DaveJfr0 posted:As-built paint for Phase IV F3's for Southern is the green/yellow, (I believe units 4173-4206).
All SOU Phase IV had the big numberboards (not FT-style) and FARR SS grilles.
I'm guessing since in general, an EMD Phase IV F3 almost looks identical (minus the grids?) to F7's, it's an easy tool modification (if at all) for Scott to offer these late F3's. For Southern at least…basically buying an F7 with F3 road numbers.
If Scott decides to offer the Black Tux Scheme with all of the spotting features below, I could be persuaded to get some.
Black Tux spotting features includes:
- M5 horn and Firecracker antenna (put it in the box)
- dynamic brake fan near cab
- maintenance walkway on side/grab irons on the nose,
- de-skirted fuel tanks
- Rooftop Cooling Coils, much easier to make than the E8 air tanks (Unfortunately the F3A's with rooftop air tanks are an earlier phase..Phase II early with the chicken wire and other fun stuff.
Several (if not all) Southern F3 units were rebuilt to F7 specifications during the early to mid 1950s at Spencer Shops. Some of these passenger F3s were rebuilt to have their air tanks moved to the roof and a larger water tank mounted beside the fuel tank. Because of this, they looked liked a F7 from the outside, sans the stainless steel FARR grilles. If any were Phase II with the chicken wire, they were changed to the F7 vent style between the portholes. I have never seen an image showing a Southern unit as delivered showing the chicken wire, but Intermountain made them in black a few years ago for HO modelers.
The best way to model a Southern unit with air tanks using a Phase IV body would be F7 6119. Not sure when the tanks were installed, but it would be very close to the actual unit.
I have included some images found on the net to show what Southern F units looked like with roof air tanks.
