Athearn Mill Gons

[unittrain]

I have several of these from Athearn especially in the RailGon scheme. I just recently got a chance to measure an actual RailGon
gondola (CSX has a siding along their New Castle sub-division (former B&O main)) here in my town so I occasionally measure
cars when they are sat to the siding awaiting repairs. These models match the dimensions very well!! Even the rectangular plates
attached to the ends match the prototype!! The only problem is the ride height I was thinking of maybe cutting the floor out
just over the trucks and adding a new section of floor with a new bolster as per an idea I seen on this forum. The only problem
is is that the metal underframe is glued to the car floor!! I wonder if anyone has lowered these and if so would you recommend
I use a Dremel cut off wheel (very carefully!!) or use an exacto along the edges and then a Dremel to cut the metal underframe :-\
any suggestions? I was going to scratchbuild some of these but even the side ribs are spaced exactly down the length of the car!!
so I would like to get the ones i have lowered and put the correct trucks on them and FVM wheels

[wm3798]

I cut the whole floor out of the MT car to nest it down over the frame to get this ride height.  I made a new floor with some Evergreen V-groove siding.  It's pretty thin so it makes up some of the difference.



I used a Dremel and just hacked away at it, then cleaned up the cut with a small file and some sandpaper.  I used some Evergreen strip to make a stop to keep the floor from going all the way through, and applied some CA gel to the underside to secure the shell to the frame.  I also filed out the coupler pockets, which I think I left on the truck... I can't remember.

Lee

[unittrain]

That N&W gon you did looks really good I think I'll give the Dremel a try I just have to work at it slowly like you said
because heat can build up also and melt the plastic! I want to do the same with my MTL gons I lowered them but they still arent
quite low enough you have to remove the floor just as you did. I'll give it a try and post some pics. Thanks for the info.

[wm3798]

I didn't worry about the plastic... I cut right through it, leaving about 1/16" at the sidewall.  I carved out some of it with an Xacto, plus the file now that I think of it. 

The trick is to keep enough clear of the side wall to keep that intact.  Although, it's not necessary to leave it perfect either... ;D



Lee

[Ed Kapuscinski]

The athearn gon is different Lee, it's got a metal "subfloor" that's actually the weight.

Personally, I just used a wide drill bit into the bolster hole and lowered them that way.

I went too far on one car, and now the wheels barely rub the floor, but otherwise it was quick and easy!

Sorry I don't have any good pics at the moment though.

[wm3798]

SO it's set up like the LBF car, only you can't remove the plastic floor?...  Gotcha.  That is a little different...

Lee

[Ed Kapuscinski]

They're old MDC cars using the "MDC Floor", you know how that goes... check under any old MDC 50' boxes.

[ljudice]

another easy way is to swap out the underframe for an Atlas Evans Gon frame with the 100T trucks. It looks great...

the problem is that the parts are not on their website...

Lou

[Sokramiketes]

The athearn gon is different Lee, it's got a metal "subfloor" that's actually the weight.

How is that any different from the MTL gons that also have metal "subfloors" that are the weight?

Lee's method should work the same on both... 

[wm3798]

Agreed... No difference.  Hack away, my friend... Hack away!

Lee

[Wlal13again]

The athearn gon is different Lee, it's got a metal "subfloor" that's actually the weight.

Personally, I just used a wide drill bit into the bolster hole and lowered them that way.

I went too far on one car, and now the wheels barely rub the floor, but otherwise it was quick and easy!

Sorry I don't have any good pics at the moment though.

I did the same thing, and used MT low profile wheel sets. I`m happy with the outcome.

[lock4244]

So... guess that will not be making it to an NSC convention 

Man, that gon looks just awful, Lee... a real rolling piece of junk. Nice job!

[wm3798]

Thanks, Mike.  I doesn't collects 'em... I runs 'em!

 

[lock4244]

I used to run them too, Lee, but I saved all the factory air in a compressed gas cylinder and huff it when I need a buzz. Mmmm, that's good MTL  ;D

[inkaneer]

I thought the Athearn mill gons were cast metal not plastic.  Am I wrong here?