3rd Rail F7's - Santa Fe Warbonnets

I really like those plated stainless steel side panels!

They look super; can't wait to see the 2R pilot and Kadees; thanks for the photos.

 

To enlarge the photos, left click on the photos in the text, or click on the "attachment" images.

Those are b#tching!  

 

I knew you guys would get the best 3R version of the F7 when Scott produced them.  He didn't disappoint!

They look awesome.

They look fantastic. I really wish I could have added them to my layout.

Is it my imagination or is the red paint on the nose showing "orange peel" looking texture? The reflected light is not sharp but appears textured. 

the shiny red is beautiful.

Andre.

As good as their steam models are, their diesels are just ridiculously AWESOME!

 

Enjoy!

 

I am contemplating ordering a SD9 in PRR. I missed the boat on these beauties!

I am a long time 3rd Rail customer but I'm glad I passed on these. Just my opinion, but the vent window bothers me, the lift rings should be higher on the nose and the paint could be better. If I spent that kind of money I really don't want to lift a finger to make improvements or correct it.

Im jealous, I had to get the Atlas set.

Heck, I want the box!

 

Spectacular! Can hardly wait for their arrival on my door step. Thanks for the tease, Doug.

 

 

Its the poor lighting and camera phone. Your comment had me going for a further look. It's not orange peeled at al in person.

 

Originally Posted by PAUL ROMANO:

I agree on the vent window and lift rings. Don't judge the paint and stainless panels from my cell photos... they have an excellent finish, except for a decal issue on the B units.  

 

After Atlas announced the stainless panels, I had to order those too. Couldn't help myself.... and I really really tried.

The newly arrived individually controlled 3rd Rail SF Yellowbonnet F7A-F7B units with stainless steel side panels sparkle in the low horizon light of the Pacific NW. They each have two automatic firing couplers suitable for freight yard switching.  Next to them are a " mued " up set of previously released 3rd Rail SF FTA-FTB with whiskers.  They are closely coupled with a drawbar and are designed to be operated as one unit.

 

The weight of each unit is accurately measured to the nearest gram and the drawbar pull was dynamically measured up to wheel slippage.

F7A  2013g (55.    oz)        1.35lb+/-  0.20  drawbar

F7B  1916g  (51.5 oz)        1.52lb+/-  0.20   "

FTA  1953g  (53.   oz)        3.00lb+/-  0.6  combined two units drawbar

FTB  not weighed

 

The combined 4 engines have not been tested together yet but should be a nice consist to pull a heavy 12 car passenger train up grade with a stop at a station on the way.   Or a very long freight consist of lighter cars.  

 

I don't have the GGD El Capitans, but those Red/SS Silver are going to look spectacular pulling that consist.  Looking forward to seeing many other roads posted as UPS rolls out in other areas. 

 

 

 

 

 Click on each photo large to see a larger version.

 

Thanks for the peek Doug. I hope the ATSF freights are just as nice.

What I couldn't show you with the phone camera because it lacks depth of field, is the interior. Lots of detail and paint....looks really good through the windshield.  

Congrats you guys. Nice looking engines to me.

Thanks for the pics LOS, and congratulations, those are beautiful models, love the box too!

 

Joe

Beautiful!! Mine are arriving on Monday....in 2 rails of course.

 

Yves

Thanks for posting.  Can't wait 'til the Yellowbonnets arrive!!

Looks like its going to be a long weekend of waiting... Warbonnet A-B-B and Yellow A arriving on Monday. Good thing I'm planning on working from home...

Yeah, the stainless steel window trim is really wrong. Just went online and can find no Warbonnet F-7's with stainless or aluminum paint in that area. Is there a plastic post behind it separating the forward triangle window from the aft square window. In the photos it almost looks like this pillar was left out and the stainless insert was the fix. 

 

Hope it doesn't look like that on the Yellow Bonnets, SP's and UP's, They'll arrive tomorrow and I'm concerned.

 

Butch 

Looking at the 3rd Rail supplied pdf, it appears that the vent window is handled consistently among all of the paint schemes.

Butch;

 

I believe that they did have stainless (silver) vent windows...it is just that they were somewhat inset from the body and not obvious.  Can't tell from LOS's photos but if the model doesn't have the gutters above the windows that might be the reason they stand out.  Also, there are no mirrors which also changes the appearance.  But having the wrecking lugs in the wrong place is the tough one.  However, isn't the stainless wonderful!

 

Allan 

Rusty

There are gutters, but no mirrors. Those vent windows stick out a bit too far, thats what makes them so obvious. 

The stainless panels are sweet!

Enjoy them guys.

Does the Yellow Bonnet version have the same roof painting as the normal Red Bonnet? Looks slightly different in the picture.

I think Bill put the dynamic brake hatch in backwards.... they should be the same. That hatch comes in a baggie, and you have to put it in when they come out of the box. I think he just needs to flip it the other way

Hey LOS, is there a plastic pillar behind the stainless wing vent and is it just a case of the vent being too large; or is this stainless vent installed in place of the pillar that should be there?

 

Butch

 

 

Never mind LOS, I see on Bill's Yellow Bonnets that there is a plastic pillar behind the stainless vent. This should be easy to correct and it looks like the wrecking lugs were installed after the decals or printing on the nose was completed, so moving them up might not be that hard. Not sure of the roof paint on the YB's as Allan pointed out. I'm not a SF modeler but always wanted a YB set. I'll have to check my "Classic Trains" magazine issue on this.

 

Butch 

 

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldnt the Yellowbonnet be a single 3 chime horn? And an MU door to the engineer's side of the headlight? I thought I remembered reading something from Scott that the details would be different between the Reds and Yellows to account for the later in life changes.... they look the same to me.

 

That would explain it, thought there was something in front of the camera, enjoy them all, they look nice.

 

Looking at the 3rd Rail supplied pdf, it appears that the vent window is handled consistently among all of the paint schemes.

 

I tried to find that PDF online because my copy is at home, but couldn't find it. Thanks for posting Bill. The locos as a whole look like very nice models and I'm anxious to see mine. 

 

Butch

There is no vent window pillar. That window is really thick, so what you see as the vent window pillar, is actually just the edge of the clear plastic window. If you take out the vent window, there is NO pillar.

Good, that means it's a relatively easy fix. They sit a bit low too.

Well, they look perfect from here, except for track and couplers.  Folks who expect and are getting this kind of realism will have a difficult time continuing to overlook the obvious flaws.

 

These models appear, from the photos, to be worthy of Proto-48.

What I really don't like is that these don't come with the bolt details on the nose grabs. You would think after the FT's these would have them. I was hoping for coupler lift bars as well.... Oh well...

I have a P&D cab window set. Should that work in lieu of these I will post about it.

Also, the stainless steel makes me really excited about the Q E9's!

There is no vent window pillar. That window is really thick, so what you see as the vent window pillar, is actually just the edge of the clear plastic window. If you take out the vent window, there is NO pillar.

 

Actually that is not so good. All "F" units to my knowledge have the pillar. I suppose you could remove the stainless vent trim, tape off the window and paint a scale sized pillar in body color. It might not be worth the effort I'll just have to see when I get mine tomorrow. 

 

I think these locos are an excellent start for a extremely nice model by adding a few details and that's what it's all about in my book. As long as the bones are good (accurate and correct) you can add a lot of gingerbread and road specific details to personalized it. But when there are major mistakes that have to be corrected and you have to ruin factory paint jobs you might as well build up your own and paint it. 

 

Butch