How to detail Athearn CSX locomotives in HO?

[AmtrakPhill629]

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

[Otto Vondrak]

[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-

[graftonterminalrr]

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.

[graftonterminalrr]

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!

[WANF-11--->Chaser]

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!