Model Railroading > Why do Athearn F-unit$ still have misplaced dashboards?

Okay, Let's start over with a entirely new thread. Can any TOs explain why Athearn's Gen. F-units, pricey as they are, still place the very visible dashboard about 6' onto the engineers lap instead of underneath the windows as god and EMD commanded? Not even a fix-it kit is available. Some years back, Model Railroader had an article on how to modify the dash casting to look like the prototype. But, I recall the author noting the the fix was so difficult to do, that he would never try it again. I once ask Horizon about when it might be remedied and they said: "Never!" Nothing like plunking down $250-$300+ and leave feeling like a rube. Heck, I can get that feeling free from almost any politician. So, is there someone out there who would consider making a 3-D printed replacement part--in EMD utility green? Maybe start with the illustrations from the MR article and fashion a one- piece drop-in replacement? I would order about 30 of them right out of the gate. Any takers? 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/24/20 16:13 by RRBaron.

Or you could make this product and sell it at a handsome profit.

Let me guess.......Uhhh..Made in China?...

I think that interior was designed by china , we need a interior whip something up , with no idea what it it was suppose to look like/fit like, I have taken it and cut/modify/paint etc to get something that actually works..........Joe

PHall Wrote:
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> Or you could make this product and sell it at a
> handsome profit.

Beyond my skill level, that's for sure.

If you can find it, Keystone Locomotive Works made a cab interior kit. IIRC, it was pretty good. Shame they seem to be out of business.

I found a thread on another site on building an E8 interior in O scale. You should be able to adapt the ideas to building a kit in HO: https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/topic/how-to-make-an-e-8-cab-interior

I'm going to look at modifying the Athearn interior casting to provide a simplified interior. Cutting it at the dash for starters. Then maybe extending the floor, adding the control stand, and ultimately some figures.

Arved Grass
Fleming Island, FL

I'm glad someone besides me noticed this (a long time ago). I thought maybe it was just me. I have thought about painting it black to see if it would become invisible.

Victor A. Baird
http://www.erstwhilepublications.com

Anybody try this cab interior kit for the Athearn Blue Box F7 in their Genesis F?

https://littletrainshop.com.au/tarkine-models-unpainted-ho-cab-interior-to-suit-athearn-bluebox-emd-f-series-ho-gauge/

 

Arved Grass
Fleming Island, FL