I recently decided that for sentimental reasons I wanted to restore/repair some Athearn streamlined blue box passenger cars that I had as a child. Some are missing their windows- either the whole one-piece window part fell out or is cracked leaving only some filled. The weight will be brought up to NMRA recommendations, and any that are loose will be secured or replaced with something else. The couplers will get replaced with my standard Kadee #58. I will put metal wheels in to increase performance and match the rest of my fleet.
1.) Is there a good online sourec for old Athearn BB passenger car parts?
2.) What size diameter metal wheels should be used in the coaches? I currently have 33" and 36" in stock. If the answer is not one of those two, can someone recommend a source.
3.) What is the best way to secure the window glazing so that it doesn’t frost over. I remember as a kid using super glue and having some get a white haze (complete with fingerprint if I wasn’t careful!)
Thanks everyone. I don’t expect them to match the current standards of todays RTR cars but I don’t want to be ashamed to run them on my layout either.
Before recently selling almost all of my Athearn BB Streamlined passenger cars, I did what you are contemplating. The wheels are 36".
Not sure how to advise you on the windows. You can’t just glue clear plastic inside the shells because the windows are actually designed to fit into the window openings to fit flush with the outside of the shell. I doubt that Athearn still stocks the parts. Those windows snap in, as you probably know.
I typically apply a dab on the window strp sections that touch the post’s on the shell and larger dabs on the ends of the strips. I wait 15 to 20 seconds and secure the window glazing in place. Cool factor is that if some adhesive is accidentally smeared on to the glazing, it wipes off easily with a soft cloth dampened with water.
Hi! Like Rich said, those windows fit flush with the outside. Two suggestions from me: carefully cutting new windows to the opening size from clear styrene or possibly Lexan if available, then carefully cement in place, or, there are products out that are “clear part cement and windowmaker”. Testors is one I can think of. I have made a bunch of caboose and loco windows using it and they come out alright. The “window” that results is quite thin in the center and will eventually give way if handled too much. In that case, simply clean out the opening again and make a new “window”. If you choose this option, take your time and practice a bit as it is easy to get an air bubble that will stay in the window; the nice part is if you don’t like it, pop it and do it again!
I deleted the first paragraph, as I just read the “rules”, and I had listed a certain seller at a certain auction site that sells only Athearn parts and pieces, and undecorated shells…ooops…my bad…[:|]
The Testors “Clear Parts Cement and Window maker” works good. I’ve made small door windows, and light lenses with it.
I deleted the first paragraph, as I just read the “rules”, and I had listed a certain seller at a certain auction site that sells only Athearn parts and pieces, and undecorated shells…ooops…my bad…
There is no problem on the forum listing a source of materials as long as you are not advertising stuff you are selling
For replacement windows, you might check with Athaern. The same passenger cars are still being produced in their Ready to Roll line of products. You may be able to order replacements from them - check customer service
[:)]Thank you for the advice. I will look for the parts at the large Springfield show this weekend and if I don’t see them, try online or on Ebay. The suggestions for the clear window glue were very helpful too!
As for the wheels, the ones I have on the heavyweight cars are set up to have lighting put into the cars. You may know this, but just in case. The axle wipers convey track power to the weight, to the bulb. One truck is set up to receive power from the right rail, the other the left. If you are changing wheelsets be sure to get ones that are insulated on one end and install them correctly or you may get a short. Of course if you are not planning to light them, you may disregard the above.
See you at the show, I’ll be one of the folks there on Sat, somewhere, at some point, drooling at the layouts and all the stuff I don’t have room for or money to buy.
There is a vendor who makes the rounds of the Texas train shows selling a little bit of everything; he sells “Johns Parts” which are basically parted out Athearn/MDC kits. One of the neat things is that his inventory is always in flux. From time to time; I have seen Athearn passenger windows in the mix. Not sure if he has a web presence, though…
I have not read all the other replies, but as someone with a large fleet of Athearn passenger cars I will offer some thoughts.
Athearn may have the windows in stock in their parts department. These parts are still in use as these cars are still made and sold in their RTR line. Call them, not all the available parts are shown on line.
Same with wheel sets. Athearn makes a new updated 36" wheel set and sells them seperately. They are the corrct axle length for perfect operation in the Athearn trucks.
If Athearn does not have the windows, they can often be found at train shows. Years ago amny dealers stocked these parts and lots them are still “out there” in the market place.
If your not planning to light your cars via the truck wipes, for your car weight, you might consider getting Adair Shops weight kits. They can be found at http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/143-158.
I have used these in my passenger car fleet (as well as many of my frieght cars that I could find the kits for). Some of the kits are hard to find some are not. I just checked and Walthers does show the Athearn Streamliner kits in stock.
Thanks again for the advice. I added 36" metal wheels and the cars roll even better than before. I ditched the sheet metal weights and instead filled the “box cavity” on each underframe with my standard weight mixture of epoxy and metal BB pellets.
The windows I will try and source at the train show.