Atlas Plating for the Santa Fe F7

Pretty difficult to tell. Maybe having reflected light and photos from different angles might help.

Hot Water,

 

Thanks for your response

 

Jerry Kimble

Atlas Model Railroad Company

It is hard to tell Jerry but I think you guys are very close. Some photos on a angle as Hot Water suggested may be a great help.

 

dave

Dave,

 

Thanks for your response as well. Actually they're the same which would be noted immediately if one had the opportunity to view the samples side by side in person. I'll see if maybe we can't post another photograph tomorrow that will show this better.

 

Jerry Kimble

Atlas Model Railroad Company

Jerry,

I will leave it to more knowledgeable forum members to comment on your proposed SS plating , but it is nice to see that Atlas is sensitive to the concerns of actual and potential buyers over this.  My order for a SF ABBA lashup stands.

 

Bob

Yes, hard to tell.  As Hot Water said maybe more angle shots would help.  Thinking a B unit so far, but now intrigued.  Could order more as I love the Altlas the 2 rail engines just acquired over the last year.

I also very much appreciate your effort to consult consumers who would be interested in this model.

 

I have an Athearn HO set with the SS finish, which is mainly a display item because I don't run my HO models often. However its finish is superb compared to what has been available in O gauge up to now - at least from Lionel or MTH. 

 

I can't tell from your samples how your finish compares with Athearn's but a larger photo would no doubt help, as would an explanation of what you propose to use for the finish (which paint or other materials).

In that photo it looks the same as the Athearn sample, but hard to tell for sure. I ordered the set anyway, but am happy to see Atlas trying to satisfy us extreme critics

I find it interesting that MTH (which I like their O scale stuff that  have) has pltatec stainless steel panels on their HO 2014 volume 1 catalog SANTA Fe F3's offered last year.  Wondering why more O scale manufacturers don't offer this.  Is it because it is tricky'er to do in a larger scale?

Jerry -

I have a dozen of the Athearn Genesis Santa Fe F3's & F7's and those are by far the BEST ever at capturing the SS look.  From the picture you posted, I would say that it looks like a 98% match which in my book gets an A++.  Go with it.

Sure, you could post additional pictures using different angles but I am pretty sure the results would be the same.  What is important, is that the Athearn unit and your sample were BOTH taken at the same 90 degree angle.

The next step is to make sure that it won't "flake" when exposed to tempurature ranges of 20 to 100 degrees.  Which may sound extream, but if somebody in the midwest has a layout in their attic that range of very possible.

Thank you and Atlas for putting forth the extra effort to get it right.  I am sure that you will be rewarded with sales far beyond your expectations.  Yes, the Santa Fe F7's & F3's have been produced for the 3-rail market for almost 70 years... But this time it looks like it has finally been done right. BRAVO!

MTH DID a silver plating on a Santa Fe F3 that was superb.

There was a problem with the plating process with many molds suffering rejection.

It became too expensive to do.

If I recall correctly, that was a close to a "mirror-like highly reflective" finish, which is NOT what we are looking for.  If it was something better, then I apologize.

 

Can you post a picture?

Hey Everyone,

 

Thanks for your kind responses. I've asked our product development team if they might be able to send another photograph tomorrow to really show that we have a perfect match to the Athern F7, which is what I think I'm hearing overwhelmingly what the majority want.

 

I won't be on this post again until next Tuesday as I'm heading for a train show in Chicago and I'm not taking a laptop with me. If you desire you can stand down until then or keep them coming, thanks.

 

Jerry Kimble

Atlas Model Railroad Company

 

 

Jerry,

 

Can you bring your sample(s) to Chicago?  Hot Water and I will be there and we would LOVE to see them.

Santa Fe Jim,

 

That's actually a great idea in my opinion, but I've departed the office and will be flying out early tomorrow morning so I can visit with some Dealers in the area.

 

Our Vice President of Sales won't be coming out until Friday so I'll see if perhaps he has the room to bring both samples, thanks.

 

Jerry Kimble

Atlas Model Railroad Company

 

 

 

I was very upset with Atlas because their Cal Zephyr Budd cars have been delayed. 

All is forgiven if they produce the Santa Fe F7 w/SS side panels.

Can anyone advise where to purchase the new Atlas F7's?

I am looking for a referral to a dealer with the best prices and service.

Thanks!

Bill

billpas -

 

The BEST deal I have found for the new Atlas F-units is Mr. Muffins Trains.  He is a OGR Forum Sponsor.

 

I have orderd The Santa Fe A-B-B-A set from him with two powered A's and I am seriously considering adding an additional powered "B".

 

Here is the link for Mr Muffins:

 

http://mrmuffinstrains.org/shop/index.php?

Since Jerry is out of the office, I thought I'd post another photo per the various requests.

 

We took this photo at a bit of an angle and tried to capture some reflection.  The fully decorated Santa Fe model is an Athearn HO F7.  The smaller scale E8 in the foreground is a plating sample from our factory.  Note that the E8 sample is entirely plated; there is no other decoration on that model.

 

I hope to receive an actual O-scale plating sample soon.  If so, we can display it at the York Meet.

 

Since we are in active discussions with the factory about this, I cannot part with the sample shown in the photo at this time.

 

 

WOW!

That looks pretty darn good to my eyes....

After my initial shock, I have to humbly thank Atlas for going the extra mile to research what many of us Santa Fe fans have wanted for so long.   Thank you Atlas.

I have a pair of chrome plated MTH Railking scale F3 units. The plating looks great, but the red paint does not like to stick to the plating.

If Atlas O does the plating, I will order a set.

MTH DID a silver plating on a Santa Fe F3 that was superb.

There was a problem with the plating process with many molds suffering rejection.

It became too expensive to do.

I had hopes that MTH would continue making plated units into the future.

 

Regarding expense, if you consider Santa Fe F units to be equal to other F units, yes they are more expensive.  I've thought about that and what MTH may have missed it that if they kept plating Santa Fe units, the sales from a volume standpoint might have absorbed the cost.  

 

From a Santa Fe modeler's standpoint, the other problem with the plated MTH Premier Santa Fe F3 was that represented an as delivered unit with a single headlight, not to mention the gap in the  front truck which was eventually corrected with new trucks.  Santa Fe almost immediately installed a second headlight after they took position.  I think a lot of us wanted to see the fist run before we bought.  I've been burned by MTH's interpretation of what they call scale before.  MTH didn't produce that many of those units and they still seldom come up for sale.  It is possible that they could have developed the Santa Fe passenger F unit market with some effort.

 

I have yet to buy an MTH Santa Fe passenger unit.  The freight F7 they did a few years back was very nice.  I have owned and enjoyed other MTH Santa Fe diesels, so I have nothing against MTH.  

 

All I can say is that I hope Atlas delivers the Holy Grail of Santa Fe F units!  They would look very nice in front of a set of plated Atlas Super Chief passenger cars.

Rob,

You and your team deserve a lot of praise and credit.  Candidly, I had planned to pass on these engines, holding out for a Legacy set.  Now I have to re-think that.  I guess I have until April 8th to figure it out.

 

Do you anticipate any further updates posted on the forum before April 8?

 

Thank you very much for your efforts and for posting the pics.

 

 

I decided to order before this recently "plating" update from Atlas. I'm glad I did! My feeling was even if they didn't do any plating... they are Atlas, Santa Fe Warbonnets, so selling them on a secondary market is not even an issue. Try to find the last run now.... you won't!

 

A set of plated Atlas Super Chief passenger cars.  I gotta believe the Santa Fe crowd (which is considerable) would be lined up around the block to purchase this set.  Too many of us (myself included) missed out when GGD offered this set a few years back.  Once burned... lesson learned.  It won't happen again.  

 

What say you Mr. Kimble & Mr. Pisani?  Is there a Super Chief in Atlas crystal Ball? 

 

Now that the SS problem appears to be solved.  The time is right.

 

 

Anybody else interested in a SS Super Chief?   Please feel free to pile on.   

 

REMEMBER... Atlas listens and takes action.

So if the SS problem is indeed solved, does that make all those painted Budd Zephyr cars obsolete?

 

Back in the olden days, O Scale Santa Fe Budds were done in "Monel metal".

I am in the same boat as you SantaFeJim.   Was going to skip these F7's, but now have to work on my order.  Even though I am not modeling any Western railroads, I would like to have a Super Chief pulling in to my Midwestern train station.  I am in for a set of these cars if Atlas produces them.

       
       


I second that Howard

       
       


Hmmmmm

A War time to 1949 SC perhaps? And a War time Chief --

PS and Budd cars a 6 window RPO

       
       

I wish jerry would have posted this in 2 rail I would not have missed it for 24 hours.

 

 

If the Athearn look is what you wish to achieve, it sounds like a talk and/or visit with the Athearn/Horizon Hobby people is in order.  Especially since the Horizon HQ (Champaign, IL) is less than 2 hrs from Chicago.

Guys,

 

I will be talking with Jerry Kimble and Rob Pisani in about an hour.  If you have any questions about the Atlas F7's I will be happy to try to get answers.  Just post them here.

 

 

SantaFeJim

 

1- will they have traction tires. I haven't seen that mentioned anywhere yet.

2- Since they are TMCC equipped, will they have electro-couplers

 

Thanks

Bring on the Super Chief cars.

On the 2rail side, what decoder are they going to use for DCC?