Good evening (morning) all:
The MTH AEM7 is a delightful model, and the backbone of my passenger operations for the 300 Loft Catenary System. However, while the sounds/lighting effects are excellent, the shell simply does not pass muster with me. I tried to ignore the deficiencies, but my idealist OCD won out. The number font is way too thin, the blue paint is too dark, and the shell has the chrome finish that the older MTH Amfleets used to have. This chrome finish is excellent for Amfleets, not so much for the AEM7. Finally, I hate ditch lights in AEM7s. The effect is fun to watch, but Amtrak butchered the nose to install them, and they are out of my modelling time frame, (the very early 80s when AEM7s were new, and Phase 1-painted Amfleets were common).
The first generation MTH AEM7 got it all right except the blue paint is still too dark, which is the least offensive shortcoming as far as I am concerned. A case could be made for prototypical accuracy of this darker paint based on the picture below, but I suspect that is more the photo processing than its actual color.
So I decided to transfer the PS3 innards of the current model (#928) to a shell of a first-gen model (#924). I was told this was not practical or easy, but I found both statements to be unfounded. It was a fun project, and not really that hard at all.
First, we crack open the newer PS3 unit. It is stock except for the pans.
I had already acquired a shell from #924 (first-gen) and pulled the PS1 innards out, bulbs and all.
Next, we pull the PS3 innards from #928. This is a delicate operation, but with some patience and dull tweezers, it was not hard.
Now that we have all the PS3 stuff out of the old inaccurate shell, it is time to install everything in the 'new' #924 shell.
I left all the roof detail the same, EXCEPT for pulling the white Carrier AC units off the newer shell, and installing them on the #924 shell. There is plenty is precedent for this change, one of which is below.
I also installed the red insulators for some contrast. There is precedent for that as well, one of which is a slide from my collection. So we now have the finished #924 shell, with new ACs and PS3 goodies.
Next we connect the PS3 board to the shell, re-install the shell and mount the pans.
Finally, we have the finished product being tested with the Phase 1 Amfleets, and now we have a more prototypical train. The new PS3 lighting really looks good in the older shell.
Plans are in place to do this procedure to another AEM7, as the train is now 9 cars long, (8 Amfleets, and one baggage / lounge). The baggage/lounge is a recent addition, and makes for a nice prototypical consist.
It is amusing to note that at one point, there were 3 AEM7s in pieces on my desk. Thankfully, it all ended well.
Thanks for reading. The next update will be in the next few weeks, as the Conrail E44s have arrived!
