Are you looking to enhance your model railroad with detailed tank cars? Many modelers, especially those working on specific eras or prototypes, turn to Athearn for their reliable and versatile tank car models. While Athearn’s website showcases some of their best-selling items, many model railroaders are unaware that a vast inventory of Tank Car Parts and components is available beyond what’s listed online. This guide will explain how to access these hidden tank car parts and utilize them for your modeling endeavors.
Athearn, a long-standing name in model railroading, maintains a comprehensive stock of tank car parts that aren’t always visible on their main website. To access this treasure trove of components, you need to directly contact their dedicated Parts Department. The key to a successful parts inquiry is knowing the specific part number you require. Once you have this, reaching out to Athearn is straightforward. Simply email their Parts Department at [email protected] with your part number. They will promptly respond with information on pricing and current stock availability. Keep in mind that a shipping charge applies to all parts orders, regardless of size.
The reason many modelers inquire about tank car parts is likely due to the numerous modeling projects and articles that utilize Athearn tank cars as a base or source of components. Athearn’s tank car parts are particularly valuable for kitbashing and creating custom models. The good news is that these tank car parts are generally kept in stock and are re-run periodically if supplies run low, ensuring their continued availability for modelers.
To easily identify the tank car parts you need, especially for older 42-foot tank car models, refer to the original kit instruction sheets. These instructions, often included with older kits, contain detailed parts diagrams with clearly labeled part numbers in the lower left corner. These part numbers remain consistent, making ordering straightforward even for older models.
The “regular” Athearn tank car, available in single-dome and triple-dome configurations, offers a range of useful tank car parts. Modelers frequently utilize the triple-dome body (part number 14990) as a “sacrifice” body. This involves using it as a source for dome tops, which can be cut and modified to achieve the correct dome height for single-dome car conversions, showcasing the versatility of these tank car parts.
For modelers interested in chemical tank cars, Athearn also provides specific tank car parts. While the Athearn chemical car shares the same underframe as other models, the upper details are unique. Similar to the standard tank car, the instruction sheet for the chemical car clearly labels all tank car parts with their corresponding numbers.
Beyond the tank car bodies, Athearn also offers essential underframe tank car parts. Parts 15503 and 15504 are particularly useful if you are aiming to model a General American underframe. These underframe components can be combined with tanks from other manufacturers, like InterMountain, for unique projects. Such kitbashing techniques demonstrate how valuable Athearn tank car parts are for creating highly detailed and customized models.
While Athearn’s older tank car models might not possess the intricate detailing of contemporary models, their tank car parts remain incredibly useful. Notably, Athearn provides the only readily available option for a General American underframe in model form. Furthermore, suitable insulated tank bodies for kitbashing are still scarce. Until more modern options become widely available, Athearn tank car parts continue to be a vital resource and a practical modeling route for many railroad modelers.
In conclusion, don’t overlook Athearn’s extensive inventory of tank car parts. By contacting their Parts Department via email with the correct part numbers, you can access a wealth of components perfect for enhancing, repairing, or kitbashing your model railroad tank cars. These readily available tank car parts, backed by Athearn’s long-standing commitment to model railroading, remain a valuable asset for modelers of all skill levels.
