Which phase F3’s wore the Santa Fe freight “Cat Whiskers” scheme? I’ve wanted a set of those for a while and am only interested in something at the quality and detail level of SS/3R.
@BigJohn&theWork posted:Which phase F3’s wore the Santa Fe freight “Cat Whiskers” scheme? I’ve wanted a set of those for a while and am only interested in something at the quality and detail level of SS/3R.
All freight assigned F units wore the cat whisker scheme up through delivery of F7s. The major change over the years was that the red stripe separating the "creamy yellow" paint from the blue was changed to just the nose area in 1946 and the red stripe disappeared completely when F3s were delivered.
Anyone with their D&RGW f3s that would share some pics?
I have 4 D&RGW coming soon. Just sent my last $$$ today to cover them. Will post when I get them.
@BigJohn&theWork posted:Which phase F3’s wore the Santa Fe freight “Cat Whiskers” scheme? I’ve wanted a set of those for a while and am only interested in something at the quality and detail level of SS/3R.
Santa Fe only had two freight F3 A-B-B-A locomotives: 200L-A-B-C and 201L-A-B-C. Built in October (200) and November (201), 1948, they were Phase IV F3's, commonly referred to as F5's, looking like early F7's, but with twin-slot dynamic brake fan openings instead of a fifth pan-top fan. They had stainless steel GE radiator grilles instead of chicken wire.
They were repainted from the blue with cream yellow and cat whisker nose stripes, into the blue with bright yellow and cigar band nose emblem, in 1953 or later.
I remember seeing the 201L-A-B-C make a pickup at Fullerton in the fall of 1958, and by then it had the cigar band scheme.
Does anyone have photos of the Chicago and Northwestern F3's? If so, please post them. I'm very interested in seeing how they came out.
@Ready-to-Run Mark posted:Does anyone have photos of the Chicago and Northwestern F3's? If so, please post them. I'm very interested in seeing how they came out.
I was on standby for them but was not lucky enough to get a set. Appreciative of the Burlington and SFWB sets. Would love to see them if anyone here was able to get them.
Did anyone pick up a Union Pacific set?
Received my PRR A-B in 2 rail last week. If it weren't 110 outside, I'd get some decent pictures of them to post in natural light. They turned out wonderfully.
I'd really be interested in seeing the paint schemes not yet posted here!
My B&O A&B are on their way. I’ll post soon as I get them. Love the pics so far.
Finally had time to shoot a few pictures. A true winner. I got the A-B-B-A set #5521-5522-5523-5524. These are the units that pulled the California Zephyr regularly. Now have something to pull my Atlas Zephyrs.
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Thanks for sharing. They look great!
I finally got a chance to run them thru lightroom. Here are the HQ photos. Enjoy!
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Has anyone received the ACL or Chicago Northwestern?
vash44,
the ACL did not meet the reservations # for the first run. Hoping to get it made when and if a second run is offered.
I have no info. on the CNW units.
Leon
@Purplepapa posted:vash44,
the ACL did not meet the reservations # for the first run. Hoping to get it made when and if a second run is offered.
I have no info. on the CNW units.
Leon
I appreciate the info! Hopefully they get made in round 2! Have UP on order but haven’t seen them. Wasn’t sure if the CNW made it either.
Does anyone have a photo of the Northern Pacific B unit? Please post if you do.
Thanks.
@BigJohn&theWork posted:Which phase F3’s wore the Santa Fe freight “Cat Whiskers” scheme? I’ve wanted a set of those for a while and am only interested in something at the quality and detail level of SS/3R.
Quite Nice !!! And how cool that the passenger set will soon be shipping !!!!👍That will be one sharp consist !!!
@vash44 posted:I appreciate the info! Hopefully they get made in round 2! Have UP on order but haven’t seen them. Wasn’t sure if the CNW made it either.
It would be helpful if we knew what roads were produced and what offered roads missed the cut. It’s a shame if say a road missed the cut by one unit and someone could have stepped up for a second unit. Just saying..... too bad not some way of flagging before road offering “flushed”
@BigJohn&theWork posted:
@BigJohn&theWork, you delivered the goods with those photos--THANK YOU!!!
I was delighted to see "Northern Pacific" spelled out with individual letters per the prototype--I don't remember any B units with this feature.
One last request: how tall are the letters? I am guessing 3/16".
Thanks, again. Those are beauties.
@BigJohn&theWork posted:Here are some quick photos. Sorry for the mediocre quality, I didn’t have time to whip out the DSLR and instead took these with my iPhone....
In short summary, Another Home Run!
Two minor critiques...
1) the diaphragms lack any play (spring effect), while in some past models (the E8’s & 9’s come to mind) the diaphragms were multi part metal and had some minor flex to them. This allowed for ultra close coupling with short box/length Kadees to the extent that the diaphragms could be butted right up to each other for absolutely no gap between units.
2) I hate to be the one to point this out because it’s one of those “once you see it, you can’t unsee it” kinda things although ever so minor... The gal in charge of the “Main Street of the Northwest” forgot to dot her I’s; but it is the easiest of DIY fixes requiring only the smallest dot of white paint and a very steady hand.
Also, these are my first 3rd rail diesels since the 2nd run PA’s. I’m not sure if this is the first time Kadee mounting brackets have been included, but if so they are a welcome addition to the parts bag! Here we’ve got a bolt on 3RS setup out of the box. Thank you Scott!!!
Finally, to all who have some on the way; you will be absolutely blown away with satisfaction when you unwrap them! And to those who don’t, you’re gonna have a real sore butt from sitting on that fence.
WOW these are spectacular!!!!
@BigJohn&theWork posted:I finally got a chance to run them thru lightroom. Here are the HQ photos. Enjoy!
Did the NP’s F3s have dynamic brakes?
@CentralFan1976 posted:Did the NP’s F3s have dynamic brakes?
NP's FT's, F7's, FP7's and F9's all had D/B's. I see no reason why the F3's wouldn't. Overhead views are hard to come by, but in this shot of the 1947 NCL the D/B vents are (barely) visible.
Rusty
@Rusty Traque posted:NP's FT's, F7's, FP7's and F9's all had D/B's. I see no reason why the F3's wouldn't. Overhead views are hard to come by, but in this shot of the 1947 NCL the D/B vents are (barely) visible.
Rusty
Then why would the models of them, and the NYC F3s not have them? It seems like a huge oversight for such an expensive model.
https://youtu.be/_IzkwGCdhlo
This was confirmed at the club after a long discussion between members, comparing the Lionel, MTH and 3rd Rail F3s.
@Rusty Traque posted:NP's FT's, F7's, FP7's and F9's all had D/B's. I see no reason why the F3's wouldn't. Overhead views are hard to come by, but in this shot of the 1947 NCL the D/B vents are (barely) visible.
Rusty
It took some docu-diving to find info that Actually! showed what you were talking about - where !!! barely!!! Visible !!!! The db vents are!!! Barely visible - just behind the cab / left from the horns.
The video above does a great job going over the SS/3R NP F3’s!
The F3, Run #2 is finished and will be shipping from the factory June 20th. There is chaos on the oceans regarding shipping, so I will send an email to those that reserved them once I get notice of the ETA to Oakland Port.
As for DB panels on the NP F3s, they are interchangeable. We have NON DB, DUAL VENT DB, FAN DB. Just have to paint to match.
Scott,
Thanks for the shipping update. It makes some time in August appear to be a likely delivery target for us buyers.
The non DB, dual vent DB, and Fan DB comment is welcomed. The variations are a detail my eyes see by honestly my brain never registered the differences. Perhaps seeing only one at a time can be my culprit. I’ve gone back and inspected my Fs and lo and behold - all three variations are represented. The variations are Also there when expanded to FTs and F7s. I also see some variations with the fan DB. I see a “tall” fan, a flush fan, and two in-line slightly smaller fans. All in the correct place just behind the cab.
I guess all these variations are just a function of how many and how long all these Fs were produced.
Cheers !!! 🙂
Quick cell phone snaps, but this is one of the A units from my B & O F3 A-B-A set from the 1st run. Sorry these pictures do not do it justice (need better light than what my too-warm desk lamp provides). The level of detail is astounding. I grew up with an ubiquitous pair of Lionel 2343 Santa Fe F3s (real screen for the roof vents was as detailed as they got), and as cool as they are, this is a whole different ball game. These will go nicely with my 3rd Rail B & O GP7 and the EA/B set and Capitol Limited I have reserved!
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STILL need to get some photos of my Pennsy 2R units. Luckily they are at the top of the pile of my 3rd Rail diesels!
Those B&O units look fabulous.
Any word on the SD40's?
@illinoiscentral posted:Any word on the SD40's?
You folks on the 2 Rail and 3 Rail Scale forums got nice looking F3 AA/AB/ABA consists. These are absolutely great engines for looks (especially), power and sound.
I was greatly disappointed when I first put my 3 rail engines on the track and saw how far apart the units were. These are electrocouplers and I don't need them between the units.
That is 6 scale feet. I need to see how hard it is to put kadees on them.
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The Kadee coupler conversion is fairly simple. There is typically a set of parts in the box that has the correct bolsters to mount Kadee couplers along with a 2R front pilot with a smaller opening for the coupler. I don't know about the F3s only because I only have 2r rail versions of that. My PAs which I got in both 2 and 3 rail had the extra parts in the 3 rail box.
My F7's were also equipped with long electrocouplers between the units, but there was a short shank dummy coupler (two with each B unit) in the box, and swapping is very simple.
Did your F3 units not have those parts in the box?
Hi Folks,
The F3s and Amtrak cars are in a container waiting for the vessel to pick them up, on or about July 17th. We've been ready since June, but you can't get a schedule even when you agree to pay an extra $6000 for the container. That's right, $6000 more, on top of the regular $3500 costs. For us, this hits in my pocket, because when there are unexpected expenses they come out of the bottom line, ME. I want to thank those of you that already sent in your payments. It really helps since we are having to wait longer than usual to receive these even after we've paid for them all in June. In fact the whole process of making these projects is slower because I am not able to be there to make the decisions, to catch the errors early which saves time.
Then we are pumping money into the Krauss Maffei, HO SP AC9, C&O Hudsons, all in production right now. And next is the SP Daylights for the Aluminum car factory. So delays in receiving product is very frustrating and challenging when your trying to juggle all these oranges.
Here's a news article describing the current situation with containers:
https://www.joc.com/maritime-n...g-woes_20210608.html
This situation is due to shortages of container and ships, record levels of importing due to the shift in buying patterns in the US, slow downs at the ports due to COVID. Greed, posturing by bigger corporations buying futures in containers, leaving less for the smaller shipper to fight over. It's market forces that will eventually work themselves out. I am reading about more ship lines coming to the business, more vessels being brought back to service. The moment there is oversupply in capacity the prices will come down. I dream of taking my 60ft schooner (I wish) and picking up the shipment and sailing it home. Dream on...
The Korean guy in the middle runs the small factory that makes all the Aluminum cars. "Hi Mr. Kim. You need to eat more. You look thinner than when I saw you in December of 2019." He's normally a very thin guy. Very kind, compassionate, soft spoken which is very important when negotiating, solving problems and making corrections. We both give a little along the process. He's married to a Chinese woman and has 2 kids in their teens living in China. In China a foreigner cannot easly own and run a company in China, so their wife usually owns the business.
I think his kids attend a Korean school in the area. Really nice folks. I feel bad when I see something wrong and have to ask for a big correction. His wife is always there by his side working with him, pad printing, doing decals, managing their unskilled staff. And when I ask for a correction, I usually get a slap in the shoulder and bulging eyes telling me of her disapproval. But they do the corrections anyway, because they know it's for you, the customer.
And I pay them extra for it. Below is the factory working on the Rock Island Rocket cars. Mrs. Kim is standing next to our Production Manager. Many of the unskilled workers move from one Model train factory to another as needed. They've all known each other for many years as Mr. Kim used to be an engineer for one of the major model train manufactures before he struck out on his own.
Once I have an ETA schedule from our freight forwarder, I'll send out final notices for these projects.
To All: Have a great summer.
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Excellent “newsy” post Scott. A good snapshot of what going on in the train business. I can appreciate the importance of you being there to help keep things smooth - and the detriment of you not being able to travel there. Today’s operations just requires more patience on our part.
Market forces will eventually re-balance and shipping cost will return to “reasonable”.
I prefer to pay ahead - before product arrives. It helps you and it’s a way I can manage my cash flow. If the sum gets large say from three diesels, I send in multiple payments monthly to reach the sum due. That way I don’t take a big budget hit all at once. 😬🙂
Scott,
Most model railroaders probably don't think much about what it takes to produce your products. Thanks for enlightening me. You, and the people who do this work for you, are very dedicated...
MELGAR
@sdmann posted:Hi Folks,
The F3s and Amtrak cars are in a container waiting for the vessel to pick them up, on or about July 17th. We've been ready since June, but you can't get a schedule even when you agree to pay an extra $6000 for the container. That's right, $6000 more, on top of the regular $3500 costs. For us, this hits in my pocket, because when there are unexpected expenses they come out of the bottom line, ME. I want to thank those of you that already sent in your payments. It really helps since we are having to wait longer than usual to receive these even after we've paid for them all in June. In fact the whole process of making these projects is slower because I am not able to be there to make the decisions, to catch the errors early which saves time.
Then we are pumping money into the Krauss Maffei, HO SP AC9, C&O Hudsons, all in production right now. And next is the SP Daylights for the Aluminum car factory. So delays in receiving product is very frustrating and challenging when your trying to juggle all these oranges.
Here's a news article describing the current situation with containers:
https://www.joc.com/maritime-n...g-woes_20210608.html
This situation is due to shortages of container and ships, record levels of importing due to the shift in buying patterns in the US, slow downs at the ports due to COVID. Greed, posturing by bigger corporations buying futures in containers, leaving less for the smaller shipper to fight over. It's market forces that will eventually work themselves out. I am reading about more ship lines coming to the business, more vessels being brought back to service. The moment there is oversupply in capacity the prices will come down. I dream of taking my 60ft schooner (I wish) and picking up the shipment and sailing it home. Dream on...
The Korean guy in the middle runs the small factory that makes all the Aluminum cars. "Hi Mr. Kim. You need to eat more. You look thinner than when I saw you in December of 2019." He's normally a very thin guy. Very kind, compassionate, soft spoken which is very important when negotiating, solving problems and making corrections. We both give a little along the process. He's married to a Chinese woman and has 2 kids in their teens living in China. In China a foreigner cannot easly own and run a company in China, so their wife usually owns the business.
I think his kids attend a Korean school in the area. Really nice folks. I feel bad when I see something wrong and have to ask for a big correction. His wife is always there by his side working with him, pad printing, doing decals, managing their unskilled staff. And when I ask for a correction, I usually get a slap in the shoulder and bulging eyes telling me of her disapproval. But they do the corrections anyway, because they know it's for you, the customer.And I pay them extra for it. Below is the factory working on the Rock Island Rocket cars. Mrs. Kim is standing next to our Production Manager. Many of the unskilled workers move from one Model train factory to another as needed. They've all known each other for many years as Mr. Kim used to be an engineer for one of the major model train manufactures before he struck out on his own.
Once I have an ETA schedule from our freight forwarder, I'll send out final notices for these projects.To All: Have a great summer.
Mr Mann, thank you and thank Mr Kim for me and his lovely wife. You guys are miracle workers and bring great joy to my life. I am forever in your debt and the factory and all its workers for building me some things I've always wanted ane without you guys I dare say I would likely never have them, these models are worth so much more than we pay for them; yet you still manage to keep the prices so reasonable which all the same makes it possible for me to buy them. Again... my sincere thanks and admiration to you all. I tip my hat and a standing ovation.
