I just picked up a RK FP 45 locomotive 30-20536-1 and discovered that it has no lower headlights. Why would MTH make a locomotive without all of it's headlights? I can understand ditch or strobe lights to cut cost but a basic feature like headlights! Anyone have a clue what would motivate a company to get rid of a basic feature like a headlight?
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MTH never got rid of it, it was never there since the initial run in 1997. My guess it was for an upgraded model that never happened and since the model was downgraded from Premier to RailKing,,,.
Rusty
Pictures, anyone??
I will post some pictures when I can. Why would you remove a basic feature like a headlight when downgrading to the RK line, if it is cost saving they could have done away with the cab lighting. They already have not lit number boards. It just doesn’t make sense to me I guess. At 400.00 it is still a good value.
Like Rusty I doubt a headlight was ever in the nose even when first released as a Premier model. Compared to today Premier models were much less detailed and had fewer features in 1997 when the FP45 was released. This model hasn’t been downgraded so much as passed by. That’s why it’s now in the Railking line. With PS3 it’s actually more feature-rich than its Premier Line forebears.
As for headlights, the light package above the windshield on the prototype ATSF units (for whom the FP45 was designed) was actually a MARS-type light. The headlight was in the nose. The MARS light was later removed and the housing plated over. So on this PS2 model from 10 or 12 years ago I drilled out the Cast-in headlight and moved the headlight to the nose and plated over the original location as part of a 3RS detailing upgrade:
RM
@RRAddict posted:I will post some pictures when I can. Why would you remove a basic feature like a headlight when downgrading to the RK line, if it is cost saving they could have done away with the cab lighting. They already have not lit number boards. It just doesn’t make sense to me I guess. At 400.00 it is still a good value.
Once again, operating nose headlights weren't removed, they were never there in the first place. The nose headlights on the models were always "plugged," even as a premier model in 1997.
I never understood MTH's logic in 1997 and why they never upgraded the nose headlights in following production, but it is what it is.
I had the Santa Fe freight painted version from the 1997 production and planned on doing what Rich Montague did on his, but never got around to it and eventually sold it off during a downsizing.
Rusty
That looks great and I had thoght of it . I lack the artistic skill to do that. The headlight is bright enough for me. It has been 23 years and you would think they would evolve a little. At least your numberboards are lit.
@RRAddict posted:That looks great and I had thoght of it . I lack the artistic skill to do that. The headlight is bright enough for me. It has been 23 years and you would think they would evolve a little. At least your numberboards are lit.
Maybe if MTH ever re-releases the FP45 as a Premier model with wire grab irons, railings and a properly sized fuel tank...
Rusty
Here is a photo of the new PS 3.0 FP45. It is really a beautiful locomotive. I just noticed today that it had illuminated number whire are normally missing from RK locomotives. The cab detail is also the dest I have seen in the RK line. I would highly recommend one of these. It has quite a bit of lighting up top as you can see. I didn’t expect those two small green lights whatever they are called.
@RRAddict posted:I didn’t expect those two small green lights whatever they are called.
Class lights. I doubt they're actually prototypical, class lights haven't been used for a long time.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Class lights. I doubt they're actually prototypical, class lights haven't been used for a long time.
Class light were pretty much phased out in the 1980's. The locations nowadays are used for red marker lights on locomotives in push-pull commuter and some Amtrak service.
Rusty
Thank you, I dont know much about resl trains.
That's not a problem, these aren't real trains! 
I have two of these in Amtrak, and seven in Santa Fe. Crude compared to the GGD cars I pull with them, but definitely worth time for an upgrade. Sadly Amtrak didn't have FP45s, but the non-turbocharged SDP40F which is very different on the detailing. However for now I can live with the good enough category.
Note that one way to make the Amtrak version a little more prototypical is to remove the handrail off the front porch. Amtrak did not have them on their fleet.
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