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Hi folks,

Atlas-O just received their F-7 pre-production models from China this week, and I snapped several quick iPhone photos of the Santa Fe units on display at York today.  To my eyes, Atlas-O has hit a grand slam with these.  I'm the last person in these ranks to be a rivet-counter, but I don't think I've seen a better set of F-7 Santa Fe units built to date.  These models look stunning in person, and I tried to capture the subtle, frosty reflective finish as best as possible without any fancy studio lighting set-ups.  Enjoy!!!

AtlasO_F7_SF_pic9

 

A few more views of the A-unit highlighting different angles of reflectivity...

AtlasO_F7_SF_pic1

AtlasO_F7_SF_pic2

AtlasO_F7_SF_pic3

 

Next up are a few pics of the B-unit, as well as a photo zooming in on the close spacing between locomotive units.

AtlasO_F7_SF_pic5

AtlasO_F7_SF_pic6

AtlasO_F7_SF_pic7

 

And lastly, a couple of pics showing the crisp paint work and flawless masking over various textured/detailed surfaces... FABULOUS!!! 

AtlasO_F7_SF_pic8

AtlasO_F7_SF_pic10

 


 

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Original Post

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 The only thing I notice right off is the grills. They were not painted. I personally think they look great painted to match but the real ones were not.

Love the close coupling and knowing they come with fixed pilots in the box, fantastic. Body mounted steps, fantastic! Stainless panels look fantastic! Stripes along the bottom stop at the doors, perfect!

Thanks for the photos David... they look awesome.

Last edited by Laidoffsick
prrhorseshoecurve posted:

Lionel F7-PRR1Lionel F7-PRR2Lionel F7-PRR3Lionel F7-PRR4Lionel F7-PRR5I can't wait for the PRR units to arrive! If the F's are as stunning as these ATSF units, I might have to dump the Chincy Lionel Legacy ones.... esp if the Atlas O units have red marker lights. the lionel's have amber!

I like the Lionel F7's  let me know when you "dump them"

 

The Atlas F7's look great! But WHAT is with the saggy  pilots? Can we get those fixed to the body please?

atlas f

 

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Last edited by J Daddy
Laidoffsick posted:

 The only thing I notice right off is the grills. They were not painted. I personally think they look great painted to match but the real ones were not.

Love the close coupling and knowing they come with fixed pilots in the box, fantastic. Body mounted steps, fantastic! Stainless panels look fantastic! Stripes along the bottom stop at the doors, perfect!

Thanks for the photos David... they look awesome.

Correct, an easy fix on Atlas part to install unpainted grills.

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/450959/

ATSF F7 2297_1378995831ATSF F3 p28f1

Like the first F's and paint scheme myself with the big Warbonnet.

http://www.atsfrr.net/resources/funits/gfx/p28f1.jpg

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Last edited by BobbyD

The side panel joints are wrong.  As a result, the "Indian Head" overlaps the joint.  It also causes the Santa Fe lettering on the  B unit to be split incorrectly.  Doug is right on as far as the screens being painted is a mistake.  As for the droopy pilots, not a problem ALL the A units come with a second pilot that can be fixed to the body.

Everything considered they look better and have fewer flaws than the 3rd Rail version released last year.

 

Last edited by SantaFeJim
Hudson J1e posted:

I just snapped this picture of the 2 Rail Rio Grande. imageimage

Thanks for the pics of the 2-rail models. They look much better than the 3-rail.

I guess the dampers on the truck sideframes are supposed to line up with the steps...Like mentioned above, it's probably just a matter of swapping out the left and right sideframes.

These are great-looking models, "imperfections" and "inaccuracies" withstanding. 

I guarantee that I could find a $2500 brass model and pick it apart for discrepancies from the prototype.

 

JC642 posted:

Outstanding looks but if I was interested I'd be buying it as a operator, not for a static display and more interested in its internals?   Is it a 4 motor like MTH or a 2 motor under powered overpriced Lionel clone with generic sound?   

Joe 

Atlas F units are sold individually, not in a set. Each unit has dual motors. So I ordered 37LABC, 3 powered and 1 dummy. You choose how many powered engines you want or need.

I went downstairs to take some pics of my Athearn Genesis Santa Fe F7's to help illustrate some of the comments I posted about the Atlas F7's.

This one shows the the "Grill" applied "AFTER" the body was painted.  Just like the real units. 

 

 photo 2016-10-21 11.59.27_zpsjmotrgr8.jpg

The next one shows proper placement of the ladders on the B unit.

 

 photo 2016-10-21 11.59.54_zpsxbaq8mbc.jpg

The next two show the proper seams on the side panels and how the "Indian Head" (not overlapping the seam) and how the SANTE FE lettering should appear.  Note the seam is between the SANTA | FE.

 

 photo 2016-10-21 12.01.56_zpsqhf76oqu.jpg

 

 photo 2016-10-21 11.54.18_zps2eyeujgq.jpgI don't know if Atlas can correct all the flaws.  But I strongly feel that the Grill would be the most important and probably the easiest fix.   It would also provide the most bang -for-the-buck.  Followed by the ladders and side seams.  Fixing the side seams would also fix the Indian Head and the lettering automatically.  However, that would require some re-tooling and extra $$$.  Not to mention a big set-back on the delivery date.  Therefore.... 

    PLEASE do the Grills and we can live with the others.    

Or if you can not fix the grills because the production is too far along, at least offer FREE         replacements (for the do it yourselfers) just as you did for the CZ blinds a few years back.

Thank You. 

Last edited by SantaFeJim
Norm posted:

Has anyone said when these beauties will be delivered?

...

Atlas folks at York are still hoping for 4Q2016 / 1Q2017.  As always, the container shipping date bears watching.  That starts what is typically an 8-week countdown to arrival in the USA.  We're already into late-October.  So unless production models were to ship from China this week, it's unlikely we're gonna see these in 2016.  I'm actually planning on June 2017.  So if they arrive sooner, it'll be a pleasant surprise!!!

David

Sometimes it puzzles me how folks that are OK with 3 rail track, oversized couplers, swinging pilots, big flanges, and cabs with motor shrouds sticking up in them precluding interiors will get so bent out of shape over certain "prototypical" inaccuracies. Everyone is entitled to go about it their own way, but I would think a "good enough" attitude would prevail in 3R. Like I said, puzzling...

Jonathon:

This is a classic mistake that many people make… pre-qualifying.

If you (we) are into model railroading then by definition we have already agreed to some concessions. What those concessions are is up to each and every individual.

In the case of two rail, come to the Chicago March meet and I will show you a ton of “good enough”. It won’t be the number of rails, or fixed pilots it will be some other area “operation, sound, decoration, actual construction, availability etc.” Don’t let anybody kid you, there are many concessions we accept regardless of scale.

The mistake you make is assuming that someone operating on three rails will not care about the color of the screens (in the case of the Atlas F7). Rest assured, the two “concessions” are not related, at least to the people that have voiced concern so far. It might not make sense to you, which is fine, but it does to them and that is what matters.

From a manufacturing side, it has got to be a nightmare. The manufactures need to pick which concessions we as hobbyists are willing to overlook for the price paid. Or even harder, how much more are we willing to spend for just a little more accuracy? It is not easy.

Charlie

The stainless look is nice but that pilot is horrendous. aside from Lionels high water trucks and truck mounted ladders I'm not seein the "wow factor"  these Atlas units. Even Lionel got the grill right, pick your flaws I suppose.

If lionel lowered the chassis on the trucks on a legacy release they would be a standup offering

006

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Last edited by RickO

Other than the obvious flaws pointed out by previous posters, the painted side grills, miss positioned steps, droopy pilot, something above the pilot just didn't look right. Then I noticed the anticlimber, there's no ribbing!, it's just a solid silver band with a bumper and No Grab handles! That's a huge mistake in my opinion. I realize this is a pre production sample, but I hope Atlas corrects that huge error or this could be a deal breaker for me. 

Last edited by jvega2

Well, these are pre-production samples so the misaligned ladders, which I think fasten to the frame, and two-tone grilles on the ATSF F7's can be corrected before they go into full production. I'm thinking that Atlas was aware of these issues but wanted to bring something to York to give people an idea what they look like and that they will eventually be delivered.

Perhaps by next York the finished product will be on display featuring the corrections and ready to ship for a June delivery like was previously mentioned.

jvega2 posted:

Other than the obvious flaws pointed out by previous posters, the painted side grills, miss positioned steps, droopy pilot, something above the pilot just didn't look right. Then I noticed the anticlimber, there's no ribbing!, it's just a solid silver band with a bumper and No Grab handles! That's a huge mistake in my opinion. I realize this is a pre production sample, but I hope Atlas corrects that huge error or this could be a deal breaker for me. 

I think the anti-climbers are there.  They just might be hard to see.  On the SF it looks like half is on the body and half on the pilot.  This is resolved with the fixed pilots.  You can see the front better on the Rio Grande unit.  Look real close and you can see the "teeth".

Last edited by SantaFeJim

I actually think the painted grill looks much better than the painted behind the grill look. Especially since there is no wall behind the grill to see paint on on the real loco. Maybe paint the grill recess flat black then install the grills

Last edited by Former Member

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