We all understand that as time goes on RTR models improve, more parts, more accurate etc but that doesn't mean the older units need replacing with newer units.
For example we have some first generation Athearn Genesis F7s, the ones with the Highliner shells and etched grilles, these were a marked improvement over the BB derived RTR units 10 years ago plus. The main let down of those early Genesis units was that the DCC & Sound was by MRC and frankly were rubbish but fitting a Tsunami in a DC unit or ripping the MRC out got around that.
When Athearn produced the Genesis units factory fitted with Tsunami DCC & Sound they added more detail parts as standard, along with more road correct details. Two examples are MU hoses, which i'll cover in another post and the second is cut lever bars.
The good thing is that all the shells are already setup for cut lever bars so adding them to the earlier productions runs are dead simple. Now I appreciate many aftermarket detail suppliers do cut lever bar kits and you can always make your own, but these Athearn parts fit straight on!
Athearn Part Number: G19134 is a sprue with five cut lever bars: early style front, late style front, plough style front, left rear & right rear. At this point I will highlight that one sprue is only good for ONE A unit and half a B unit so every B unit needs TWO sprues to complete.
In order to avoid damaging the rear cut leaver bar when taking the body off and to avoid taking the coupler out the cut lever is molded in two parts. Each part has two plastic pins on the back, these align with the mounts on the shell where a dimple is placed between two rivets to mark where to drill. Drill the dimples out to 0.4mm holes. These are a good fit but recommend a small dab of CA to retain.
Below see picture before and after:
It's a relatively simple improvement and for all you don't see the rear of a A unit or the ends of B's very often although it's surprising the difference it makes viewing side on, so a worthy addition in my opinion.
I'll cover the fronts and MU Hoses in future posts.
Happy Railroading
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