The Athearn 2-8-2 really needs a Frisco Coonskin headlight bracket supporting a pyle-national headlight. Alll parts are available in Brass and the headlight can be lit with a LED.
I also started one of those MDC 2-8-0 conversions years ago. I replaced the cylinders with a vertical, rather than slanted, configuration and added Bowser valve gear. Front ladders were added. I also got a brakeman dog house scratch built from styrene for the tender. Then, like so many other projects, I lost interest. It's a big engine for a consolidation. I also have one of the Athearn mikes. It will pull the tender, but not much else. So many to-do projects, so little life left!
@renapper Where, oh where does one buy one of those? I am also doing up a 2-8-2, (4136 as shown in Louis Marre's Frisco in Color, page 11, bottom). @w3hodoug, Mine is a cast pot metal loco, (can't find a maker) and it will pull 36 cars on the level with curves. Am going to also install sound, etc.
@Bob renapper passed away a few years ago. Are you asking about the Coonskin headlight bracket and pyle-national headlight? You can get the parts from Precision Scale, in both brass and plastic.