[:)] This may have a limited appeal as a topic, but I could use some information!! If any of you have used the Highliner F-Unit kits, I would like to know how much effort is involved in adapting the kit to an Athearn chassis. The Walthers catalog notes that they will work, but another source noted that only the Stewart chassis is a clean fit with no adaptation. I’m excited about working with these products, and this kit looks like a fine project that allows super-detailing to match a prototype. If anyone has done this and can share, I would appreciate it. ( I couldn’t find anything about this in searching the forum) Have a wonderful day!!! [:)]
[bow][bow] Here’s to the wise and knowledgable on this forum !!
Since Athearn owns the highliner kit, you do the math. All Athearn Genisis F’s are Highliner shells.
Did the math, but there’s still an unknown variable to account for. Will the shells fit on the Athearn blue box F unit chassis?
quote:"Will the shells fit on the Athearn blue box F unit chassis? "
YES. But when you lift the engine’s the chassis’ will fall out.
Athearn does not own the Highliner Kit, they are in partnership with Highliner in which Athearn may produce and sell the Decorated Models but Highliner gets to produce and sell the undecorated models.
Rick
What happened was, HiLiners got their F Unit B shell done. It was on the market for several years. They ran out of money to pruduce the A. the A unit tooling Sat around for many years unfinished because of lack of funds.
Finally Athearn entered the the picture. Provided the money to fini***he molds in exchange for the exclusive right to sell models on decorated highligner shells. Athearn does not own Hi-liners, (and thank god) Which is why they are still in the Walthers Catalog and Athearn isn’t
James
James;
That is not the story that I have heard. Paul Lubliner was tied up making stuff for the movie ‘Titanic’, which delayed the A unit.
Between the B unit and the release of the A unit there were several other releases of correct shells to fit on existing drives. Athearn has since released some of them as decorated models in the Genesis line. The B unit was advertised in Model Railroader back in the 1980s. I don’t think anybody was working on the movie Titanic at that time.
They usually fit fairly tight, but need to be pinned so they do not pull away from the chassis. They also need to be pinned so they do not drop down to low on the chassis. You can do this by locating them and drilling a hole into the chassis at each corner and inserting a screw or pin into the hole. The Highliners also fit the Proto 1000 chassis and usually fit very tight.
I have been using Highliner shells ever since the original B unit came
out and am thoroughly pleased with them. I have used them on many
different drives with success. My experience with Athearn ‘blue box’
drives has been that the rectangular tab fits in the slot in the fuel
tank skirting-just like Athearn’s own body. Genesis-well, obviously.
They also work well on Intermountain F drives, which are really nice.
They have extra detail, good lighting which includes class lights-for
DC use. Stewart drives work well too as do P-1000 F-3 drives.
Bangert1 is correct in pointing out that you have to determine your
own body mounting system. Being a GN modeler, Highliners are
the best shell out there in my opinion for doing GN’s rather unique
and varied F fleet. I also prefer them to the Intermountain F-7 shells.
They are more versatile and I don’t care for Intermountain’s plastic
handrails-they are just waiting to be handled and broken off.
Well, anyway, that’s my opinions.
I’ve not used a highliner kit but I have used the intermountain shell kits.They do have more aptions as far as detail’s go ,really anything and everthing you would want.I do agree that their habdrails are very fragile,of coarse detail assosiates metal handrail kits for dressing up bluebox athearn will work here as well.One other plus for the intermountain kits is that they come with instructions on how to mount to any of your major manufacturers chassis.They are worth a look if you can find them. Rob
Athearn also lists a powered Genesis chassis for use with Highliner shells. Check the Athearn website for more information. Good luck and good modeling.