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Fitting Different Bodies on an Athearn Chassis

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  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Canada, eh?
  • 13,375 posts
Posted by doctorwayne on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 4:55 PM

Welcome to the Model Railroader Forums, Mark!

MARK MONROE
Will an Athearn GE U30C Body fit on an Athearn GE U33C Chassis.

Doughless
The difference between a 30 and a 33 would mainly be door placement and details above the wheels, so they should fit....

As Douglas mentions, the different prototype versions, including U28C/U30C/U33C as Athearn Blue Box models differed only in body styles to more-or-less match the appearance of their prototypes, but all used the same frame, trucks, and mechanism.

Wayne

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Heart of Georgia
  • 5,406 posts
Posted by Doughless on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 11:16 AM

The difference between a 30 and a 33 would mainly be door placement and details above the wheels, so they should fit.

If the vintages of the models are different, like one an older "blue box" type and the other is an RTR or a Genesis, Athearn may have changed the innards.  New motor or weights, etc.   One shell might be obstructed by a weight or something when placed on the other chassis.  If you are sure the vintages of the locos are substantially the same, I would think they would be a harmless swap. 

There is a website called HO Seeker or somehting close that shows all of the parts diagrams for locos.  They should have the inside of those locos displayed.

- Douglas

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
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Posted by mbinsewi on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 10:20 AM

Welcome to the MR forums.

I would bet it would fit, as they are basically the same locomotive, although I know nothing about GE Uboats? I believe they are called?

The only way to know is to try.  I'm thinking Athearn made the same frame for each.

I have some C44-9W's and they are the same as the AC4400, as the AC difference are in the cabinets, and interior revisions.  Both shells fit on the same frame.

Look up the prototypes for what your doing, and see if they are the same length.

Mike.

  • Member since
    November 2015
  • 1 posts
Fitting Different Bodies on an Athearn Chassis
Posted by MARK MONROE on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 7:43 PM

Will an Athearn GE U30C Body fit on an Athearn GE U33C Chassis.  I model the Rock Island and I have a GE U33C but the Rock Island used the GE U30C so wanted to swap out the bodies so I could have the right unit for my railroad.  Both are six axle units.

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