Hi,
I recently came across a 1970’s Modeltronics Sound for Locomotives Athearn GP-9 Union Pacific 8335 2 Units both w/Sound and Power. Both are in great used condition except for a bit of paint chipping on the under chasis of one of the units, comes w/ original box. Just wonder what they might be worth if anyone has some information. Thanks…
Marc
Considering that the Athearn BB GP9(really a GP7) is not in production, and is not too sought after due to the ‘wide’ body/lack of detail - I am not sure what to expect here. The Modeltronic sound system is no longer listed by Walthers. IIRC, there weas a battery or power modeule to power it.
The going price on eBay is in the $20-25 range for old Athearn engines - with sound maybe $40. This is not DCC/Sound. I suspect the engines have a standard Athearm ‘factory’ paint job If you are looking for some DC ‘runners’ - they might be a good deal.
Jim
If someone is dumb enough to offer 40 bucks for them then unload them, FAST.
Modeltronics Sound is pathetic at best. I bought one a couple years ago just because I was curious. It was most disappointing. Then I don’t know when Athearn stopped making the HiFi rubberband drive, but I know they were still available in 1965. It is possible that an early 1970s could still have a rubberband drive. Even if a gear drive it might not have flywheels, so you would want to check that out. Finally the Athearn GP9’s hood was too wide, when Atlas and Proto-2000 came out with GP9s with scale width hoods the price on the Athearn’s dropped like a rock. I think any value would be in the novelty of it rather than as a working piece of equipment for a model railroad.
Or…a person could get one of the Front Range / Trains Unlimited shells and set it down on the Athearn chassis, they have the scale width hoods.
Mark