How to detail Athearn CSX locomotives in HO?

Is the old athearn good quality when it comes to CSX engines? can they be super detailed to look like they are high quality?

[Hall of Fame post]

No, Athearn engines are made with a special plastic that repels all detail parts when applied. Sadly, there seems to be no workaround for this quirk in Athearn engines. Some even require horn-hook couplers to function properly.

-otto-

Depends which models you are referring to. Any model will look great with proper paint, added details and a good weathering job.

Older Athearn models suffer from a hood width that is too wide. The affected models are: EMD GP7/9 (marketed as both), SW7, SDP40, SD45, GP35 (not the RTR model, which is correct), and DD40; GE U28B, U28C, U30B, U30C, U33B, U33C; FM Train Master; and Baldwin S-12.

Athearn models introduced after 1984 or so are correct in their dimensions, and are easy to add details to. These models are the EMD SD40-2, GP38-2, GP40-2, GP50, GP60, SD40T-2, etc, etc. Any loco of the Genesis series is also correct.

Otto Vondrak wrote:No, Athearn engines are made with a special plastic that repels all detail parts when applied. Sadly, there seems to be no workaround for this quirk in Athearn engines.

Sounds like a few Bachmann engines I have!

Otto Vondrak wrote:No, Athearn engines are made with a special plastic that repels all detail parts when applied. Sadly, there seems to be no workaround for this quirk in Athearn engines. Some even require horn-hook couplers to function properly.

-otto-

ZING! LOL.

That is a railroad.net classic reply. Put that in the best of section!