What is Wrong with the Athearn Blue Box SW7?

[edwardsutorik]

A kupla comments on Spikre's list:

Don't know about others, but my Revell NW2--ACL 8 wheel drive--has a not-DC-60 motor.

And the Athearn has an early (phase I?) SW7 body and a late (phase II?) cab. So, I think it's closer to a phase I.

And I doth not detecteth a Kato NW2, doth I?

Pretty darn good work, Spikre



Ed

[Spikre]

Ed,
don't really like the Kato NW2 that is here,but did forget to add
it too the list.
did they arrive about 1995 ?
Revell,thought one version had a Pittman looking motor ?
if not,they most likely purchased Armatures from Pittman.
Athearn used Pittman supplied armatures until the Jet Motors
arrived about 1965 or thereabouts.
Spikre

[edwardsutorik]

Spikre,

Don't know about the Kato's delivery year.

I recall that the magnet in my Revell NW2's motor was about the nastiest looking magnet I ever saw. It looks like a rock, but ground flat top and bottom. DC-60's may well have been used on other Revell switchers, just not on mine.

The motor is held onto the top of the power truck only by the screw in the back of the motor. Which means that if you tighten the screw to keep the motor on the truck, you lift the spur gear on the motor shaft out of engagement. Ever so slightly irritating!


Ed

[onequiknova]

Is the Proto SW really nearly 20 years old now?

[Judge Doom]

Dec 31, 2014 16:12:05 GMT -8 Spikre said:

Ed,
don't really like the Kato NW2 that is here,but did forget to add
it too the list.
did they arrive about 1995 ?
Revell,thought one version had a Pittman looking motor ?
if not,they most likely purchased Armatures from Pittman.
Athearn used Pittman supplied armatures until the Jet Motors
arrived about 1965 or thereabouts.
Spikre

I remember reading an article in a 1995 or 1996 MR about painting up a Kato NW2 in SP colours, so yes, about then.

Dec 31, 2014 16:34:19 GMT -8 onequiknova said:

Is the Proto SW really nearly 20 years old now?

Yes, and they're still great, smooth runners. Great looking shell tooling. A bit on the light side, but there's notable space constraints with all 'dem small switcher types.

[Deleted]

Dec 31, 2014 15:00:18 GMT -8 Spikre said:

EMD Switchers over the years:...
Spikre

Did Märklin, Fleischman or some other European firm do an HO EMD switcher?

[Spikre]

??
maybe Lines Bros/Tri-Ang did something that looked sort of like an
EMD switcher ?
Flieshcman did a stylized Baldwin VO-1000,likely based on the early 50s
Kemtron Brass VO-1000 kit.
Heljan did the MP15 body for Con-Cor.
Spikre

[Brakie]

Dec 31, 2014 11:45:19 GMT -8 catt said:

And as we all know there are better models of EMD end switchers available.

The problem with better models is that it is harder to find things to nit pic.Besides I am perfectly happy with my SW 15 oops -7 switchers the 4 that still look like a SW-7 and the one that looks like a center cab narrow gauge diesel.By the way they are all antiques with round gray motors and cast flywheels.and of course metal sideframes.

John,I also like my BB SW7 just as well as my P2K SW8 and SW1200s.I used my first two at the Columbus HO club back in '66 or 67..I MU'd them NYC style-cab to cab and yes both was powered...

[catt]

Larry, I think the only change I would make is for the newer trucks with the plastic side frames and probably some flush fitting windows.For some reason the units I have with that old motor are all low current and amps.So I can't see any reason to swap them out.As to there being finer models out there who cares you can't see all that fancy stuff at track speed anyways.

Happy New Tears Guys hope we all have a great one.

[Deleted]

Dec 30, 2014 7:29:04 GMT -8 Great-Northern-Willmar Div said:

Dec 29, 2014 23:36:48 GMT -8 Mark R. said:

An NW2 Phase IV can be made relatively easy by adding the appropriate hood louvers to a Kato NW2 Phase II ....



Mark.

That is a very nice model. Love the old time marker lights on the front.

Whose louvers did you use? Archer?  6" louvers?  Great looking NW2.

[SCL618]

I have used Archer Fine Transfer 6” louvers to convert the Phase 1 NW2 to a Phase 3 which has the separated louvers. It is far easier than using the Plano part and looks great.

georgiarailroadmodeler.blogspot.com/2018/12/nw2-phase-v-details.html?m=0

www.archertransfers.com/AR88039.html

www.archertransfers.com/AR88056.html

The assortment pack is also good for diesel modeling as well and should have enough to cover a NW2. I found myself counting louvers to get the proper spacing and after primer and paint it is difficult to discern the louvers are not molded.