Upgrading an Athearn BB F45

[DanRaitz]

I decided to do an upgrade of a Athearn F45. I've had this loco for over 20 years and it needs some tlc.
Here are a couple of shots before I start tearing into it.

My first step was to redo the chassis, which means rebuilding the recessed step in the fuel tank. I cut out the area with a Dremel tool and then rebuilt the step with styrene and body putty.

After I finished with the chassis it was time to reinstall the motor and a DCC decoder.

 

[Ray Marinaccio]

Lookin good Dan.:thumb:
My son has 5 of those he wants me to remotor (when I get the time) 3 BN and 2 GN.
I like the added detail so far.

 

[jbaakko]

That is awesome, I'll have to get around to that detail on my Athearn & RPP Chassis, what air tank did you use?

 

[DanRaitz]

Now to complete work on the chassis. Here I finished the truck sideframes and attached them to the trucks. But before I could do that the trucks and wheels needed to be painted.

I then added the brake cylinders and brake lines to the sideframes. On the left front there is a speed recorder attached to the center axle.

I then painted the sideframes black installed them onto the trucks.

Here is a shot of the completed chassis.

p.s. Josh, the air tanks are from Details West #AT-204

 

[YmeBP]

Wow!! :thumb:

 

[jbaakko]

Cool thanks. I've been trying to figure out the difference between 204 & 304! I'll have to pick those up for my SD40-2 projects!

 

[DanRaitz]

Now that the chassis is complete it is time to start working on the body.

The first thing I did was to scrape the mold lines and strip the old paint off.

I then started to remove the molded-in detail that will be replaced, fans (both radiator and dynamic), the exhaust hatch, the inertial filter hatch and all the grills along the side.
To do this I first drilled a series of holes in the area that is to be removed, then cut that area out with a hobby knife and used files to square the openings up.

Here are a couple of shots showing the shell after all this surgery.

 

[Nomad]

This is really good! I can't wait to see the end!!

 

[COMBAT]

I want to see how the heck its going to be painted.

 

[green_elite_cab]

very informative! you've given me ideas....

 

[CRed]

You're in Grand rapids,huh?Not so far away from me,about 75 miles or so?

Cool stuff,I wish I could do that.

Chris

 

[jbaakko]

Looking good, with all this work, I hope you add some awesome coupler pockets!

 

[LongIslandTom]

Those look like some sweet mods Dan!

Say, what did you use to strip the paint? That looks MUCH cleaner than any attempts I've ever made..

 

[DanRaitz]

Tom,

I used Chameleon paint stripper. Works great on Athearns!!!

 

[Ralph]

Great stuff Dan! Looking forward to more. I like your MN International Railway avatar.
Ralph

 

[DanRaitz]

I have started to rebuilt the loco. Starting with the inertial air filter area. To rebuild the grills I used a radiator grill from Cannon & Co. #1401. I cut and sanded it to length and then split it lengthwise.

I then installed these in the openings and installed the inertail filter hatch.

 

[DanRaitz]

Next I attacked the front pilot. First I removed everything from the steps forward.

I then made a paper template of the rear pilot and transfered that to .020" styrene.

I then installed the pilot and cut out the slot for the coupler.

I then finished installing the details: plow, air hoses, coupler lift bar, etc.

 

[jbaakko]

DANG thats WAY more then I expected for the pilot detail!

 

[Ray Marinaccio]

Lookin good Dan.
Nice job on the pilot.:thumb:

 

[DanRaitz]

I also rebuilt the radiator section. To do this I used Robert Zenk's F40PH article in the July 1983 Mainline Modeller as a guide.

Here is a view of the left side rad.

and the right side