Hi All, First a disclaimer. I do not model diesels. I have not owned a diesel in a loooooong time. And no, I am not giving up Sn3. This is just a little what if project and I need some current info. Did Athearn narrow the long hood on recent models?? If so, which ones?? If the GP38-2 is one of them does it come with a seperate Dynamic housing?? When did they start using the 140-46011 powered trucks on four axel power?? Does anyone make a seperate dynamic brake intake assembly of the early GP/SD7 type??
I think Athearns first narrow hood was the SD-40-2 released in the early 80's. Every release since then has had correct hood widths. They have been asked many times if they plan to re-tool some of their earlier efforts and believe the reply to always be NO. Would be nice to see U-boats or the GP-7 with a correct hood width. The gp-7/9 was one of the most popular models ever and yet no readily available models are available. I know P2K has had them but undecorated models are very difficult to come by. Most hobby shops I visit have them but in road names no one is interested in. AF Niederer
Not sure of when they changed over trucks (are you referring to the plastic sideframe versions over the metal ones?) The Athearn GP7/SD9/GP35/SDP40/SD45 and U boat series have the over-wide hoods. Everything after the SD40-2 (original one, not the latest retooled one) has scale width hoods, and the standard outline EMD's (SD40-2, GP38-2, GP40-2, GP50, GP60) have clip on dynamic hatches. My first bet for a non-dynamic SD7 or 9, or GP7 or 9 would be to use the Proto 2000 models. They have done all of these as non-dynamic units to the best of my knowledge. If the idea is to use an athearn SD9 & try to de-dynamic it, why not try getting the Rail Power Products shell, this is scale width & comes in both dynamic & non-dynamic flavours. Hope that's of some help, let us know what you're thinking of if that wasn't where your thoughts were headed! All the best.
Some of the P2K GP9s were available with Dynamic Brakes. I don't know if the part is available seperataly or how it is attached. http://www.lifelikeproducts.com/proto/gp9road.htm
slimjim: As others have stated, all of the Athearn models since their first release of the SD40-2 have scale width hoods. This also includes the SD40T-2, GP38-2, GP40-2, GP50, GP60, Dash 9-44CW, AC4400W, SW1500 (not to be confused with the earlier SW1500 that was actually an SW7), SW1000, AMD103 and the F59PHI. Yes, the GP38-2 has seperate dynamic (Part # 46038) and non-dynamic hatches (Part # 46039). The Athearn #46011 trucks are Blomberg "M" trucks which became standard on the four-axle dash 2 line. Athearn uses them on their GP38-2, GP40-2, GP50 and GP60. The earlier Blomberg "B" trucks are Athearn #42011 and those are used on their F7A, F7B, GP9, and GP35. On the dynamic brake "intake assemblies", these are available seperately on the Athearn GP9, but this does not include the dynamic cooling fan which is molded as part of the shell. The dynamic brake intake on the SD9 is longer and is molded as part of the shell. For those that mentioned the Proto 2000 GP's, interestingly Life-Like chose to do the dynamic and non-dynamic versions as totally different shells. The dynamic/non-dynamic brake hatch is not a seperate part. Chris Toth
Thanks for all the replys. Looks like the GP38-2 is what I want to start with. Will have a frame and chopped up body for my junk pile. I might even write up a story on this one.
Speaking of Athearn, I have been up to my ears with them the last couple of days. First I started out rebuilding an older SD40-2. I changed out the wheels with NWSL wheels, canned the motor, and replaced it with A-Line Mashima can motor. I put in a motor cradle weight but still had to do some grinding to the frame. (That's why dremel supplies us with those little grinding wheels ) I isolated the frame from the motor and got it DCC ready, only to discover that my decoder is too wide for the narrow insides of the SD40-2. Fortunately I think I have another unit which will accept the non-fitting decoder. My next project is rebuilding an U30C. This unit is ancient by Athearn standards. I think I paid about $10 for it at show. Anyway, I got a new motor for it, along with a motor cradle weight). But my big problem came when I wanted to replace the wheels. This unit has the big clunky metal trucks with the bearings outsid the wheels instead of inside. So I guess I will be keeping those Athearn wheels on it, unless I can find a specific replacement for it. So this unit went back into the box. My third Athearn belongs to my son. I gave it to him for Christmas a couple of years ago. Anyway I am converting it to DCC. Well this is a GP35, and it would not allow me to do the simple wiring. When I replaced the wheels I had to solder a thin wire on to those bronze bearings. (Four per truck.) Well the soldering was a pain but it was the only place where I could get good pick-up without ruining any plastic. The new motor is all set and the decoder will fit like a breeze. So I guess I am hitting .333. Now if I can only get the salary of the baseball players that hit 333 and I would be in clover and have someone else do this, naaah. Keep 'em on the tracks.
A.J. Both MWSL and JayBee make replacement wheels for the early Athearn trucks. I don't know the numbers by memory but they should be listed in the Walthers catalog or online at Walthers.com. Dean
Thanks for the replies. I have decided to buy new trucks from Athearn for them or work out a deal with friend who has a C-boat with a bad motor. I just don't want to risk a short in a derailment with those metal side-frames, especially since I am running with DCC.
Hey SlimJim, If your going to cut up a body and the pilot steps are in resonable shape I'd be more then happy to take them off your hands as I'm rebuilding a broken up GP-30 body that I want to power with a GP-35 frame from Athearn using the GP-30 Bachmann body that I have without a frame! Its an older Bachmann but the body is fixable so.... Keep in touch on it and let me know if you will have them. I need the front and rear set of pilot steps! I'd be interested in giving a few bucks to someone with a set that I can use....You should have my e-mail address but if not here it is again... yellowstone10@hotmail.com
Thanks Jim, I have this GP-30 body thats an old Bachmann shell without a frame and its in relatively good shape other then all 4 pilot steps missing...Its a shame it wasn't taken care of. It is a decent body other wise and being that the GP-30 body is my favorite diesel body I don't want to scrap it. So i'm out looking to find parts to repair it and power it with an Athearn GP-35 frame. So I'm on a parts hunt for this. I'm always doing or designing or fixing something! No matter what shape its in! HA!
