Up grading Athearn BB SD40T-2

Hi all,
I am going to dive right in here:wideeyes:.


The upgraded Athearn Tunnel Motors (TM's) that some of us I am sure are familiar with show the split Radiator sections on top of the hoods. Well most of my RG/SP ect TMs were BB shells with the shell mounting holes, Lugs, and end pilots (wind sheets) filled in with DW coupler pockets. But still did not have the split radiator sections on the hood.
I took a .040 Carbid bit, and cut a strait line across the hood to seperate the sections like on the RTR TM's. Made a jig to hold shells to do this, and a Sherline Mill.
I would use the RTR shells, but All of these TM have the headlights, Mars lights, step and Ground lights operational and were painted decaled based on photos. So I hope you can understand why this was a motivation for me to try and upgrade the shells.
I will take some pics and post them tonight I hope.
Best Regards to all
Tom Holley

 

I have a few more pics but the quota will not allow me to post them.
I just cut the line straight across, to try and get that angle for each side and match of the grooves. I figured the flat groove was a very small price to pay, for a straight line across.

I built all these with 15ma bulbs for step and ground lights and 30ma for head/Mars/Ditch lights, way before LEDs were the rage.
Thanks for looking,
Tom Holley

 

Thanks Avel,
Yes I have a bunch more but TB wont let me upload anymore for some reason. I will ask what I am doing wrong here.
Tom Holley

 

they look great look forward to seeing more. The best way to show photos here is to upload to a railimages album then post the link in here

 

Thanks Guys for all the comments and help. I need to learn more about uploading images and how best to do it for this group.
Paul, I would like some help on this issue as I have many 100's of DRGW, SP, BN, photos I can upload that folks might get something out of. but I am doing something wrong.
Please PM me with any info or instructions on images or photo uploading, deleting and so forth.
Thanks to all,
Tom Holley

 

Thanks again guys,

I too like working with these old BB locos for kitbashing and modifying. Those DRGW TM's were good locomotives, the would always pull their rated tonnage, you could count on them rain or shine, they would just dig in a go to work.
As far as the bulge on the dyn grids, believe it or not I used a regular dyn brake housing, styrene and PSC detail parts to make that thing. Of course Athearn came out with them in the last of the BB locos after I made it, so I got a few, and used them on my other TMs that have them.
Did another crazy thing with them, drilled out the rivets that hold the inside truck frame (where the axle bearings ride) flipped the metal side frame and soldiered them back together using the old rivets. That way I used two front trucks on the same loco and moved the gear tower way forward, you also need to remove some of the plastic on the trucks as you are moving the center axle a bit. But now when you look at the see thru Tunnel screens, you just see a little of the gear tower. It worked out very well and was not that big of a job. haven't gotten around to doing my SP TM's yet, One day though.
Thank You
Tom Holley

 

Great modeling! Looks like a BB model with a "L" window and roof top detail is nice. I always seem to learn something every time I look.
These BB kits were great, in the sense you build them and can actually handle them without fear of handrail disintegration.
I like all the little stuff like the brake cyl air lines speed recorders and the new MU hose.
Thanks for posting,
Tom Holley

 

Here are some more DRGW SP images



Thanks
Tom Holley

 

Thanks Sherrel,
I have a lot of fun with this stuff. Thanks for the comments.