this is my second post and with any luck I am posting in the right spot now. (My last post was in the G scale section[oops]) Anyway I got a non dynamic insert for a GP 35 and wanted to fit it to a Athern Body, I found out the dynamic hatch on the body is not removable so I have cut it out to fit the insert, now I see why everyone kept saying that body was too wide, I will need to buld out the sides of the insert to bring it out to the edge of the body, then putty and sand to fit. Okay is this too much work for a blue box kit? I have looked around for a RTR non dynamic and so far have not found one in my gauge. (Found the right one in NYC colors by Atlas in N sclae but that don’t help me at all.)
I have a Kato GP 35 with dynamic brakes (UP) while I need one without (NYC). The insert could be ordered online easy and should arrive soon. I did the paint job last weekend.
The better alternative would be to track down a Rail Power Products non-DB GP-35 shell. My memory may be failing me, but I’m 98% certain that they produced these shells as snap-on relacements for Blue Box Athearn GP-35’s. I also believe these were scale width shells, but if they already came as non-DB then it would save you the trouble of bashing the one you have. Athearn eventually bought out RPP, and used their molds to start producing the new RTR GP-35s. I don’t know if Athearn sells their new shells separately, or if they’re even compatible with the blue box frames. But, take a look at eBay or scrounge the old stock at some brick-and-mortar shops to see if you can’t find one of these shells.