These have been available for a while, but I don’t read much about them in the model press. I’m wondering if the outcome specifically for the variety that modify the window contours give a disappointing outcome. Alternately, there are some many nice F-units right out of the box, maybe folks just don’t fool with the AMB kit(s) that much. Anyone with first-hand experience?
A while is right. I think I read about them in the late 1980’s so that was 30 years ago. IIRC, they made a couple versions for Athearn blue box F7’s - one directly installed a wind shield in the ugly squarish gap, and the other version allowed you to get a much nicer, more prototypical looking windshield after it was all installed and finished.
The photo’s I saw of the review seemed to show a much improved wind shield if you did the latter version I mentioned, but like anything some skill is required so outcome may vary.
I’m guessing with so many much nicer options on the market in the last 20 years, not many do the AMB conversions anymore. For me it was all academic once Stewart Hobbies came out with their much nicer series of F units, which IMO, still hold up well today as far as the shells go. The drives are among the best even today (KATO chassis).
Are you talking about the entire window, or just the glazing? I only find the glazing listed on the AMB website…
Tom
I got a few of the Walthers “diesel detail” kits. They seem designed for Athearn Blue Box F7s, of which I have a few.
Each kit had windshields and headlights for one F7A and portholes for both an A and B unit. There were also wire grabs for each unit.
Looks good. I thought they were called “Diesel Dress Up Kits,” though.
For detailing Stewart F units (grabs, not windows), Bowser makes a detail set, as does Detail West.
IIRC, the Stewart F-unit detail kits are designed by Detail West for Bowser.
Tom
Not Bowser; I meant Cal-scale:
If you have Athearn Blus Box, Ready to Roll or most recently Roundhouse ex Globe F7s, this will improve the appearance of the cab windows. If you don’t, then you don’t need them. Other F7s on the market have different and generally more accurate window contours.
AMB also offers glazing for many Athearn products that initially came without glazing. More recent Athearn products do come with glazing.
Boris
Doh! - Right! [D)] Thanks for correcting me, Gary. And they are very nice detailing kits, too.
Tom
No, the cap rightly belongs to me. [D)] I said “Bowser” in my first post, when I should have said Cal-Scale. It’s doubly (trebly?) complicated, as Bowser owns both Stewart and Cal-Scale now, but Details West designed the Kits for Stewart, which is now Bowser…[:$]
FWIW, I have used AMB glazing in a bunch of Athearn BB cabooses. They fit so well that no glue is required, and they really look great.
Dave