Identify HO F3 Loco

[trainma1]

I have an F-3 Diesel that has no manfacturer name. It appears that that drivers may be rubber bands as all four axels have large "drums" on them . There are bare rods com[;)]ing out of each end of the motor.
Can anyone identify? or perhaps have a diagram?

[Anonymous]

That sounds like a rubber-band drive certainly. I might be wrong, but I think I've heard of something like this made by a company named Varney? I'm not that clued-up about older HO scale equipment, but I've heard this name mentioned in conjunction with rubber band drive Fs before.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like Varney or early athearn. Is is a metal unpainted body?

[trainma1]

QUOTE: Originally posted by wmlurgan

Sounds like Varney or early athearn. Is is a metal unpainted body?

The frame is metal but the body is Plastic, (Road name is Rio Grand)
Thanks for the info.

[Anonymous]

It most likely is an early Varney or Athearn. I have one that I picked many years ago, don't remember where, and you know something, it really runs purty dang good, very quiet. Athearn used the early Varney as their premier F7 for many years and then began to upgrade the drive. You know it's still a good locomotive, maybe not the best for accuracy of detail but it's still my number one choice when I want to try new techniques for detailing and painting and they run good too.

[trainma1]

Does anyone know where I can get parts and/or an assembly diagram?

[Anonymous]

trainma1,
In this link the 6th photo is a Varney F3. The 7th photo is an Athearn Hi-F chassis.
http://www.the-gauge.com/showthread.php?t=6411
There were some slight variations in the Athearn Hi-F chassis as far as motors and truck designs.
Varney did make an F3 with a plastic shell, but it had a gear drive.

[trainma1]

Can anyone tell me where I can buy the bands. I've tried some"tires" but can't match the size, and they are stiff.

[trainma1]

Thanks guys, I found a source of the rubber bands thru another forum, But your information and photo helped me identify what I needed.

[dinwitty]

I've never known anyone but Athearn to use Rubberband drive, its still on the Hustler.

I always felt the band drives were toyish, if you think you had enough of jumpy starts and high speeds, change them to gear trucks.