What FP45/F45 Does MTH Need to Make...

I'm still waiting for my Santa Fe war bonnet cab #100

Bluebonnet was done in PS-1 I believe.

 

I think the PS1 version was the "bookend"/"patch and pin stripe" scheme. I saw a few that had been re-painted several years ago, but was outbid. Would like to see them re-done in Premier with updated tooling, full-sized fuel tanks and fixed pilots.

If they were to redo/do either of those models, they need to update the molds for better detail and fixed pilots. The RK bodies just don't cut it in todays technology and the level of detail we have come to expect after the Dash 8, 9, and ES44 models....oh and the ACE Heritage units too. If and when MTH decides to do those, they need to do it right.

They need to redo them ALL with a SCALE size fuel tank!

I am still getting the Amtrak Fp45!

Bingo... 

 

Plus an F45 in GN Big Sky Blue.

 

Rusty

I'd go for an F45 in Santa Fe Yellow bonnet. Upgraded or even new tooling and fixed pilots would be great, but I'm not holding my breath.

I fixed the pilots on this Railking Scale FP45, moved the headlight and added other details to make it appropriate for the Super Fleet era. I also cut the fuel tank and lowered it to improve the appearance. Better, but not ideal.

The F/FP45 is a beautiful carbody that is very unique and in my opinion deserves to updated premier line attention as other's have mentioned,with fixed pilots, improved body details, full scale fuel tanks, and the correct passenger style pilot plow.

 

Since MTH has only made the FP45, maybe they could introduce and F45 in the premier line with the current level of detail offered on recent releases. I don't think it will happen though, since they're about to release another run of the FP's in railking again.

 

I never liked the F/FP45's until I started seeing them in the Dallas area in the middle 90's. I fell in love with cab #97 at the museum at Fair Park and l'm glad that several other's have been preserved.

 

The F/FP45's are a standout body style that needs some O scale love.

 

Nice Job Rich on your FP45!

Amtrak actually got the SDP40F.  But, that is about as close as you are going to get, considering only Amtrak and BN/SF were the only two railroads to have them.

 I think I've seen them in videos of out west. Wouldn't that version be something that CN would have? or were they custom wagons of something else?

Enginear Joe,

 

CN had some cowl body units like the SD50F and SD60F. These were some nice units and were very unique.

 

 

BN never begged, borrowed or bought any of the SDP40F's from Amtrak. 

 

Santa Fe picked up 18 SDP40F's from Amtrak around 1984, swapping them for 25 CF7's and 18 SW1200's.  As far as I can tell, they were off the roster by the time of the BNSF merger.

 

Rusty

Montana Rail Link

Looks like an artist thought they would look nice in a picture.

AMEN!!!

I'd also second the motions for fixed pilots and updated detailing.

Put me down for: BN, Amtrak and SF war bonnet

They looked just as good in real life:

 

Rusty

Very nice, thanks Rusty.

 

I'm surprised no one had mentioned either the Wisconsin Central or the NYSW F45's -- especially the latter, since they were the only ones for an Eastern road, and NY / NJ at that. 

 

Best, SZ 

Flash

The Mersk enging in your picture is OUTSTANDING.

There's a market for the original rednose passenger version as well as the Super Fleet version (which Rich Montague very nicely modeled).  There were two freight versions -- bluenose and yellow bonnet -- as well, but I really believe that the two rednose versions would be more popular.

 

It's not just different paint.  Throughout their service life, they lost their Pyle Gyralites and steam generators, gained roof-top air conditioners, had whistles moved off the cab roof, and received different windshield wipers.

The F/FP45 is a beautiful carbody that is very unique and in my opinion deserves to updated premier line attention as other's have mentioned,with fixed pilots, improved body details, full scale fuel tanks, and the correct passenger style pilot plow.

 

Since MTH has only made the FP45, maybe they could introduce and F45 in the premier line with the current level of detail offered on recent releases.

 

 

I wholeheartedly agree.  I'd be in for -2 versions in GN Big Sky Blue, BN Cascade Green and MRL.  I am sure that there would be strong sales for the several ATSF versions as well as WC and the Suzy Q.

 

As a point of reference, the "bluenose" version is geneally referred to as the "pinstripe" paint scheme as shown on F45 5925.

 

Rusty

I had heard stories about this one when I saw the ATSF/Maersk GP60M but this is the first photo I've seen. This definitely should be done.

Actually, the 6976 is a former Amtrak SDP40F, reclassified as an SDF40-2.  The flat spot on the nose is the givaway.

 

It was non-operational according to ATSF.net and was an over-glorified "hood ornament" for NS/Maersk 3329 pushing it.

 

Rusty