Old Athearn Frames

[upyardrat]

Has anyone come up with a way to resecure the body to the frame on the old Athearn Blue Box loco's without having to use the tabs that stick out 2 on each side under the sill?

Thanks in advance....

[danraitz]

There are multiple ways that this can be accomplished.

#1: By rebuilding the pilot faces to fill-in the opening under the coupler. You could use the coupler to hold the body on.

#2: By installing styrene blocks in the body and then drilling up through the frame into them you could then use screws to hold them together. This the method that I used on my SD30 build.

#3: By drilling down through the walkways into the frame and then tapping the frame for 2/56 screws, you could then use flat-head screws to attach them. One thing though, you will have to counter-sink the screw heads so that they are flush with the walkways.

[beentherecnthat]

I build up styrene under the walkway until it is even with the coupler opening, then drill and tap the styrene and drill through the cast coupler pad. I can then use 1 2-56 screw at each end to hold the couplers on and attach the frame to the shell.

[upyardrat]

Great ideas, thank you..I think ill try the "coupler pockets" method. The screw under the sill may get in the way of other added details, may not though, I'll need to take a look.

Follow-up:

What about those awfull fuel tanks then? I've never tried to drill into them to add details (not to mention they are just unsightly with the casting seem down the side). I thought about maybe shaving down a little then wrapping it in sheet styrene and I've debated just cutting it off and getting one of the Railflyer tanks (which are nice but a little pricey for me atm) or leaving, cleaning it up a little and try to drill into it for details....any ideas?

[Randy Earle]

On my SD-45 "Cheap Build" I used an old Athearn (wide body) Frame. You can see all the cleaning up I had to do. I purchased a Kato Tank on Evilbay for 4 bucks, cut the old Athearn off, and put the Kato Tank on. Here's a link to the forum thread:


Randy's Cheap SD-45 Build

[danraitz]

Those fuel tanks look alot better after some clean up work with a file & sand paper. Here are a couple of shots of a BB F45 that I did a few years ago.

[Rudy Garbely]

Yeah, the tanks don't look so bad once you take some fine files to the seam along the edge. They're shaped correctly, just poorly cast.

[upyardrat]

And, it would apear that its not to difficult cutting of drilling into them as seen by the added detail. Would you still use Squadron Green putty to fill if needed?