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Post by icrr3067 on Jul 22, 2014 12:47:05 GMT -8
Has anyone attempted to take apart an Athearn Gp9 shell? I mean remove the handralis removing the cab from the long and short hood. I want to repaint one and just wanted a heads up.
Thanks
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Post by Mark R. on Jul 22, 2014 13:23:38 GMT -8
I scrapped one a few months ago - put the chassis under a Proto shell (don't ask ....). Having the extra shell now, I thought I would investigate the breakdown. Have fun .... it's all glued together !
Mark.
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Post by lajrmdlr on Jul 22, 2014 14:05:00 GMT -8
You didn't say if you got the complete shell off. Do that by removing the couplers. With the shell off, cab should come off easily. To take off the handrails, etc., CAREFULLY use an Xacto blade to pry them off. Also use some kind of magnification to do that.
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Post by Mark R. on Jul 22, 2014 16:32:05 GMT -8
You didn't say if you got the complete shell off. Do that by removing the couplers. With the shell off, cab should come off easily. To take off the handrails, etc., CAREFULLY use an Xacto blade to pry them off. Also use some kind of magnification to do that. Have you actually done that ? There's even glue on the handrails !!! Mark. |
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Post by Judge Doom on Jul 22, 2014 17:59:48 GMT -8
Sounds like the old-run P2K Geeps would survive a stripping and repainting more intact than Athearn's new ones  |
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Post by lajrmdlr on Jul 22, 2014 18:26:57 GMT -8
You didn't say if you got the complete shell off. Do that by removing the couplers. With the shell off, cab should come off easily. To take off the handrails, etc., CAREFULLY use an Xacto blade to pry them off. Also use some kind of magnification to do that. Have you actually done that ? There's even glue on the handrails !!! Mark. Maybe not the newest ones but then the older Athearn plastic handrails popped off if you just looked at them. LOL But on the new ones does the glue "weld" the handrails to the shell? Would still try prying at least one stanchion to see if it works. |
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Post by wmcbride on Jul 22, 2014 18:29:21 GMT -8
On my Reading and Erie Lackawanna units the handrails were not glued. They were falling off.
I have no idea about the shell components.
Bill McBride
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Post by Mark R. on Jul 22, 2014 20:05:08 GMT -8
The handrails are glued with that silicone-like glue they use. It's "glued", but you can still get them off if you are careful. The body components are another story - they are glued using a liquid cement like what Proto uses on some of their models. Sometimes you get lucky with a butt joint and be able to break them apart, but the pieces that have pins through a hole that are glued like that, they aren't coming apart.
Mark.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2014 20:39:26 GMT -8
I've gotten really good at taking most Proto GP's apart for painting, detailing, etc. I bought a Genesis GP9 with the intent of repainting, etc., because how hard could it possibly be?  I think they pay the factory workers on the amount of CA they use to put these together. It was so glued together and not wanting to turn it into complete scrap, I junked the repainting idea and sold it on e-Bay. As Clint Eastwood said "A man's got to know his limitations". If someone is able to disassemble one of these please photograph your techniques. I'd love to see and learn. There are going to be undecorated GP9's from Athearn soon. I'd wait for an undecorated.....it could prove to be cost effective. |
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Post by grabbem88 on Jul 23, 2014 6:13:14 GMT -8
So soaking the whole shell in oven cleaner or goo b gone first wont break down the glue??
That stinks
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Post by catt on Jul 23, 2014 7:11:00 GMT -8
There's always the freezer trick.Put the shell in your freezer and forget about it for at least 8 hours.Remove from freezer and while it is still ice cold try to break the glue bond.Most of the time it will work like a charm.
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Post by icrr3067 on Jul 23, 2014 7:29:34 GMT -8
I've gotten really good at taking most Proto GP's apart for painting, detailing, etc. I bought a Genesis GP9 with the intent of repainting, etc., because how hard could it possibly be? I think they pay the factory workers on the amount of CA they use to put these together. It was so glued together and not wanting to turn it into complete scrap, I junked the repainting idea and sold it on e-Bay. As Clint Eastwood said "A man's got to know his limitations". If someone is able to disassemble one of these please photograph your techniques. I'd love to see and learn. There are going to be undecorated GP9's from Athearn soon. I'd wait for an undecorated.....it could prove to be cost effective. Long story short. That was my plan is to use the undecs. But my LHS Al's closed it's doors and I lost all of my preorders. Talked to Athearn at the show and the one guy had to pull some strings and he still couldn't guarantee that I would get just one. So my other LHS has gps really REALLY cheep so I picked up a few extra just to go the non Undec way. |
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Post by Spikre on Jul 23, 2014 12:49:43 GMT -8
 this seems confusing,Undecs that don't come fully apart ? what good are they ? Spikre 
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2014 15:47:37 GMT -8
this seems confusing,Undecs that don't come fully apart ? what good are they ? Spikre The original poster bought decorated GP's, because they were cheap. The undecorated versions haven't hit the American shores yet. |
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Post by icrr3067 on Aug 4, 2014 20:26:16 GMT -8
I've gotten really good at taking most Proto GP's apart for painting, detailing, etc. I bought a Genesis GP9 with the intent of repainting, etc., because how hard could it possibly be? I think they pay the factory workers on the amount of CA they use to put these together. It was so glued together and not wanting to turn it into complete scrap, I junked the repainting idea and sold it on e-Bay. As Clint Eastwood said "A man's got to know his limitations". If someone is able to disassemble one of these please photograph your techniques. I'd love to see and learn. There are going to be undecorated GP9's from Athearn soon. I'd wait for an undecorated.....it could prove to be cost effective. Ask and you shall receive. I only needed to remove the battey boxes and for masking when I paint the engine the cab. I seems like everything is assembled after the engine is painted so some of the bonds are not that good. The battery boxes came right off with just the pressure of my finger.  IMG_0872[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr The cab on the other hand was glued with a stronger glue because that was harder to get off but after about 15 min I got it to come off.  IMG_0875[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr  IMG_0874[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr |
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Post by grabbem88 on Aug 5, 2014 5:55:11 GMT -8
Were you painting over the Illinois central's??
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Post by icrr3067 on Aug 5, 2014 7:19:40 GMT -8
Were you painting over the Illinois central's?? Yes I am going to paint over the IC paint. I'm making the first IC Paducah. It keeps the high hood, the battery boxes are different, and some other little changes. But when done it will get the orange and white. Also my LHS had them at a steel. |
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Post by grabbem88 on Aug 5, 2014 7:46:45 GMT -8
Awesome!
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