Athern/Globe F7 Etc;

[Anonymous]

With all the fantastic new Steamers and Diesels coming out on the market, would you take the time to super detail one of the older Athern/Globe F7's or other Athern Diesels of the older generation, just for the heck of it.

[Anonymous]

Yes.
I'm working on an A-B-A set of Athearn F7s now.
I'm adding grab irons, removing the steam generators, changing from dual headlights to single,repainting and Installing window glass, and repowering with a can motor.
I'm also working on an Athearn SD9, 2 GP35s 2 GP7s and a U33C.
I'll get more satisfaction rebuilding these locos than if I bought the new RTR locos. But thats just me. others may see it differently.

[Anonymous]

I've got a pair of the old Athearn F7s in Lehigh Valley livery (these were released in an Athearn SE pack a few years ago - one's powered, the other's a dummy). So far, I've used the Walthers window and handrail kit, and plan to add more detail parts as and when I can find them. I've removed the "peak" from the roof at the non-cab end and painted the "skirt" over the fuel tanks in black, in an effort to better represent the real locos (The locos are models of a pair of former C&NW F7s repainted into LV livery for charter trains, they should be Phase II, but the Athearn model is Phase I - hence the modifications - I can't remove the fuel tank "skirts" as these hold the bodyshell on!).

I enjoy reworking the Athearn "blue box" locos - they look good from the box, and repay careful fitting and painting of the detail parts they come with. I have a BNSF Warbonnet Dash 9 (A dummy, runs with a CSX Dash 9 and AC4400) which I'm particularly proud of - looks amazing after fitting all the included parts.

[Anonymous]

Sounds great, I've had some those diecast metal bodies of E's for years, they fit up to Athern frames and trucks and I've got some neat side frames for them. I'm thinking of trying my hand at one of them. The other project I want to do is a U18B from a larger U-Boat.

[AggroJones]

No. Now that I've seen what correctly scaled F unit noses look like, I wouldn't buy an Athearn F7 to enhance. If I had the money, I would find the Genesis one in my scheme.

[Anonymous]

Genesis engines are nice, but they still have a little bit of the Athearn Growl. Mine pull moothly and have plenty of power, but the "train set" power pack I have to use until I build a layout is too weak for an A-B set.

[Anonymous]

Yes.

I'm pretty picky, but I just don't see the nose contour problem. Never have.

I am enjoying creating an entire fleet of F-7's that I buy for about $12 on eBay and then detail by adding about $25 worth of DW and DA parts to each one. Plus the AMB windows. And so on. Take off the DB moldings from the roof. Sand the parting lines down. Putty where needed. Carve the pilot opening so it matches the prototype.

Then custom paint and decals.

Then I re-work the electrical pick-up system for better pick-up and for DCC compatability s well as sound...and afterwards, do the all-out mechanism tune-up.

It's a load of fun, actually, and very satisfying to have all those matched locos that I tweaked myself. Probably 15 hours of work in each one, if I figured it all up.

And they ALL have those goofy cockeyed cast-on louvers on the front of the nose. I hated this at first, but now I find 'em kinda endearing. It's a reminder of the fact that these finely-detailed models are still made from 1950's era Globe molds.