the modern athearn in the third picture. I will be putting up a thread about it over in the switcher section. Also I have started acquiring the needed detail parts for a couple other projects (modern NS geeps) in hopes that I don't bomb this attempt...

Thanks,

George