50-year-old Athearn Bluebox GP-7 & SoundTraxx

Discussion in 'Decoders & Programming' started by w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021), Dec 26, 2017.

  1. w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021)

    w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021) 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    I modified and painted one about five decades ago. the D/B was removed, the fans and handrail stanchions were replaced with Kemtron brass castings, and the thing painted for SL-SF 599, which saw some time on the high line. I picked the number because one of my many other hobbies is ham radio. 599 is a perfect signal report for CW Morse. 40-year old bluebox GP-7.jpg
     

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    Last edited: Dec 26, 2017
  2. w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021)

    w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021) 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    More photos:
     

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  3. w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021)

    w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021) 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    And more:
     

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  4. gstout

    gstout Member Frisco.org Supporter

    I still have one or two Athearn units like that. In the case of the Geeps, if you don't mind the slight additional width of the hoods, they're perfectly fine, and installing a decoder is not at all difficult.

    GS
     
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  5. kenmc

    kenmc KenMc Frisco.org Supporter

    Here's mine. It has influenced me so long that the narrow hoods on more recent units look skinny. So do all of the young guys I see walking around.

    Ken McElreath
     

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  6. w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021)

    w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021) 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    That wide hood allowed the big Zemo 40x20x8 speaker. The bass response surprises everyone at the club who hears it. I didn't play with the Econami equalizer at all.
     
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  7. w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021)

    w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021) 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    Ken, how did you model the open hood door, or was it too long ago?
     
  8. kenmc

    kenmc KenMc Frisco.org Supporter

    Doug,

    That was a really fun part of the project. I carefully cut one door completely out, then I made a new one out of styrene and glued it in place, open just enough to peek inside. Painting gray the motor showing was the final touch. Amazingly, the thin door negated the sense of a thick body shell and improved the overall realism quite a bit.

    Ken
     

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