Model Power FP7A Modeller's Version

[u18b]

With a little down time on the EP-2 project, I spend just a little time on a Model Power FP7A.



Many people don't consider this a serious loco- but I like it.  I picked it up at a swap meet for under $25.  IM is a better loco- but hey, this was cheap.

Been wanting to make this for a long time.


I found it to be a good runner.  Smooth and fairly quiet.

One of my flywheels was pressed too close to the motor and was scraping metal.  SO I moved it out.

The trucks are a little loose.  One day I will make them not float so much.

Here is a slideshow of my evaluation, and what I'm doing to it.  All that is left is painting.

Click SLIDESHOW up in the upper left.

Enjoy.

https://picasaweb.google.com/115166231832602451124/ModelPowerFP7A?authuser=0&feat=directlink

[jmlaboda]

"500 Infernal Server Error"

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Ron, I think you might be insane. Those wires... That 90* mounted incandescent bulb... THOSE WIRES! Even though it runs well now, it's going to be a maintenance nightmare of it sits on the shelf for more than a month. The chassis looks like the insides of a WWII radio.

[mmagliaro]

Hey, I have a WWII radio and it still works! 

Seriously, I wouldn't worry too much about those wires.  Ron, you neatened them up, and that does help because
it makes it less likely that they will be pulled or broken off when servicing.  The key is how flexible they are.
If they are to stiff, then yeah, they will probably break off at the those truck solder points some day.   You could
replace them with Ngineering's super flexible stuff - it's wonderful wire and as flexible as a piece of thread.

[Rich_S]

Ron, Very nice upgrade. One suggest, I think I'd replace that light bulb with a LED to help cut down on heat inside that metal shell.  Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

[mecgp7]

Glad to see there is hope for these. I have one that is beautifully custom painted and detailed for the Canadian Pacific. Unfortunately she's a static model as she doesn't run worth a damn. Very loud. I notice in your pics the big ol' piece of tape over the motor. Mine did not come that way. Do tell when you figure out the loose trucks. Mine also has a pretty good wobble.

[kornellred]

Hey Ron - not that it's relevant for your purposes, but just an FYI:  PRR EFP15 locomotives were delivered with 36" dynamic brake fans.  In your photo captions, you mentioned that you needed a unit with a large (48") DB fan, "hence Pennsy".

[u18b]

Hey Ron - not that it's relevant for your purposes, but just an FYI:  PRR EFP15 locomotives were delivered with 36" dynamic brake fans.  In your photo captions, you mentioned that you needed a unit with a large (48") DB fan, "hence Pennsy".

Well, if what you say is correct, then Pennsy fans have a loco with the wrong fan.

Model Power made variations in two of the parts.
The Dynamic brake fan can be small or large.

Also, the nose door can be plane or have a second light.

For CSX #118, I needed a single headlight, with large fan.  Thus I needed a Model Power stock Pennsy unit.

Sorry Pennsy fans if they got it wrong.

[u18b]

Ron, Very nice upgrade. One suggest, I think I'd replace that light bulb with a LED to help cut down on heat inside that metal shell.  Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Rich, I agree.  I plan to.

[u18b]

Ron, I think you might be insane.

I think the first person to say that about me was Bryan Bussey in 1989 in Houston Tx at the National N scale convention.  LOL.

[u18b]

Glad to see there is hope for these. I have one that is beautifully custom painted and detailed for the Canadian Pacific. Unfortunately she's a static model as she doesn't run worth a damn. Very loud. I notice in your pics the big ol' piece of tape over the motor. Mine did not come that way. Do tell when you figure out the loose trucks. Mine also has a pretty good wobble.

If it wobbles, then something is obviously not right.  Mine has no wobble at all.

If your tape is gone, then you must not be the original owner.  That would be my assumption.

Hopefully, my walk-through will help you find out what the problem is.

[Catt]

Friend of mine has 3 of these units.First one was a real jewel second one was a turd.He sent the second one back for repairs and got bach a new chassis with his shell on it.It now runs as sweet as the first one.Third one is just like the first one.I was always going to buy some but never got around Tuit.

The amazing part of this story is the turn around on unit #2 was just under 2 weeks.

[davefoxx]

Ron,

This is great, and I look forward to following along.  I have long wanted to do the A-B-B-A of F units, including #118, but in the Seaboard System incarnation.  I was disappointed when IM cancelled an announced run of SBD FP7s a few years ago.  However, if I recall correctly, #118 was an FP7, but #116 was an F7.

DFF

[u18b]

Dave,

"116 was an F7."

Dave.  This is VERY commonly reported, but technically untrue. (as far as modeling goes.)

The reason it is called an F7 is because the railroad often called it an F7-- for no other reason than horsepower.

116 was originally bought by Clinchfield as a late model F3A.  It had slots for the dynamic brake area.
In other words, from the side it LOOKS like an F7, but when looking at the roof only- you can see it is an F3.

The railroad uprated the prime mover to F7 standards.  Thus they started calling it an F7.

Find a roof shot of the 116, and you will see what I mean.

Of course, a lot of people would not care.  But I lean toward accuracy.

Looks like an F7 from the side....



But when you go up higher, you can see the F3 dynamic brake slots (no fan).




If I remember my history correctly, it was the editor of Extra 2200 South magazine that came up with the idea of "phases" to delineate between locomotive model variations many many years ago.  IIRC this loco was an F3A phase 4.

In 1986, when CSX was formed, they listed this loco as an F3Au.  I think the "u" meant "uprated".

But as you said, it is commonly called an F7.

Hope some of that helps.

The sad thing is that with the possibility that the portholes might be wrong, InterMountain could make this locomotive, but to mu knowledge, they have never produced a late model F3.

Since their molds are modular, they could make an F7 with an F3 dynamic brake hatch.
In fact, like you and I want--- they actually have the capability to make the whole 4 unit set.

[bbussey]

The undecorated InterMountain shells are available for both units.  It would be easy enough to chop and assemble the F3A/F7 hybrid shell from them.