I really want to get an undecorated GP40-2 (which I will make into a GP40), but I don’t think Athearn made any. So I am going to buy an undecorated shell. I am wondering if I could get some trucks and the frame for a good price and make a dummy locomotive.
Does anyone know where to get good prices?
Kyle,
All depends on what You consider a good price.
If You are looking for HO scale and have the Nov. MRR, in the classified section, under the heading Athearn parts, RJ Rennie is liquidating all stock 50-60% off. Only has a phone # no e-mail.440-234-7186 Berea, OH. Have already got two SD40-2 shells for 4.00 apiece. Or Athearn parts support:
http://www.athearn.com/Support/Default.aspx
It is best to call ext.122 and ask for Alex, He also run’s His own shop and ask Him about it. You may say Frank told You about it. Based in CA.
Take Care! [:D]
Frank
Any reason why you don’t want to just buy a GP40 made by Atlas?
$8 for a shell, roughly $10 for a frame, and around $20 for trucks equals about $40, so $60-70 when all done at prices I have seen. Atlas runs about $160, I could get an Athearn RTR GP40-2 for $90 and then just strip the paint.
Yes, but don’t forget that you also have to fill in that water sight glass opening that the 40-2 has. And I’ll bet that you can find a straight 40 either on e-bay or at a train show for a lot less than $160, and end up with an operating unit.
Athearn did make undecorated GP40-2s. I routinely lose auctions for them on ebay.
Are they the RTR line, or the old blue boxes? I saw some on eBay, but they were old blue boxes with hook horn couplers, and metail handrails. I already have another RTR GP40-2, so I have an idea on what I need for the project.
So buy a blue box GP40-2 get some KaDee couplers and the RTR plastic handrails and your in business.
He said he wanted a GP40, not a GP40-2. If he gets the -2 he has to do some body work to close up the water sight glass hole. If he isn’t going to do that he’ll end up with a 40-2 and be calling it a straight 40. If I were inclined to do a project like this, I think I would strive to be as accuate as possible, or else not bother.
Just my opinion, of course.
I realize this but the OP is talking about the RTR GP40-2 as a starting point.Why buy the more expencive one if all your going to do is rework it into something else anyway?
Do undertake this projet, it is called modeling. There is gradification still, in doing something with your own hands and mind!
There Athearn shells being sold for $4 (listed in MRR), so it isn’t that much of a difference, and I already one decorated for CSX so I know what I need to change.
One advantage of being a dummy locomotive is that I currently have DC so I can run it with another locomotive without worrying about the gears, and eventually when I upgrade to DCC there will be a lot of room for sound.