SD40-2 Horn

Discussion in 'Diesel Locomotives' started by wpmoreland719, Feb 2, 2010.

  1. wpmoreland719

    wpmoreland719 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    I have one of the Athearn Blue-Box Frisco SD40-2 that I bought new about 14 years ago. Engine runs great, but it needs some detail parts replaced. Could somebody tell me what type of horn the prototype used and who makes it in HO scale? Thanks!
     
  2. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    As always, it seems, there is no common answer to your question. It depends on the time you want to model, and the unit number. It would be best to obtain a pic of the specific unit you want to model, and go with the details it has on it.

    Regarding horns, the Frisco preferred the Leslie horn (even though a Nathan snuck in now and then), including on the SD40-2's. I just looked at a few SLSF SD40-2 pics, and the brand-new, low numbered units appear to have come with a five-horn Leslie set, with all trumpets facing forward. The part I use for this horn (HO) is the Cal-Scale 190-316.

    Later in time, and the higher numbered units, appear to have used a five-chime Leslie, but with three horns facing forward and two facing to the rear. This was a very common horn set on the Frisco. Use Details West AH-191 for this horn set.

    These are available at Walthers - that's where I get 'em.

    Ken
     
  3. Sirfoldalot

    Sirfoldalot Frisco.org Supporter Frisco.org Supporter

    As a footnote to Professor Ken's post ... I would like to post an Ebay store that I came upon.
    http://stores.ebay.com/T-J-Model-Trains-and-Things?_rdc=1

    Typed "air horn" in store search - returned 32 choices.

    I have had very nice results from them. Their shipping costs on small orders are very good. If the item you are looking for is not shown - send them an email and they will add the item you want on ebay.

    As a footnote to my post .. They have about 9 or 10 kids, so I know they need to sell a lot of stuff. Try them - you will not be disappointed.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 2, 2010
  4. wpmoreland719

    wpmoreland719 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    To be honest, I can't tell a Nathan horn from a Leslie horn. The unit no. is 954, which I think is the only one that Athearn offered in the Frisco scheme. I'm going to leave it original, so whatever the real 954 was equipped with is what I'll go with, since it needs to be replaced anyway.
     
  5. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    The few pics I saw of SD40-2 SLSF 954 were of it as a relatively new unit. It carried the five-horn forward Leslie horn then, painted red/orange like the body.

    Thus, the Cal-Scale 190-316 is what you should put on it. Use the same mounting hole that the stock Athearn horn is in.

    Enjoy!

    Ken
     
  6. wpmoreland719

    wpmoreland719 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Great! Thanks, Ken. BTW, I have to say, I was inspired by the models that you painted and detailed in your album, especially the GP15. Is that a Walther's Trainline??!! It looks fantastic. I have the same loco, but all that I've done is paint the handrails. I hope to add the correct pilot, gyralite, and beacon soon. Based on the experience that I've had with my Trainline GP15, I think those are great running engines, even if they do lack detail. In fact, I've wondered if they have the same mechanisms as the Proto units, just in a cheaper shell. Anyway, thanks again for the info.
     
  7. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Yes, that GP15-1 is the Walthers model. I picked it up from my hobby shop on a special (a package with the Frisco wide vision caboose) and decided to keep it after I noticed how well the GP15-1 runs.

    I decided to keep it the Walthers color (too red), and go ahead and detail it up for the fun of it. It turned out very well, with almost more detail parts $$$ on it than it itself cost! An exception is the nose gyralight, which looks great from a distance but does not look so good up close. I need to do a better job on that next detail time - it was the first one I put on a locomotive. I give myself a B- on it!

    I also did the Walthers w/v caboose - it is not prototypical for the Frisco, but it looks pretty good.

    Enjoy your SD40-2.

    Ken
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 3, 2010
  8. FriscoGeorge

    FriscoGeorge Frisco Employee

    Hi Guys,
    I just found some information on the type horn used on the Athearn Blue Box SD40-2. I have one of these and it uses a P-3 three chime Leslie horn. If you go to www.internettrains.com and bring up their web page there will be a search column on the right. Type in the following part no. DTW-190. It is a P-3 Leslie horn made by Details West and sells for $3.39. Be careful though, if you click on the photo of the horn it will bring up the horn, but it also brings up at the bottom of the page photos of MU hoses, wipers, cab sunshades, and a snowplow attachment for the SD40-2 Athearn, so if you buy more than the horn I'm not responsible. (HI)
    Hope this helps.
    FriscoGeorge|-|
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 3, 2010
  9. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    True, except that the Frisco liked to make a lot of melodious noise and preferred to use the five-chime Leslie, sometimes (early) with all five horns forward, or with three forward and two to the rear (later).

    Ken
     
  10. wpmoreland719

    wpmoreland719 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Ok, actually, here's everything that I need to bring this model up to spec: Horn (obviously), both cab handrails, front and rear number boards, m/u cables, and the correct pilot. It would be nice to find everything in one package, but I don't think it's possible. Cal-Scale sells a nice detail kit for Athearn GP and SD units, but it doesn't include the horn, which makes sense because of the different road preferences. So I guess I will order the handrails from Athearn (none of the hobby stores in my area have them in stock), and the horn and other details from Cal-Scale. That brings me to my next question though: Who makes Frisco white on black number boards? Oddballs? Microscale?
     
  11. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    William -

    You have a fun project ahead of you! One of my very favorite things to do in this hobby is to detail a Frisco diesel.

    I just took a quick look at a couple of Frisco SD40-2's and would suggest some or all of the following detail parts be added to your Athearn SD40-2. It will look very nice when you are done.

    o Plow pilots, front & rear - Details West (we can supply part numbers later)
    o Nose gyralight - Utah Pacific
    o 5-chime, all forward Leslie horn - Cal Scale, or 3-forward/2 rear - Details West (both referenced earlier)
    o Roof rotary beacon, yellow - Details West
    o Whip radio antenna - Detail Associates
    o Bell (under frame, left side - if the Athearn does not have one) - Detail Associates
    o Fuel tank details (if Athearn does not have - filler pipe, gauge, etc) - Detail Associates, Details West
    o m/u hoses - Details West or Detail Associates
    o Cab window shades - Detail Associates
    o W/S wipers - New Detail Associates (available any day now)
    o Coupler lift bars - Detail Associates
    o Speed recorder - Front truck, left side, rear axle cap - Details West

    There are several other parts you could add as well but these are the basic things in my book.

    Regarding the numberboards, I'd just paint them black and decal them with white numbers. On some pics I've seen of the rear end, the rear number boards were blank.

    And, of course, Kadee couplers.

    Enjoy.

    Ken
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 3, 2010
  12. Sirfoldalot

    Sirfoldalot Frisco.org Supporter Frisco.org Supporter

    Thanks for the list - Ken
    I look forward to the part Numbers.
     
  13. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Here are the part numbers for my "suggested" list:

    o Plow pilots, front & rear - Details West #130
    o Nose gyralight - Utah Pacific #85
    o 5-chime, all forward Leslie horn - Cal Scale, or 3-forward/2 rear - Details West (both referenced earlier) #316 & # 191, respectively
    o Roof rotary beacon, yellow - Details West #106
    o Whip radio antenna - Detail Associates #1802
    o Bell (under frame, left side - if the Athearn does not have one) - Detail Associates #1202
    o Fuel tank details (if Athearn does not have - filler pipe, gauge, etc) - Details West #166
    o m/u hoses - Details West #266 or Detail Associates #1508
    o Cab window shades - Detail Associates #1301
    o W/S wipers - New Detail Associates (available any day now) #2316
    o Coupler lift bars - Detail Associates #2212
    o Speed recorder - Front truck, left side, rear axle cap - Details West #284

    Just my thoughts. Others may have better suggestions.

    Ken
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 3, 2010
  14. wpmoreland719

    wpmoreland719 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Wow! That's quite a list. I'm guessing $30.00 to $40.00 total? Oh yeah, I'm missing a couple of brake cylinders (I guess that's what they're called)from the trucks. Do the aftermarket companies offer these too, or would it be best to go through Athearn?
     
  15. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    I'd go through Athearn so everything matches.

    Ken
     
  16. FriscoGeorge

    FriscoGeorge Frisco Employee

    Hello,
    I don't know if parts are still available from Athearn or not since they quit making kits. I know the last time I ordered a part they would not ship it unless you ordered them in bulk.
    George
     
  17. wpmoreland719

    wpmoreland719 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    I checked Athearn's website today, and it doesn't indicate any minimum quantity when ordering. It does say to attempt to have your local hobby shop order first, and if that doesn't work, you can contact Athearn directly and place your order. Why they would do this I don't know. Anyway, I called my nearest hobby shop, which is Kreig Haus Hobby and Coin in Washington Mo. to order SD40-2 handrails (part no. 44012) and brake cylinders (part no. 45037). The shop owner indicated that he thought he could get them, but admitted that they're not easy to get ahold of anymore. And he carries almost nothing but Athearn products (all of course RTR). Although in a MoPac town, Kreig Haus usually has a good selection of Frisco products.

    I hated to see the death of the Blue-Box kit. I got ahold of a few of them last year at Hobby Station in Kirkwood for $7.50 or $8.00 each. They are simple, rugged, and good performers. By contrast, I bought one of the Kadee Frisco PS covered hoppers for $30.00 last year, and if there is the slightest imperfection in the track, it'll let you know. Everything on it is meant to be as close to scale as possible, including the wheel flanges. That's great and all, but I really don't care if the flanges on the Athearn cars are a hair wider than those on the Kadee. Reliable operation and affordability is more important to me. R.I.P., Blue Box kit, you are missed.

    PS, I guess I'll give up a secret hold-out for them in case anyone is interested.......Rosebud and Southern antique store in the metropolis of Rosebud Mo. has a number of them left, as well as a brand new Proto 2000 Frisco Alco FA/B in HO scale. I've never knew P2K made one for the Frisco. It doesn't look like it's going anywhere soon.
     
  18. wpmoreland719

    wpmoreland719 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    I placed an order through Walthers on Friday for everything that Ken listed for the SD40-2. The rotating beacon is on backorder, but due by the third week of this month. Total cost: $45.00, including Modelflex Frisco Orange paint. But some of those parts I ordered two of so I could detail the GP15-1 a little. Big thanks to everyone who posted information and suggestions on this thread.

    I've ran into a problem trying to find handrails for this engine. It has all of the handrails except for those along the short hood. None of the hobby stores around St. Louis have them, and Athearn apparently doesn't produce them anymore. If anyone knows where I can buy them, please let me know.

    I should get the other parts later this week, and I'll post some photos to document the progress. I've also started painting and ballasting track on the main line, so that section should be presentable pretty soon.
     
  19. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    I have 8-10 SD40-2 blue box kits that came with the plastic and metal handrails. I would be glad to send you a couple sets of metal hand rails if you want. I also have an extensive parts drawer with the metal sides and end handrails too. You got stantions?
    I could put them in a padded env and send em your way
    Tom
    GJ
     
  20. wpmoreland719

    wpmoreland719 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Tom, that would be great. I'll send you a SASE and a few bucks for your trouble. You don't have to just give them away-they're getting hard to come by! By the way, you've got a great looking layout! I hoping to improve mine to that level.:)
     

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