N Scale Sound F Units from Intermountain

[sizemore]

Doesn't MicroScale make decals for this WM paint scheme?

Yep. But the problem often occurs that the lettering and numbering doesn't match the size of the lettering numbering on the loco (and vice versa).

The S.

[haasmarc]

A little addendum to my article on adding sound to Intermountain F units (May/June 2014 N Scale Railroading.) I thought the A units would require frame milling but I came up with a better way. I just removed the cab interior and stuck a Zimo 12x8mm "Sugar Cube" speaker up front in its place. I painted the speaker box black and it's not noticeable thru the windows. The LED wiring runs under the speaker for the dual headlights. Mars on top and regular headlight below. Sweet !

Hey Bill,
On the A unit or B unit, did you lower the shell at all for looks?  I was wondering if the speakers would still fit.  I drop the shell about a sixteenth or so by adjusting the notch where the couplers hold the shell up and the vertical stops on the inside of the shell.

[skytop35]

Hey Bill,
On the A unit or B unit, did you lower the shell at all for looks?  I was wondering if the speakers would still fit.  I drop the shell about a sixteenth or so by adjusting the notch where the couplers hold the shell up and the vertical stops on the inside of the shell.

Marc, yes, I have lowered all my Intermountain F unit shells.

[carlso]

I would be careful purchasing F-7's from IM. I purchased an A/B set of SP Black Widow locos back in June. To this day I have not been able to run the locos. When I received them in June the trucks "fell out" of the chassis on both units and would not stay in place at all. To IM's credit they attempted to satisfy me by sending 5 different sets of trucks and not one of them would stay in the mechanisms. After calling and raising hell with them they suggested that I send the mechs. back to them, so I did. I had an e-mail stating that they replaced, tested two mechs and they were in the mail to me. They came in and they are used crap and will not run. At 6v they are pulling 3 amps, BS something is wrong. I tore one down and it was so loaded with oil and white grease that it is a wonder it ran at all. I cleaned it very well and ran the motor, in my hand, still pulling 3 amps. Wow ! They shall hear from me again on Monday.

Carl

Carl

[peteski]

My experience with IM uses to be very positive, but after the last dealing with them on AC-12s, I have not been very happy.

I bought couple of AC-12 from the latest run. I still have one from the original run.  The latest ones both seem to have very excessive vertical play in several of the driver bearings. The slot for the bearings is machined too long, allowing the bearings to move vertically quite a bit.  It doesn't seem to affect the running quality much but it is still wrong. In the long run, it might reduce the life of the crankpins.

I first corresponded with Richard from IM, then I actually brought one of the models to the model RR show at Springfield and had Richard examine it in-person. He agreed that it extra play was excessive and he said to send the models back.  They kept them for 6 months, then returned to me as fixed. Unfortunately (if they even did anything to them) they still have the same problem.  At that point I just gave up trying to get them fixed (I didn't even contact IM again).  If they couldn't do anything for 6 months and state that thy are fixed on the return invoice, I lost hope.

[draskouasshat]

I'll give you $50 for that horribly broken can forward pete! Lol

[peteski]

I'll give you $50 for that horribly broken can forward pete! Lol

LOL, you would, wouldn't you.    My disappointment was that while the problem was acknowledged by IM and they took it in for repair, nothing was done (after they held onto it for 6 months).  What were they thinking? That I will forget what the complaint was?    That wasn't cool.

[carlso]

Yes, I have dealt with Richard and three other individuals as well. So much for customer satisfaction.

Carl

[Paradise275]

Which sound decoder did you use please I don't have the magazine.

Rick

[skytop35]

Which sound decoder did you use please I don't have the magazine.

Rick

ESU 73800

[Paradise275]

Thanks Bill.

Rick