Detailing F7 locos

[Deputy]

I've been thinking about buying a Williams F-7 ABA set. Unfortunately, while quite affordable, it is a bit shy of "detailing".  Olsen's has a nifty cab trim kit for F3 locos and I can use that for added detail:
http://pictures.olsenstoy.com//proddetail.htm?sku=2343-SF

I found a pic of an Erie Lackawanna and it appears they only used one front grabrail on the nose of the loco, but also one mounted higher up on the nose by the window. Not sure if that is the same for all F7s or not.

 

 

 

[Train-O]

Hi, Mike,

I hope you're all set for the Holidays.

As for your F-7, I don't know if all F-7s had standard, similar equipment, but some railroads did have certain engines with different equipment on them.  If you look close at the nose door of your photo., to the left of the 'E',(actually the 'right' edge of the 'E'), in the photo. there appears to be a hatch handle midway of the door, so maybe, and I believe, the door opened inward and so's no one was to hit their noggin, or body on the grab-rail/handle, while exiting, the 'right ' grab-rail/handle was deliberately left off.
But, that is what I surmise.

My wife ordered from Santa Claus a Lionel 2006 version of the Lackawanna FM TM, which I always wanted a FM TR and thanks to you and Bob Nelson for twisting my arm to get one, I now have and enjoy it's beauty. 

Also, coincidentally, she ordered from Santa Claus a Erie-Lackawanna Double 'A' F-7 Diesels, One Power and One Dummy, by Williams and they're beautiful, they're 1/4" Scale units with Super detailing and Digital True Blast II Bell&Horn, Op. front couplers, head lamps, illuminated interior and marker lights.  They have the same beautiful color scheme as the FM TM diesel.

Don't hesitate to ask me of any info., I'll be glad to help, just contact me by E-Mail, or the fastest is via phone, but it's costlier.  My phone # [phone].

I like realistic detailing and I do, as you, add to a regular model, to give it a prototypical appearence.

Merry Christmas and a Healthy, Happy New Year,
Ralph 

[lionelsoni]

According to Marre, Diesel Locomotives: The First 50 Years, there were endless variations among F units, all through the series, making it difficult to assign model numbers to photographs with any great certainty.  Many of the differences were internal; and those that can be seen are inconsistent.  The horizontal ladder rungs replacing the vertical grabiron in your photograph do not seem to be typical of F units, nor are the wraparound number boards and the nose and eyebrow grabirons, not to mention the bug deflector.

 

[Deputy]

Thanks Ralph and Bob. I e-mailed Marty at Ma and Pa Junction to see if they had the EL F7 ABA in stock and if they could ship it to me next day shipping. Haven't heard back yet.

Geez!!!! I missed the bug defelector (LOL) and additional grab irons completely!!!! I was so fixated on the variation in front grab rails. I think most of the stuff in the picture can be duplicated fairly easily with wire stock and the kit I linked to.