PDA

View Full Version : Help: Athearn F7's

poohdawg10
May 5th, 2000, 07:18 PM
Can anybody out there tell me how to shorten the gap between Athearn F7's?? I recently purchased a A-B-A set, and the huge gap between the units is unprototypical and just plain ugly. Any ideas, or literature on the subject??? Thanks!!
StickyMonk
May 5th, 2000, 08:19 PM
i think kadee did a close coupling for the Athearn units, i just had a look in the 2000 walthers cat and its not there, im not sure if any of the other 2 they could be modified to fit the athearn units #450 is for stewart F units #452 is for bachmann ones

was athearn #451??? anyway thats a good as i can get im afraid.....

------------------
wheres all the C636's????
stickymonk.com (http://www.stickymonk.com)
Matts Photo gallery (http://monkhome.homestead.com)
DRGWEngr
May 5th, 2000, 08:28 PM
American Limited Makes close coupling and diaphrams kits for HO Athearn f units and Stewart units. Page 52 of the 2000 Walthers catalog.

CHEERS
MIKE
slynch
May 6th, 2000, 08:18 AM
An alternative approach to the A-B-A spacing issue is to use drawbars; ie. similar to the flat piece between a steam engine and tender. I've seen this with the diaphrams installed and it provides the close coupling look. I was so busy enjoying it at a show that we waited for the train to come around again to see if Kadees were installed.

Seems like this would be a nice solution till you get around to mounting couplers..if ever. <G> Regards,
Alan
May 6th, 2000, 10:00 AM
The drawbar approach would be my method, I would also add diaphragms.

------------------
Alan

The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

www.ac-models.com (http://www.ac-models.com)
http://Andersley.homestead.com
http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com
AFN
May 6th, 2000, 08:41 PM
I saw off the Athearn coupler mounts even with the frame (rear of a-unit) and use a Kadee 30 something coupler. The coupler box is small enough to not hinder the truck swing. The front end seems to accept a #5 and centering spring fairly well without any modifications at all. The b-unit requires removing both mounting "drawbars" at the frame. The kadee coupler I used depended on what height requirements were needed. Maybe seems a little involved but I have had little problems with this.