are they any good? im watching one on ebay. hows the detail?
Thanks
GEARHEAD426
[8]
I don’t think Athearn ever produced a model of an SW1200, unless it was a few decades ago.
Yes the did, it was the alternate version of their SW1500, single stack, different trucks I think. I have one but don’t have an SW1500 to compare it with. It’s a typical blue box model, older style technology. Nothing realy wrong with it, detailing is fairly good because it was one of their later BB models.
Bob Boudreau
hmmmmmmmmmmmmm
apperantaly this ebay seller is wrong because the loco has 2 stacks…
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6063489737&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1
i asked him for some close-up photos.
GEARHEAD426
[8]
1201 was a SW7 on the P&W… Life-Like Proto makes one I think… Its a bit different than the SW12 or 15…
athearns early sw1200 was actually a sw-7, the details were fair,but hood is too wide. You’re better off with a P2K if you can find one, corrrect hood width and doors and it has grabs and cut levers,mu’s etc.
Athearn NEVER catalogued an EMD SW1200
Starting in the mid 60’s they offered a model called a SW1500 which is really a SW7, and now catalogued as a SW7.
Later in the 1980s, Athearn came out with a SW1500 and SW1000, which are still offered.
P2K offered a SW9/SW1200 model.
Sounds like the SW1000.
Right! I got my Sw’s mixed up! I was thinking SW1200/1500, it should have been SW 1000/1500.
Bob Boudreau
To answer your question, the Athearn SW 1000, 1200, 1500 SW-7 or whatever this little switcher actually is, is not a bad little engine. I have several but they are in storage right now and I don’t remember there actual designations. Mine are fly wheel equipped and ran well when last run about two months ago. These BB engines are quite simple and easy to maintain, there overall appearance is good, but maybe not 100% accurate. If you do purchase said engine I would chuck the electrical connection strap and hardwire the electical pick up from the trucks to the motor. This has worked well for me with the Athearn BB engines. Good Luck John
As noted above, these switchers were marketed by Athearn as SW 1500s, although they were actual models of the SW7. Decent runners for their time, and bulletproof once the metal strap power distribution system was replaced with wire. Mine are from the early part of the run, with Zamac flywheels and truck sideframes.
This one has been remotored, regeared, and equipped with pick-up shoes, as well as converted to an NW2. It has a GSB cab interior and extra weight added wherever it would fit in. A good puller, but too slow to run well with any of my other locos, hence the lack of mu equipment.
This one, one of four, has been converted into an SW1200RS, mainly by replacing the trucks with the newer Flexicoils from the Athearn “true” SW1500. All have been remotored with Mashima can motors and have been ballasted to improve pulling power. These pull even better than the NW2, as the smaller motor allows for more weight, one of the advantages of the wider-than-prototypical hood. These run well with most of my locomotives, in particular my Bachmann 2-8-0s, which is the service for which they were built.
Wayne
I’ve sold my Athearn SW7s off in favor of Atlas Alco Switchers and some Athearn SW1500s and an SW1000. Nothing wrong with the units, just didn’t fit what I was doing at the time. The Athearn SW7 is modeled after the Phase 2 SW7 with the square windows. The Phase 1 machines had the curved front cab windows. Broadway Limited offers the Phase 1 version.
All to sadly both of C&HV’s SW7 are stored servicable…The SW1500s and MP15DC replaced like GP38-2s/GP40-2s replaced the older GP7/9s.
The Athearn SW7 is still a great switcher.
athearns early sw1200 was actually a sw-7, the details were fair,but hood is too wide.
BXCARMIKE, Have you ever measured the hood on an Athearn SW-7 switcher? I have, and it is almost identical to the Proto SW switchers at 7’.
Early Athearns like the GP-9 and GP-35 DID have oversize hoods but the EMD switchers all happens to have a wider 7’ hood width right from EMD.
If you want to see the difference between an SW1000 and an SW1200, follow this link.
http://paintshop.railfan.net/emd.html#switchers
It’s an Athearn SW7. I had several of them, but when I discovered Life-Like GM switchers my Athearn units started dropping like flies. The Life-Like GM switcher more accurately resembles the prototype (SW9 and SW1200 with two stacks, SW8 and SW900 with one stack), and the motor runs just as smooth as the Atlas locos with Kato drives.
aloco,From 6" away I can not tell the difference.The Athearn SW7 is the only gig in town unless you want the BLI SW7 which doesn’t look that much better.
Brakie, true, if you are modeling an SW7. I model CN and CP, and neither of those roads had SW7s. However, with some work the Athearn SW7 shell can look more prototypical. A Cannon & Co. cab kit is a good start. I never did like the sharp-cornered windows on the Athearn SW7 cab.
I am not crazy about those windows either…That Cannon cab makes that unit look good…Also the round headlights can be replace with twin seal beam headlights from Details West or Details Associates…A simple job.
I am told the interior from the P2K EMD switchers will fit the Athearn SW7.If true the Cannon cab,twin seal beam headlights and the P2K interior will make the SW7 look sharp.[8D]
The SW7, with the addition of a Cannon cab can easily hold its own against the newer BLI offering.
Here’s a couple of TR4s, the first modified from Athearn and the second from BLI parts.
Jon