Y&MV 200 & 201 - Marker Light Removal

Removing Marker Lights from Athearn GP7u Shells

Athearn Genesis has done so much work detailing the Santa Fe "Topeka Cab" GP7u rebuilds that there is little detail work for me to do on my models of Y&MV GP7s 200 and 201.  These units are intended to represent second-hand former Santa Fe units as they are popular among regionals, short lines, and industrial roads.  

During a recent visit to Discount Model Trains in Addison, TX I stumbled upon BLMA item No. 4551 - "Removed Headlight Covers".  Several of the designs look like patches used by the Santa Fe so I purchased them to try them out.  Since my Y&MV is set in 1996, the marker lights molded on had to go.  

Here is the process I used to remove the molded-on marker lights and install the BLMA removed headlight covers.

1 - With an Exacto knife - slice off the rounded part of the molded light.

2 - Use a push-pin to indent the center of the marker light area to guide the drill-bit.

3 - Drill through each light on the nose.

4 - Sand any remaining raised surface smooth.

5 - Apply ACC to the drilled hole from the inside of the shell.

6 - Place Removed Headlight Cover in position on the outside of the shell (I used the adhesive part of a Post-It note to hande the cover as they are difficult to position.

7 - Sand away any excess ACC.

Chris