Athearn ExRPP SD40/SD38!?

[jbaakko]

I know this is late news here, But I just ran across this in my email from like a week ago, They're releasing a RTR SD40 & SD38! Retooled RPP shells... And whats this with AC4400's with the BNSF new image? I thought they were all ES44DC's? Oh well I might have to pick up a Undec SD38 and SD40 (uh oh another SD40-2 rebuild?)
Josh

[robjacox]

Two weeks ago I purchased a RPP SD38 shell on eBay. I've been wanting to build a McCloud River SD38 or -2 for some time. I wasn't sure if Athearn was ever to do anything with the rest of the RPP shells, so I decided to proceed with the RPP shell.

That night a friend of mine and HUGE McCloud River emailed me the news that Athearn was coming out with a RTR SD38, with McCloud being one of the roadnames!

"Good News" for me is that they are advertising it as "McCloud Railway" and prototype photos on Athearn's web site show the later brown scheme (I want one in the original McCloud River red/white scheme.

But Geez, by the time I'm done with a chassis, handrails, and detail parts, I'd be better off buying an RTR and repainting it!

[RCH]

Originally Posted by robjacox

But Geez, by the time I'm done with a chassis, handrails, and detail parts, I'd be better off buying an RTR and repainting it!

Just think of how much you'd have to spend to get even a Kato SD40 fuel tank to look like this, let alone the Athearn or RPP chassis:




Even with all these improvements, and more will be made, there's no reason, unless you're just stubborn and motivated (I *still* have a RPP SD45-2 in the works), to carry on with detailing RPP shells of the SD38, SD40 or SD45-2. It's just not worth it from an investment point of view.




Of course, the SD45-2 is a Genesis release, not a retooled RPP:




Looks like it's going to be an expensive year!

[jbaakko]

Yeah now if they'd tackle more DETAIL changes in RTR models, to match how well they did with the phases of the SD70MAC production. I'm waiting for a BNSF SD45-2 to run with my RPP SD45-2 I'm working on now. I think I'll just do a few of those SD40's to sell on eBay or something. The SD38 will become an SD39 when I get done. I think its nice though cause everything will be togeather, instead of having to buy a PPW chassis/motor to go with the $15 shell... Gotta admit though, completeing the merging of the RPP line into RTR WILL give Athearn a MASSIVE selection of units, thats allways good. That and Tower 55 coming out now, with those ES44DC's and SD70Ace's I'm looking at a second job now!
Josh

[RCH]

I think you'll see some more road-specific detailing on the SD45-2, since it's in the Genesis line (notice the early style cut levers - yes! cut levers! finally, pilot details on a Genesis locomotive!). However, you're probably still out of luck for the rest of the RTR line, save for a road-specific horn or two....

I think you're right about Athearn having a massive selection of units. I hope they do a major overhaul to the RPP SD45 shell and plop it on that underframe. I would also like to see them redo the RPP B23-7. A lot of people think the B23-7 is junk, but if you've seen what Clyde King did with his, your mind might be changed....

http://www.pbase.com/espeef5/clyde_king_b237

[jbaakko]

I'd love a new B23-7 I still want one BNSF one...
Josh

[RCH]

Josh, you know about the Atlas B23-7 coming out, right?




Of course, if you don't want to wait, you can do this conversion, using a Bachmann Plus B30-7 drive/walkway and a cut-down Atlas C30-7 shell:






The RPP model is okay, too. Here's my in-progress B30-7AB:




So, at least there are some options, but if Athearn did the RPP shell with a nice new underframe, detailed tank/reservoirs, I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

[jbaakko]

Yes I know of the Atlas B23-7 but there's one MAJOR issue with it, not that I can't solve it. Atlas model had 4 window cab sides, BNSF unit has 2:
http://rosterpix.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=4931

I may just buy a Gold Series B23-7 and modify it so its got sound
Josh

[RCH]

The photo you provided does show a four window cab, albeit one that has been plated over. I'm not sure how Atlas has handled this in the past or if they have at all. I have C30-7s with two window cabs (the donor for my B23-7 had two windows) while the four window cab shown here on the B23-7 is from an Atlas ATSF U23B to be high-nosed with a Hi-Tech cab. So, they've made both two and four window versions in the past. The question remains though: will they model the blanked out four window cabs? I would think that if Atlas will offer a factory-painted BNSF version, it will have the windows blanked.

[JeffShultz]

Sounds like a 4 little pieces of thin sheet styrene could go a long ways towards making the Atlas model match the prototype.