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F3 Shells, Proto 1000 and Proto 2000

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F3 Shells, Proto 1000 and Proto 2000
Posted by Shock Control on Thursday, January 27, 2022 7:46 PM

Does anyone know if F3 shells are interchangeable between the Proto 1000 and Proto 2000 lines, or do they fit only one or the other?

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Posted by tstage on Thursday, January 27, 2022 8:19 PM

I've been told that the chassis for the Proto 1000 & 2000 are exactly the same; the difference being in the detail of the shell.  The Proto 1000s tend to have molded on details and Proto 2000s have more applied details.

With that being true, I would surmise that the shells are interchangeable with one another.  However, I don't have any Proto 1000 locomotives so I can't say that for sure.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by Shock Control on Thursday, January 27, 2022 8:27 PM

tstage
I've been told that the chassis for the Proto 1000 & 2000 are exactly the same; the difference being in the detail of the shell.  The Proto 1000s tend to have molded on details and Proto 2000s have more applied details.

With that being true, I would surmise that the shells are interchangeable with one another.  However, I don't have any Proto 1000 locomotives so I can't say that for sure.

Tom

Thanks.  I have only the Proto 1000s.  I'm sure someone will have both!

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Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, January 27, 2022 8:42 PM

Sometimes you can find decent photos of chassis and shells removed at the TCS DCC install site. I didn't see the F3 in P2k but they have an F7:

https://tcsdcc.com/installation/ho-scale/2033

And the Proto 1000 F3 here:

https://tcsdcc.com/installation/ho-scale/1372

and another F3 here:

https://tcsdcc.com/installation/ho-scale/1373

Hope that helps, Ed

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Posted by Water Level Route on Friday, January 28, 2022 6:09 AM

May not apply to the F3's, but for what it's worth when Walthers released their recent run of PA's, I contacted them to ask if the older Life Like Proto2K shells would fit their new chassis, or if they had changed the original LL design.  (I had a NYC PA with a nasty drivetrain vibration and they hadn't announced NYC paint yet, so was going to buy a Santa Fe and swap bodies)  To my surprise, I was told the old LL shell should fit with no problems.  Before I ordered the Walthers one, I found a screaming deal on an A-B LL Proto set, so can't confirm if Walthers advice was correct, but I have to assume it would be.  If they didn't change the PA after how many years, I doubt they would change the F units from one to another.

Mike

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Posted by Shock Control on Friday, January 28, 2022 8:03 AM

Water Level Route
May not apply to the F3's, but for what it's worth when Walthers released their recent run of PA's, I contacted them to ask if the older Life Like Proto2K shells would fit their new chassis, or if they had changed the original LL design.  (I had a NYC PA with a nasty drivetrain vibration and they hadn't announced NYC paint yet, so was going to buy a Santa Fe and swap bodies)  To my surprise, I was told the old LL shell should fit with no problems.  Before I ordered the Walthers one, I found a screaming deal on an A-B LL Proto set, so can't confirm if Walthers advice was correct, but I have to assume it would be.  If they didn't change the PA after how many years, I doubt they would change the F units from one to another.

Thank you.  We're getting closer!!!

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