first air brush weathing experiment....

[diesel]

So, after detailing one Athearn -9 only to find no way (as of yet) to get this unit to run quietly I decided to do a basic upgrade to my remaining -9s. I have since changed my mind back to going all out, but I already did this:









This is now a backward kitbash as you'll see I also added the DA grilles. I don't like the unrealistic way Athearn decided to do the radiator grilles. Dropping that panel into the housing creates a thick outter lip and seam that just isn't there. (I'm preaching to the choir right...) Nonetheless, I did the same thing to one other in H1 scheme and have lots of details on that one (bit sloppy though!). I'll post later. I have one more, which I may strip detail and then paint. But, I didn't know about all the cool things you can add to the cab, especially the number board fixtures that Jbaakko has in his -9 post.

[Raeder]

I like what you've done so far with the units, especially the detail parts. Even if it is just an Athearn Blue Box unit, the more you put on, the more likely you are to acknowledge your own unit!

I like the air conditioner from a different unit, you see that all over the place.. Is that a see-through fan on top?

I haven't seen the roof of a Dash 9, so I can't comment on if you have too much weathering or not up there. Seems like it to me, just because most exhaust runs in a line from the turbo hatch along the roof. Although if the units spent a lot of time in tunnels, it may look like that, I don't know one way or another. I would recommend painting the inside of the exhaust flat black, as it would be black no matter what.

Another thing I think would be just too cool is if you could find a way to simulate a turbo fire on the unit. That would be something you don't see modeled hardly at all.

I would try and keep the windows clear, maybe hit them with some clear coat to clear them up. Or you can try darkening them down, simulating the tinting on them. Windows that are all foggy are a hazard, and no crew would operate a unit in that condition, they couldn't see the signals.

You might also try using some light tan or brown colors to simulate dust, shoot on the vents and lower pilot/stair areas. Trucks and fuel tank also.

If you could figure out how to do that peeling/faded area look that these units are carrying right now, that would be over the top, in my book. I don't know how it is done, but if you figured it out, you could really make this unit stand out. I've seen it done on Pelle Soeberg's Dash 9 on the cover of the Oct 09 Model Railroader, and it looked good. I'm guessing it involves dabbing on a removable coating of some kind, then painting over it, then rubbing off or washing off the coating. I think Brian Banna describes using something like it on some handrails over at

www.6axlepwr.com/index.html

That might do the job, I'm not sure. I want to do some of the Santa Fe units myself, but they are a little ways down the line.

As for making the unit run qieter, here's a useful website for getting the Athearn Blue Box motor to run quieter.

hackitup.railfan.net/athearn.html

One tip I've found that cuts down on the amount of noise coming out from under the hood on these units is to take a piece of masking tape and wrap it around the spline driveline. Use just enough to wrap the driveline and spline, with no overlap. Push the receivers onto the driveline over the tape, and you'll suck up a bunch of the play in the drivetrain, which will quiet things down some.
The other thing you can look at doing is find a friend who actually has a new Dash 9 with the upgraded drivetrain, and look at the exploded parts diagram. It will give you the part numbers for the newer motor, flywheels, and hex drive line for that unit. Get those parts and retrofit your existing units. I'm told you can get the motor with or without the flywheels, so check with the parts department at Athearn, they should be able to tell you what part number goes with what part. Their parts list on their website is out of date, by a long shot, but pretty much anything they've built they have parts for.

Kevin

[diesel]

hey thanks Kevin,

I know the exhaust is kinda heavy. The prototype I was looking at was like this, but I still think I went tooooo heavy. Anyway, I'm going to replace the universals altogther. I tried the tape trick. I also used plummers white tape, that they use for waterproofing, which worked great in other units. But the universals from Athearn are flawed to start with. PPW makes replacements, and so does someone else. I have a replacement motor. I always replace the motor in an Athearn unless it's a Genesis. BUT most of the noise in these units is from the trucks. Do I have to put in Kato trucks or some thing? Then I'll have to put the Athearn side frames back on.... There's gotta be a way to regear and rehouse the axels which bounce and chatter too. Even Bachman Spectrum trucks would be better! I don't know if they're the correct length.

[wvsecondary]

Northwest short Line makes replacement axles as well as regear sets that seem to help alot. Sometimes taking an xacto knife or file into each gear tooth helps alot. I then wash and relubricate to reduce some of the noise.