Will an Athearn F7B shell fit an Athearn F7A frame?

[michael_balcos]

I'd like to know if an Athearn F7B shell will fit an Athearn F7A frame. Or does Athearn use the same frame for both F7A and F7B?

[DanRaitz]

If we're talking about the "BB" F units? Then the answer is yes!
But I can't say for sure about the Highliner/Genesis units, as I don't have any (out of my time frame).

Dan

[Russ Bellinis]

Athearn uses the same frame and weight for both a & b units that are powered and the same frame on all dummy units. I don't know about Highliners and Genesis units, but the Highliners were originally designed to retro fit to the old blue box f units, so I would expect them to fit. The new Genesis A units are also designed by Highliner, in fact you can buy the undecorated Highliner body kits directly from Highliner. Athearn only has an exclusive on the decorated bodies.

[michael_balcos]

Thanks, everyone. I just bought a brand new blue box Athearn Santa Fe F7A and an Athearn bay window Santa Fe caboose for the incredible price of US $45(that includes shipping to the Philippines! ). I'll be making my old blue box and powered Athearn F7A into a Santa Fe F7B dummy. With that, I'll get parts from my old unit for my other engines.