the MRH Forum

Included Parts in 20-year old Athearn Locomotives Locos and rolling stock
Reply
New member 5 posts mrhsmith8 New member 5 posts
mrhsmith8

A quick question for you Old Heads out there:

I'm trying to sell two 20 year old Athearn diesel locomotives.  I think they are both new old stock.  But looking in the boxes there are no add-on parts like handrails or brake cylinders.  There are a couple of wires that look like they may be handrails.  But there is a list of these kind of parts under a sidebar to the exploded parts diagram labeled "Additional Parts."

So . . . did these models come bare bones expecting detail-oriented modelers to order the "Additional Parts" or do I have two models with the parts sprues filched or some other explanation currently behind Door Number Three?

Best hopes,

Hilary Smith

Pacific Northwest

 

 

 

 

 
Reply 0
Geoff Bunza geoffb MRH Author and Moderator 2,511 posts
Geoff Bunza geoffb

@Hillary re: Parts

Hi Hillary,

Quote:

did these models come bare bones expecting detail-oriented modelers to order the "Additional Parts" or do I have two models with the parts sprues filched or some other explanation currently behind Door Number Three?

For quite a long time back, Athearn diesels did not have their handrails attached when sold new. The set described in the parts list (11529 handrail set) would have been contained in a manilla envelope or perhaps a plastic sealed bag. All the models I can remember had the brake cylinders mounted on the truck frame, but there may have been an exception for the Undecorated units (packaged separately in another envelope, possibly with X25 type couplers)..

'Hope this helps. Have fun! 
Best regards,
Geoff Bunza

Geoff Bunza's Blog Index: https://mrhmag.com/blog/geoff-bunza
More Scale Model Animation videos at: https://www.youtube.com/user/DrGeoffB
Home page: http://www.scalemodelanimation.com
Reply 0
YoHo Prolific poster 3,084 posts
YoHo

Only older Athearns, Yellow

Only older Athearns, Yellow box and 1970s BB had the Brake Cylinders attached. When they moved to plastic sideframes in the late 70s/early 80s, the Brake Cylinders and snubbers on BlomberM/HT-C trucks were separate parts on a sprue. 

Basically, if it has a yellow flat can and fly wheels, then brakes and snubbers are separate. 

Further, 80s SD40-2 and newer will have the separately applied headlights and number boards that will be on a clear plastic sprue. 

 

So, on a new BB locomotive made from the 80s onward, there should be metal wire for the handrails, metal stantions to go with it, 2 plasic coupler covers , a set of black plastic brake cylinders and possibly snubbers and a clear plastic sprue with headlights and number boards.
Reply 0
mrhsmith8 New member 5 posts
mrhsmith8

Mystery Solved

My thanks to geoffb and YoHo for their revealing comments.

I assumed the sealed small manila envelope just contained detail parts like glazing.  Since I was selling the units I was reluctant to open the envelope as sealed parts envelopes give potential buyers more confidence that everything is still there.  So when I did open one, out spilled more than a dozen steel wire stanchions.

Shows what happens when you stick to your assumptions (surely there should be a set of long plastic railings) rather than deal with what's in front of your eyes (the long included wires).

Thanks for helping me out.

Hilary Smith

Pacific Northwest

 

 

 
Reply 0
Reply