Keystone: HO Locomotive Cab interior kits.

[AntonioFP45]

Hey friends!

Some of you might have remembered that I posted the thread just last year asking if anyone made HO diesel locomotive cab interior kits. The answer I got basically was that no one did. GSB made them back in the 80s.

Now thanks to MStein mentioning the Keystone kit on the Athearn F7 detailing thread, I did a search for Keystone and hit on Keystone Locomotive Works at www.Internettrains.com . Nice looking cab kits! I am puzzled though that the E and F unit interiors are marked as "Curently Not Available". Is this internet trains? or the manufacturer itself? I'm mainly interested in the EMD 2nd generation, anyway. [8D][:D][;)]

Have any of you installed one of these cab interiors? Any difficulties? I am very interested however I do wonder as I'm going to be installing LED gyra lights and head lights in DCC equipped locomotives.This does mean wires in the cab. Will be for Athearn and Atlas units. [8)][;)]

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Antonio,
I found these listed in the Walthers catalog. They're on page 74 in the '04 catalog. I don't have them together yet as I've been researching interior colors. I've narrowed it down to the pale sickly green and a washed out tan. I might use a flouresent flamingo to jolt the rivet-counters. The kit does require the motor be tipped and the front worm cover to be trimmed. I weighing that against grabbing my dremel and putting in a tunnel to go over the gearing as how much can you really see once you get sunshades in. I did a quick check of my favorites and cann't find a web site. I'll post to this thread if I find something.
Mike

[Anonymous]

Antonio,
This is off the label for the "F" Unit Cab Interior Kit # HO3301 which has a MSRP of $10.
Keystone Locomotive Works
Box J Pulteney, N.Y. 14874
Exclusive License by G.S.B. Rail Ltd.

Phone [phone]
Hours 8:30am to 4:30pm EST M/F
Fax [phone]

Mike

[AntonioFP45]

Thanks Guy!

MStein, motor to be tipped? Sorry, I'm getting senile (according to my wife!) ? Do you mean as in tipping to one side or literally having the motor remounted in an angle?

As you mentioned, I'll grab my dremel and "gently" Make it fit! Just like a passenger car interior, you actually see very little inside a diesel loco's cab from a typical layout's vantage point.

Thanks!.

I'm not a rivit counter,

Could you please explain? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Antonio,
I had to get my head back into where this project was at. I'm running this with some powered B units and this requires coodinating some of the electrical stuff. I've got a directional lighting with cab light on back order. This is important for a couple of reasons 1) the tab on the front power truck that slides against the connector clip from the motor gets trimmed to provide clearance for the cab and 2) the cab gets permanatley attached to the shell by gluing the top of the front and rear bulkhead. I want to get the cab light in right before gluing in the cab. The kit provides a skeletonized replacement worm housing for the front power truck. It still requires removing the motor, bending the prongs in the front lower copper clip to bias the motor tilt so the end toward the front is lower than the rear. I'm also doing some other things that have been commonly suggested by others on tuning Athearns. To find these tuning suggestions put in Athearn tuneup and Athearn tune up. The one I rely on first is at http://hackitup.railfan.net/athearn.html
Other projects in various stages include GP-38-2 and F45. I like the pulling power of my F7s so will be adding extra weight to the GPs and the F45. I'm also applying some of the Cannon accesories to these last engines.
My detailing stops at removing the mold mark from the hood on the F units and enlarging the windsheild to correct proportions on the F7. Again everything gets tried on an Athearn before moving onto the more expensive stuff.
Mike

[AntonioFP45]

Thanks a lot!

I'll likely try one kit for the 2nd generation EMD. Will be for the Athearn FP45. I'll keep your info handy. I have to admit, that if I can minimize mechanical work, I will. If that means splitting a plastic kit in two, or cutting a hole in a floor. With a cab kit, I would mainly want the engineer's control stand and the cab's rear wall to be visible.

Cheers!

[Anonymous]

Antonio,
Was browsing the Athearn site last night and found "HO Cab Interior, F Unit [ATHG19201]. List $6.98
No picture so it's a pig in a poke at this point.
Mike

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mstein

Antonio,
Was browsing the Athearn site last night and found "HO Cab Interior, F Unit [ATHG19201]. List $6.98
No picture so it's a pig in a poke at this point. Mike

You're right Mike. I checked the site and still no picture. I'll e-mail Athearn and "politely" suggest to them that they post a picture. So for now, I'll have my sights set on the Keystone kits.

Cheers! [:D][8D][8)]