Athearn RTR SD40T-2

[Martin4]

My mistake: my SantaFe units are SD40-2, not Ts. They were on the same shelf along with UP units. Sorry about the confusion. Anyway none of them have cut levers.

Martin4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[riogrande5761]

Martin4

I have many of these SD40T-2 in UP and SantaFe colors ; unfortunately none of these have MU cables or cut levers. But they have lots of piping to be placed on the fuel tank.

Martin4 

I didn't know Athearn painted the SD40T-2 in Santa Fe.  It seems it was those tunnel motors produced during mid to late last year have been having more details applied to the pilots.  Namely improved snow plows, MU cables and cut levers.

The one odd thing is that the SD45T-2 (SP) was released much later than many of these, and costs $20 more and yet has no MU cables or cut levers.

[Martin4]

I have many of these SD40T-2 in UP and SantaFe colors ; unfortunately none of these have MU cables or cut levers. But they have lots of piping to be placed on the fuel tank.

Martin4 

 

[riogrande5761]

Just to update this topic, it looks like Athearn has heard our pleas and has included MU cables, a better plow and cut levers on all the D&RGW tunnel motors released after the first run.

The wierd thing is the newest SD45T-2's for SP cost $20 more and yet they still don't have MU cables or cut levers.  Shame.  They did update the plow which is now correct and looks good. 

[riogrande5761]

The SP unit is gorgeous.  I model the Rio Grande but having grown up (Jr High and High School and College) in the Sacramento area, SP tunnel motors and SD45's were the bread and butter loco's I saw constantly.  One or two SP tunnel motors are really something I can't go without so I've put in an order for one with my pusher along with all the D&RGW numbers.

It shouldn't be too hard to install the cut bars and MU hoses on those bare looking pilots!

To make the job of adding mu hose easier one could order several sets of the Atlas MU hoses @ 49 cents per set.One set does one locomotive..25 sets would cost $12.25..Not bad.

Thanks for the tip!  I do have a few DW or DA MU hoses in my parts box too but if the Atlas are easier to install, I'll spring for them

[BRAKIE]

The SP unit is gorgeous.  I model the Rio Grande but having grown up (Jr High and High School and College) in the Sacramento area, SP tunnel motors and SD45's were the bread and butter loco's I saw constantly.  One or two SP tunnel motors are really something I can't go without so I've put in an order for one with my pusher along with all the D&RGW numbers.

It shouldn't be too hard to install the cut bars and MU hoses on those bare looking pilots!

 

To make the job of adding mu hose easier one could order several sets of the Atlas MU hoses @ 49 cents per set.One set does one locomotive..25 sets would cost $12.25..Not bad.

[riogrande5761]

The SP unit is gorgeous.  I model the Rio Grande but having grown up (Jr High and High School and College) in the Sacramento area, SP tunnel motors and SD45's were the bread and butter loco's I saw constantly.  One or two SP tunnel motors are really something I can't go without so I've put in an order for one with my pusher along with all the D&RGW numbers.

It shouldn't be too hard to install the cut bars and MU hoses on those bare looking pilots!

[BRAKIE]

Jerry,That would be a nice touch if Athearn would just include the mu hoses and uncoupling bars that can be added by the modeler.

That "see through" grill is a very nice touch.I really like it.

[GAPPLEG]

I guess Brakie , it was less a feeling of dismay and just suprise that such an obvious detail would nt be included , even if it had to be put on by me. They include fuel tank piping that are  great detail parts but less obvious details than cut levers. But like you say , you get what you pay for. Now I know to order detail parts at the same time I order the loco. BTW the SD40T-2 is a nice looking unit. Can't complain about that. It's about the only unit in years I don't have to paint myself. Weathering to come.

[BRAKIE]

Thanks all, I guess I was spoiled by bachmann , stewart, BLI and even some other brands that have really nice cut levers etc. I just didn't realize that Athearn would leave them off. Joe I'll deffinent look at that group.

 

Jerry,Just don't expect high end details like you find on high dollar locomotives on a RTR locomotive that costs half then the higher end locos.I am just happy Athearn is adding road specific details.

I agree Bachmann has a overall nice shell(overlooking the detail flaws) and the drive can be any where between poor and good.With the Stewart locos you need to all the grabs,handrails and other details.BLI seems to be good overall if one overlooks the reported detail flaws.I like 'em.

As you may have notice a lot of modelers want high end details on a low price locomotive..A lot of modelers I know has stop buying any new locomotive that cost more then $99.00 at discount.The only exception being the BLI/Blueline locomotives with sound that discounts at $119.99.

As a side note I would pay a little extra($10.-12.00) for the MU hoses and uncoupling bars already installed on Athearn's newer releases.However,I can also appreciate Athearn's line of low price locomotives seeing most of the newer SD locomotives  can be had for around $70.00 discount.

[GAPPLEG]

Thanks all, I guess I was spoiled by bachmann , stewart, BLI and even some other brands that have really nice cut levers etc. I just didn't realize that Athearn would leave them off. Joe I'll deffinent look at that group.

[jfugate]

I have posted info on links to the ultimate how-to detailing for the Athearn SD45T-2 here. Many of the steps used would apply to the new Athearn SD40T-2 tunnel motor as well.

The above links include lots of great techniques for modeling cut levers, snow plow, mu hoses and other end details on modern SP diesels. 

[Anonymous]

 Most of the models on our website were built by Paul Federiconi- the owner of Details West. The cut levers were handmade. We have looked into having them produced for us, but the costs are prohibitive. Also, finding a company that can or will do this kind of production on a small scale is near impossible.

 We thought of having them etched, but the product is then basically flat with no "roundness" to the levers.

 Details West is constantly looking to upgrade or produce new and/or needed items. Sometimes the economics of production cannot be justified.

 Some new items are coming shortly. Stay tuned!

 

Keith Turley/ Details West 

[zgardner18]

Jerry,

For me, installing the cut lever on the engines that I did were a pain in my rear end.  Make sure that you have a lot of patience when installing them.  Off the top of my head I think I did use Detail Associates for mine.  Cut our the rings and place them on the lever before you paint.  I've did it the other way and that was dumb.

Good luck

Here are the two Athearn BB SD40-2's that I did.  I still have to do my SD45T-2 and many others.

I know, you can hardly see them.

[GAPPLEG]

Ah , thanks , I'll check with Detail Associates . Good info about the holes.

[mlehman]

From Lou DiGrazia's comments on this issue on the D&RGW Yahoo list:

Now for the holes in the front and rear pilots.  The top row of four at each 
end are for inserting mounting brackets for the coupler cut bars.  Detail 
Associates offers a kit that includes both brackets and the lift bars, or 
you could simply use eye bolts with the bars for a sturdier (if a bit less 
detailed looking) installation. 

The next set of holes (two on each side of 
the coupler boxes) are for installing MU hoses.  However, you will need to 
drill an additional hole between each group if installing individual hoses 
(like Detail Associates offers), as there were typically three on each side. 
You may also need to enlarge the existing ones.  

Details West offers white 
metal castings of the entire hose cluster with just one mounting hole needed 
per side, but you will probably have to drill this hole between the existing 
ones as well.  The installation should hide the others though.  I'm not sure 
about the two bottom holes on the rear.  One other thing, you will probably 
want to install air hoses (should go to the right of each coupler box, 
consult photos as a guide of where to install), but no holes are provided 
for these.

I hope this is helpful. These are wonderful models.

 

[GAPPLEG]

Actually they have a set of pix's of an SD45T-2 done up with cut levers and all sorts of details but the listing below it doesn't say anything about the cut levers. I e-mailed them about that. Awaiting a reply.

[riogrande5761]

I know Details West or Details Associates makes the cut levers and eye bolts needed to finish the pilot and rear end.  Yes, there will be some things to put the finishing touches on the models.  The pilots look bare without some things like cut bars and MU hoses.  I wish they would have left the plow doors open!

[zgardner18]

I did hear somewhere that Detail West was doing a kit with details for SD45T-2 so I hope the parts will be ok for the SD40 also. I assume that will include the cut levers.

Check their website.  It always has great things on it.  They do have a section where one of the guys has taken their products and greatly detailed certain engines.  Maybe they have done an SD40T-2 or SD45T-2.  They also list everything they use too.

[GAPPLEG]

I did hear somewhere that Detail West was doing a kit with details for SD45T-2 so I hope the parts will be ok for the SD40 also. I assume that will include the cut levers.

[zgardner18]

I know that my SD45T-2 didn't come with all the extras so it doesn't supprise me that any of the other engines that are RTR wouldn't be the same.  I don't have a problem with adding some pilot detail but I wish that Athearn would put on correct plows that are prototypical to each engine and railroad.

[GAPPLEG]

Just received an Athearn RTR SD40T-2 , surprisingly , I found that the end frame details are not included (ie: cut levers) even though the end frames has multiple holes for mounting said items.  Did the SD45T come the same way ? Other than that the detail is bad at all.  See-thru screens in the rear, fans visable on hood top, correct lights for SP. Runs fairly good for a RTR. Anyone else have experience adding cut levers to this model ?