F7 A/B

[wb2002]

Who else makes F7 A/B locomotives, Union Pacific, other than Bachmann? I have searched but find only a couple that does.

Thanks . . . .

wb2002

[Doneldon]

wb-

Just about every manufacturer has made F7 units over the years. I don't know which
ones you have aleady discovered and I guess I'm not comfortable refering you to other
manufacturers from the Bachmann web site. It's one thing to kibbitz various products
but a direct refer away, well, that's just going too far for me. 

                                                                                             -- D

[Jerrys HO]

To add to Doneldon-- Why would you buy another just look at these baby's...



Jerry

[wb2002]

Thanks. I already have 7 Bachmann F7A's and 3 F7B's. I have also converted all 10 units to DCC. Since I purchased the last 4 F7A's (converted 2 to F7B's), I now have to modify the trucks to fit the Kadee's coupler so the units are closer to each other and NOT look like the picture you provided. I had already done this a few years back when I was active in the hobby and now that I am returning, the stored units that I had already modified did not run well. That is when I purchased 4 new F7A's (to use new trucks & pickups) and used the shell off previous units. Since I am using the new trucks, I have to hack away at the trucks so that the consists (ABBA) will look natural.

wb2002

[Jerrys HO]

wb
Now I remember you. you had two or three posts about the same thing back in January.
I noticed Jeff W had an interesting thought of using a draw bar and I am actually looking into that for another project. I believe that would be the best way to go and sounds like it would be easier than hacking away at the trucks.

Jerry

[MPSOUTHERN]

I have not seen many details about the "NEW" F7. Will they have the same smooth running flywheel drive as the FA and other new Bachmann diesels? I hope so because I've had two on backorder from Micro Mark for what seems like forever.

[wb2002]

The new F7's does not have a flywheel and the motor is different. The pickup is also different and NOT using the chassis as part of the  circuit.  Also, the chassis is quite a bit lighter (think it is aluminum). I am using "Union Pacific" and the color is also different than the original (it didn't matter to me because I used the old shells - for A & B units since they all fit well.) I even ordered couplers from Proto - short shank, and they did NOT make things any better.  At this point, I cannot think of anything else to do than modify the trucks if, I want to achieve the close coupling. Kadee provides the instructions with their kit to do this.

wb2002

[MPSOUTHERN]

Thanks for the info WB, although I am a bit disappointed to hear this.The ones I am getting will have DCC and Sound,so hopefully they will still be smooth runners.

[jbrock27]

Hey Jerry, speaking of those "babies", what ever happened with your project with them?
I saw that later on, after your initial posts, you requested Rich G's help with it.

[Jerrys HO]

jb

That is still on my project bench and is going to be done as soon as I finish a couple of other projects I have going on. I did take the liberty to check all the components and there is room to convert the new ones to the Plus's motor and flywheel but I think I am just going to fit the Plus version with a decoder and have an ABBA setup.

Jerry

[union pacific 844]

man i love thews  my favorite RR

[jbrock27]

Good Jerry.
Personally, I think the Plus models run better than the current non-flywheel B-man models.