Differences in K-Line F3/7 production? Your input solicited plz

Interesting; I did not know that K-line used the "traction motor" trucks in their higher-end diesels; I have a pair of their sub-scale (old Kusan body tooling) FA2's with this "cheapie" truck. I rather like the low-end truck, myself - tough, and that traction motor in the truck is actually more prototypical, FWIW. It lived on with RMT, but now? So far as I know, these were pretty much clones of the Lionel truck used in their RS-3's and the like.

But, the traction-motor truck, with no flywheel and a motor that's a bit "coggy", will never run as well as the better, flywheel motors. 

Keep us posted on your upgrades. That NP paint scheme is one of my favorites; I believe that Raymond Loewy's design firm was responsible for it. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Yes D500, I think you're correct on Raymond Loewy there. I'm not certain about the early motor/trucks - am hoping for some clarification from the knowledgeable K-Line experts!

Some K-Line F-7 evolution:

-first generation had horizontal motors in each truck

Western pacific, B&O, C&O?, Pennsylvania, others?

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-second generation had two vertical motors (China drive) in each unit (A-B-A) for a total of six motors, no smoke, and rubber diaphragms. TMCC as an option

Milwaukee road, Santa Fe, and others?

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-third generation had two vertical motors (China drive)  in each A unit, smoke in the dummy B unit, and diaphragms made from folded cloth-like material. TMCC as an option

Milwaukee road and others?

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I didn't know about the different pilots or scale couplers.

I have three Milwaukee sets. I was lucky enough to get two sets of the last run version of the Milwaukee Road. One set came with three pilots. Coupler covered, scale coupler and regular pilot with large electro coupler. The other set only came with one extra pilot with scale coupler. All are detailed. Also they have cloth diaphragms that I really like, brass side mirrors and hoses on the back of the engine. Don

Thanks Roy.  My PRRs have smoke in all three units I think but I'm not certain about the incoming Northern Pacifics

K-line was the company that once again changed three rail trains with the detailed F-7. Just like when they added people and detail in their passenger cars. I tried to change out my A-B-A older F-7 with extra newer pilot but it doesn't fit. I'm sure there is a way to do it and wonder if anyone has tried. Don

The f7s started in 1997 with 5 aba consists in prr, c&o, b&o, rio grande and reading roads. All units were powered with the linking tether and intruck motors. An ab reading was in a reading freight set for boscovs, and an ab b&o was in another freight set that included a diecast hopper. Additional trailing a's were available separately for these sets. I have all 5 of these consists, it was k-lines first venture into the high end. Around 2000 they went to vertical motors and the b units became unpowered.  

Always wondered why they made the PA semi-scale and not scale. Did they buy the molds from someone else? Don

Didn't they also produce the semi-scale D&RG PAs as well as announce some Santa Fe's?  I have never seen the Santa Fe's and must assume they were never produced.

Don,  you mentioned trying to use the pilot from one of your sets on an earlier F unit to no avail?   What did you eventually find that would work?

Does anyone here know of a particular 'freight' pilot that is available? The Northern Pacific used them on both of their F units.

Sam, P&D hobby has both passenger and freight pilots. I have not seen nor used their freight pilot but their passenger pilot fit perfectly on my K-Line E8s. They have to be trimmed and glued to the body. Check out the 3RS forum. I think more than a few have threads on P&D pilots.

https://pdhobbyshop.com/show_p...mp%3BD&start=101

Pete

My ABA set arrived today and I unboxed them for a quick look at the office. As these are from the 2000 catalog, they differ from the later PRR F7s I have in that there is no smoke in the A units and have less detail.  The B does smoke however. A thought occurred to me just now wondering if the smoke will be controlled by the TMCC in the lead A unit or function on its own from track power?

I won't be able to test these out for a few days and will get some new photos to post then.