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Bowser h16-44 shell in need of powered underframe

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  • Member since
    March 2024
  • 7 posts
Bowser h16-44 shell in need of powered underframe
Posted by rossvet on Thursday, August 1, 2024 9:26 AM

I recently got a Boswer H16-44 in a box of train stuff I bought at auction.  I was wondering what would be the best underframe/powered mechanism for it.  No instructions were with it.  I am leaning towards a Athearn U-B mechanism. Unsure of what modifications might be needed though.  Any help would be greatly appreciated

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,892 posts
Posted by wjstix on Thursday, August 1, 2024 10:40 AM

Those old (1970s) Cary metal body shells generally were designed to fit on "blue box" Athearn chassis. I tried HOseeker and a general online search, but it doesn't seem to have anything on the H-16-44, so not sure which one would fit that body. 

Stix
  • Member since
    September 2014
  • From: 10,430’ (3,179 m)
  • 2,311 posts
Posted by jjdamnit on Thursday, August 1, 2024 1:01 PM

Hello All,

Congratulations on your purchase.

I'm presuming it's HO scale.

Is it only the shell?

Or, is it a "dummy"?

After a brief internet search, I found one on an auction site with photos of the underbody.

By the pattern of the motor mounts it appears to be an Athearn Blue Box type.

Are you keeping it DC or converting to DCC?

Converting an Athern B.B. to DCC means you have to isolate the motor and rewire the trucks, removing the motor contacts to the frame and gear towers.

This is a common conversion whith many videos on Youtube.

Answering these questions can help the great folks on these forums with your questions.

Hope this helps.

"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
  • 6,249 posts
Posted by "JaBear" on Thursday, August 1, 2024 4:14 PM

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

  • Member since
    June 2005
  • 4,368 posts
Posted by Darth Santa Fe on Thursday, August 1, 2024 6:51 PM

If you really want to go nuts with it, try a Hobbytown 77408A universal chassis kit!Big Smile

hobbytown of Boston – Everything is very proudly made, packaged and shipped in the U. S. A.

_________________________________________________________________

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: St. Paul
  • 823 posts
Posted by garya on Monday, August 12, 2024 11:59 AM

That was my thread from several years ago.  The other thread referenced is here:

https://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/282506.aspx

I used an Athearn F7 frame and some parts from a Lifelike Proto 1000 C-liner on mine.

It's had a decoder and lights installed and been primed, but I never got around to finishing it...

Gary

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