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Post by Hunter Hughson on May 16, 2012 16:44:18 GMT -5
Does anyone know if the following swaps are possible (before I spend a bunch of money on parts that I can't use)...
1. Put Athearn SW1500 flexicoil sideframes onto the SW7 trucks?
2. Put the entire powered trucks from an Athearn SW1500 onto the SW7 frame?
I know that if I could hold these parts in my hands, I'd be able to figure it out for myself, but nobody around here stocks any of this stuff.
..HH
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Post by iomalley on May 16, 2012 17:05:55 GMT -5
1. maybe. if you have the older style sw7 trucks with metal sideframes, then no. if they are plastic press on, then yes.
2. yes
I assume you mean Athearn SW7 in both counts...
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Post by Hunter Hughson on May 16, 2012 21:26:00 GMT -5
I don't have any parts yet. I'm trying to scheme up a way to build an SW1200RS. I'm currently building one from a Proto 2000 SW9/1200 drive and I'm not happy with the way you have to MacGyver the resin sideframes onto the brass wiper of the P2K trucks. The whole thing is ill-conceived by Point 1. I want to try it with Athearn parts instead, as long as all the parts go together.
You're saying the Athearn flexicoil trucks from their SW1500 model on the SW7 frame will work? I might have to buy the parts and try it out.
HH
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Post by iomalley on May 17, 2012 8:38:55 GMT -5
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Post by tpwillie on May 17, 2012 10:45:25 GMT -5
I would check with Athearn to see if bothe units use the same truck assembly first.
Lou
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Post by Hunter Hughson on May 17, 2012 16:00:53 GMT -5
You have to mill the Proto 2000 frame to fit the Point 1 shell too. I built one of those old skool Athearn SW1200RS models way back about 20 years ago (jeez, has it been that long?). Nice for what they were, but I want to step it up. That Athearn shell isn't doing it for me any more. |
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Post by Hunter Hughson on May 17, 2012 16:02:48 GMT -5
I would check with Athearn to see if bothe units use the same truck assembly first. Lou That's a good idea Lou. I hadn't considered that they might actually have people on staff who could answer questions like that.  |
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Post by CP_8530 on May 24, 2012 22:02:50 GMT -5
The basic truck for the SW7 and SW1500 is the same IIRC. Probably done so the sideframes would be easily swappable, as some SW1500's had AAR-A trucks. I test-fit a set of Athearn SW1500 Flexicoil sideframes on my SW7 (before putting the sideframes towards a successful P2K conversion) and they fit well.
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Post by Hunter Hughson on May 26, 2012 7:54:00 GMT -5
Can you give me some advice on how you did the successful P2K conversion? I've experimented with that conversion, generally following the instructions in the Point 1 kit but using the Athearn sideframes instead of the cast resin parts that come with the kit. I've re-worked the back side of the Athearn sideframe in an attempt to make room for the bronze wiper and the screw head needed to hold the wiper in place. This required lots of tedious work, and I'm not convinced that I can successfully attach the sideframe (engineering plastic) to the bronze wiper. The use of an Athearn drive makes the truck conversion simpler, but at the cost of losing the much smoother P2K drive. I'm still torn about which way to proceed. But I've derailed the topic Please share your experience with mounting the Athearn sideframe on the P2K truck! |
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Post by CP_8530 on May 26, 2012 11:57:00 GMT -5
There was a good writeup here, but it seems some of the photos are missing: dieseldetailer.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=tech1&action=display&thread=2731m636 did an outside pickup conversion, for mine I moved the pickup strips to the inside to get the sideframes closer to the wheels. Essentially to hold the sideframes on, the old side clips from the P2K sideframes were cut off and glued to the Athearn sideframes at the ends. A bit of a stretch, but it works as long as you leave a bit of flat surface on the cut-off pieces, score the surfaces thoroughly and glue it well. |
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Post by Hunter Hughson on May 26, 2012 15:51:49 GMT -5
Thanks for the info and the link! Shame the pictures are missing.
I had considered gluing the clips to the Athearn sideframe, but I was afraid it the glue wouldn't hold. Of course, glueing the sideframes to the bronze wiper promises to be no better. Your method is proven to work, so maybe I'll go with that and see what happens.
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Post by CP_8530 on May 26, 2012 20:11:19 GMT -5
Thanks for the info and the link! Shame the pictures are missing. I had considered gluing the clips to the Athearn sideframe, but I was afraid it the glue wouldn't hold. Of course, glueing the sideframes to the bronze wiper promises to be no better. Your method is proven to work, so maybe I'll go with that and see what happens. It works if you're not popping them on and off frequently, once it's all together it holds quite well  The center pin is important though, so you'd want to account for that in the conversion too. |
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