Andree23,
Thanks for that info.
On another discussion group, a question was brought up asking if this new tooling is from the molds used to produce the Highliner shells. The answer is that Athearn stated it's new tooling.
In looking at the video, I would ask "Does it really matter?". I'd like to think that, after seeing the excellent job that Athearn did with the SDP40F, that Athearn's personnel have performed their research with the appropriate people (historians, society reps, etc) and produced a shell that, while not detailed on a genesis level, is dimensionally close to that of the Highliner shell.
As nostalgic as me and a number of modelers are, I don't thiink that the Global F7 shell will be missed much at all.
Well...................I do have a 30+ year old F7 shell that is used for airbrush testing Alclad metalizers .
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
The Highliner shell is a very complex set of tooling with a long list of separate parts and panels that allow virtually every different version and phase of F3 thru F9.
Other than using drawings of the Highliner as a starting point, there is no logic in building a one feature generic F7 from the Highliner tooling.
Sheldon
One nice thing about the new shell is it is going to have 'dimples' (or whatever Athearn is calling them) for drilling out holes for the handrails. Walthers "Diesel Dress-up" kit could be used to upgrade the old shell with handrails, but getting the holes drilled in the right place and perfectly in line could be tough.
wjstix One nice thing about the new shell is it is going to have 'dimples' (or whatever Athearn is calling them) for drilling out holes for the handrails. Walthers "Diesel Dress-up" kit could be used to upgrade the old shell with handrails, but getting the holes drilled in the right place and perfectly in line could be tough.
Not a new feature, the old GLOBE shell has dimples for drilling the handrail locations.
ATLANTIC CENTRALNot a new feature, the old GLOBE shell has dimples for drilling the handrail locations.
Stewart shells have the same feature.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
SeeYou190 ATLANTIC CENTRAL Not a new feature, the old GLOBE shell has dimples for drilling the handrail locations. Stewart shells have the same feature. -Kevin
ATLANTIC CENTRAL Not a new feature, the old GLOBE shell has dimples for drilling the handrail locations.
Yes, not a new idea, been around since 1952......
No doubt, the Highliner F-shell raised the bar.
I think that the modelers on the other forum (myself included) are basically hoping that, dimensionally, Athearn's new F7's contours and overall measuremetns will be close to that of the Highliners.
AntonioFP45 No doubt, the Highliner F-shell raised the bar. I think that the modelers on the other forum (myself included) are basically hoping that, dimensionally, Athearn's new F7's dimensions will be close to that of the Highliners.
I think that the modelers on the other forum (myself included) are basically hoping that, dimensionally, Athearn's new F7's dimensions will be close to that of the Highliners.
Well, since they are investing in new tooling it would only make sense to make it better. Just looking at the pictures it looks pretty good. But it will still be a one piece shell in only two versions - one headlight or two headlights.
They are removing the steam heat vents, relatively few F7's had passenger steam boilers.
Actually looks like it will fit the old frame, but also have screw mounting on its new frame. If so, that is a smart move, especialy if they make the shell available separately.
Have you ever looked closely at an unassembled Highliner shell? It is a lot of parts.
Other high end brands have five and six different shells to cover the variations.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL AntonioFP45 No doubt, the Highliner F-shell raised the bar. I think that the modelers on the other forum (myself included) are basically hoping that, dimensionally, Athearn's new F7's dimensions will be close to that of the Highliners. Well, since they are investing in new tooling it would only make sense to make it better. Just looking at the pictures it looks pretty good. But it will still be a one piece shell in only two versions - one headlight or two headlights. They are removing the steam heat vents, relatively few F7's had passenger steam boilers. Actually looks like it will fit the old frame, but also have screw mounting on its new frame. If so, that is a smart move, especialy if they make the shell available separately. Have you ever looked closely at an unassembled Highliner shell? It is a lot of parts. Other high end brands have five and six different shells to cover the variations. Sheldon
It will be interesting to see what Athearn cooks up to replace that old Globe based F7A. I don't really have any warm feelings about them - they looked crude from my early days and as soon as Stewart began offering their F units, mine went bye bye.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I remember years ago there was an Article (I think in RMC) as a construction article which spliced an Athearn F7 nose to an Atlas FP7 body to two units because (as I recall it) "The Athearn contours are far better than the Atlas ones". How times have changed and we are getting fussier?
Personally I quite like the contours of the Athearn BB units and they are excellent runners with their remotoring- I also have two Atlas FP's which seem "wrong" but they seldom run alongside each other. I remember seeing two Bulldog noses on S class locos alongside each other here in Melbourne Australia and wish I had my camera at the time as they were obviously different with the angle of the nose, neither unit AFAIK having needed accident repairs before I saw them.
Cheers from Australia
Trevor
xdford I remember years ago there was an Article (I think in RMC) as a construction article which spliced an Athearn F7 nose to an Atlas FP7 body to two units because (as I recall it) "The Athearn contours are far better than the Atlas ones". How times have changed and we are getting fussier? Trevor
No, at least not in this case. I've been fussy since I was a teen in the 70's and I could see the short comings of the Athearn F7 shell back then. But there wasn't really anything better at the time. The windshield openings are large and awful. The air grills on the sides only hinted of what was supposed to be there. A company made a kit to improve the looks of the windshield openings in the 1990's but by then the Stewart F series were on the market and they looked so much better and were only surpassed by the Highliner shell that became the basis for the Athearn Genesis F series and later FP7's. Yes, the Atlas yellow box FP7's were not great either. I wanted an FP7 but I couldn't bring myself to buy any, but it wasn't a must have either.
As for the title of this topic: Is the Athearn Bluebox/Globe F7 gone for good?
I'd say no. There are so many out there we'll be seeing them at train shows and a few new/old stock for many years to come. Production based on the Globe F7 shell has gone on long enough. IMO too long. I'm glad to see Athearn finally retiring those old molds. Should have retired them 20 years ago, but I guess they were able to make some profit off them and plow the money back into other new products, so as investment fodder they served a purpose.
I cannot recall ever owning an Athearn F7. All of my HO F units are Stewarts, except for my Hallmark FTs and Overland FP7.
My only Athearn HO locomotives painted for the SGRR are my Trainmaster, and my old SD9. There are also 3 SD40s that will eventually pull my track cleaning train.
I have used Athearn chassis for countless projects, but I don't seem to actually have many of their complete locomotive models.
riogrande5761 xdford I remember years ago there was an Article (I think in RMC) as a construction article which spliced an Athearn F7 nose to an Atlas FP7 body to two units because (as I recall it) "The Athearn contours are far better than the Atlas ones". How times have changed and we are getting fussier? Trevor No, at least not in this case. I've been fussy since I was a teen in the 70's and I could see the short comings of the Athearn F7 shell back then. But there wasn't really anything better at the time. The windshield openings are large and awful. The air grills on the sides only hinted of what was supposed to be there. A company made a kit to improve the looks of the windshield openings in the 1990's but by then the Stewart F series were on the market and they looked so much better and were only surpassed by the Highliner shell that became the basis for the Athearn Genesis F series and later FP7's. Yes, the Atlas yellow box FP7's were not great either. I wanted an FP7 but I couldn't bring myself to buy any, but it wasn't a must have either. As for the title of this topic: Is the Athearn Bluebox/Globe F7 gone for good? I'd say no. There are so many out there we'll be seeing them at train shows and a few new/old stock for many years to come. Production based on the Globe F7 shell has gone on long enough. IMO too long. I'm glad to see Athearn finally retiring those old molds. Should have retired them 20 years ago, but I guess they were able to make some profit off them and plow the money back into other new products, so as investment fodder they served a purpose.
And so what do you think of the Intermountain F unit? They make a very nice FP7 as well.
Most of my F units are Genesis/Highliner (ATLANTIC CENTRAL), or are Intermountain.
I'm going to be like you for a minute - if I'm going to buy an already painted RTR locomotive, I want the hand rails already installed and painted - the lack of handrails always turned me off about Stewart F units.
If I'm starting with an undecorated shell to build ATLANTIC CENTRAL locos, the Intermountain and Highliner shells come with the detail parts and are most versatile when it comes to choosing details to match a particular prototype, or in my case creating a fictional prototype.
As for how they run, I can't see any measurable difference between Stewart, Intermountain, Genesis, or my one set of Proto2000 F units lettered in the C&O wave scheme.
And my two sets of rebuilt Athearn Blue Box F units with can motors and better wheelsets run nearly as well except being a little noisier. And while they may not be up to your high standards, they have GSB cab interiors, and lots of added detail including close couplng with American Limited diaphragms. A lot of time went into them, long before all these other products came along - not replacing them.
But I'm not sad to see the old shell being updated and improved.
But you have to admit, in 1954 it was WAY better than anything else out there - WAY better.
This is my lone Stewart F7 (Late Phase I with no rear roof overhang) that I bought new back in the 90's. Very smooth runner. Although I'm not rivit-counter picky, to me the nose and windshield contour look really nice and campare favorably to those of prototype photos.
I bought it back when my modeling interest was focused on NYC, but eventually leaned towards the southeast.
The factory paint job is excellent so I've decided to keep it "as is" and use it as an occasional foreign power visitor. After adding grabs & handrails, the trucks and underframe will be weathered and she'll be updated with KD's, and DCC- Sound (either TCS or LokSound). .
ATLANTIC CENTRAL SeeYou190 ATLANTIC CENTRAL Not a new feature, the old GLOBE shell has dimples for drilling the handrail locations. -Kevin Yes, not a new idea, been around since 1952...... Sheldon
SeeYou190
ATLANTIC CENTRAL Not a new feature, the old GLOBE shell has dimples for drilling the handrail locations. -Kevin
The difference is it appears the new one will have them for all the handrails, like the handrails around the front nose door. With the old shell, you had to use a paper cut-out template from the Walthers "Diesel Dress-up Kit" to do your best to locate where those holes should go.
Slightly OT, but Bowser is currently having a "fire sale" on F3/F7/F9 A&B body shells if anyone is interested:
https://toytrainheaven.com/product-category/bowser-fire-sale-ho-ho/
maxman Slightly OT, but Bowser is currently having a "fire sale" on F3/F7/F9 A&B body shells if anyone is interested: https://toytrainheaven.com/product-category/bowser-fire-sale-ho-ho/
Thanks for the tip, I ended up buying a couple of shells there!
ATLANTIC CENTRAL And so what do you think of the Intermountain F unit? They make a very nice FP7 as well.
The general consensis for some time has been that the Highliner based F unit shell is the best, most true to life, version ever made; I agree with that.
When the Intermountain F's first came out, I felt the post between the windshields looked a tad wide when looking straight on, but overall they look pretty good. My preference for D&RGW F units has always been the late era single stripe scheme, and Athearn Genesis and Walthers Proto 2000 offered them long long before Intermountain ever got around to that version. The 60's is a secondary interest so what I bought at the time has been sufficient.
While D&RGW is my main interest, I've always been a fan of the SP from my teens, so the main FP7 I've been interested in are those of the SP. I felt Genesis did the best job on the SP bloody nose FP7 with the plow pilot and ice breakers. Those are the only FP7's I have.
I still don't own any Intermountain F units of any kind and don't anticipate every buying any. But I wouldn't not recommend them to a fan of F units. They are probably the next best kind after Athearn Genesis.
riogrande5761 ATLANTIC CENTRAL And so what do you think of the Intermountain F unit? They make a very nice FP7 as well. The general consensis for some time has been that the Highliner based F unit shell is the best, most true to life, version ever made; I agree with that. When the Intermountain F's first came out, I felt the post between the windshields looked a tad wide when looking straight on, but overall they look pretty good. My preference for D&RGW F units has always been the late era single stripe scheme, and Athearn Genesis and Walthers Proto 2000 offered them long long before Intermountain ever got around to that version. The 60's is a secondary interest so what I bought at the time has been sufficient. While D&RGW is my main interest, I've always been a fan of the SP from my teens, so the main FP7 I've been interested in are those of the SP. I felt Genesis did the best job on the SP bloody nose FP7 with the plow pilot and ice breakers. Those are the only FP7's I have. I still don't own any Intermountain F units of any kind and don't anticipate every buying any. But I wouldn't not recommend them to a fan of F units. They are probably the next best kind after Athearn Genesis.
Thanks for your thoughts. I agree the Highliner is the best shell, with the most correct details, and more proto specific options than any of the others. And I agree that the Intermountain is easily the next best shell.
Interesting how road name interests can drive these choices. I bought Intermountain F3's and F7's in as delivered B&O schemes because they were simply easier to find in DC than the Genesis units. And in that road name, just as detail correct.
I also went with Intermountain for my ATLANTIC CENTRAL FP7's because it is literally the only undecorated FP7 on the market in recent times.
I have various Genesis/Highliner units in WESTERN MARYLAND and ATLANTIC CENTRAL.
Mechanically I see no difference between the "big four", Genesis, Proto, Intermountain or Stewart/Bowser. They are all smooth, quiet and powerful.
Again, for me the availability of DC versions has been a driver of my choices as well.
So happy I already own most of the locos I want or need..
ATLANTIC CENTRALSo happy I already own most of the locos I want or need.
Glad you popped back in again.
Your absence was noticed.
mbinsewi Highliner had decent F's and accessories, including a window fix for the Athearn, but I can't find his web site any more. Too bad. It looks some of usually train supply places have some of the Highliner parts. Mike.
Highliner had decent F's and accessories, including a window fix for the Athearn, but I can't find his web site any more. Too bad.
It looks some of usually train supply places have some of the Highliner parts.
Mike.
Yeah, they were open last year and I was planning to get a shell for my old Bluebox F7, but my expiring mortgage got in the way of me purchasing one now they're gone.
(Oddly, Scalecoat Paints shut down about the same time.)
Oregon_Steamerbut my expiring mortgage got in the way
I had to google expiring mortgage and it just said that means the mortgage reached it's end term, which is usually 15 or 30 years. That usually means it's paid off right? Isn't that a good thing and less financial burden, not more?
riogrande5761 Oregon_Steamer but my expiring mortgage got in the way I had to google expiring mortgage and it just said that means the mortgage reached it's end term, which is usually 15 or 30 years. That usually means it's paid off right? Isn't that a good thing and less financial burden, not more?
Oregon_Steamer but my expiring mortgage got in the way
_________________________________________________________________
Could mean thee mortgage is ending and a balloon payment is due.
AntonioFP45 Sheldon, yes. However, whenever Highliner kits popped up on ebay, they'd go quickly. Ironically I think that it was some of my southeastern modeler friends that were among the bidders snatching them up! Genesis & Intermountain SCL F's were beautiful. I should be wearing a dunce cap for having procrastinated and foolilshly thinking "Ah no biggie........they sold out so we'll see another run!". But, as modelers point out to me "You know that if it's Santa Fe or the other goodl ol' boys from the west or north.....no problem........ you'll get tired of seeing em'. But Southeastern? Well.........we wish you the best, buddy!" When an SCL version does pop up on ebay, as the bids continue climbing towards the $300 mark, my budget says "Don't even think about it pal!". So I have to go for what I can get whether it is Athearn's new units or older used "Stewart-Kays" that are (hopefully) in good condition. I'm not complaining as it is my own fault. I learned my lesson, which is why I did not wait long after the SDP40F and the newly tooled Atlas U36B were produced.
Sheldon, yes.
However, whenever Highliner kits popped up on ebay, they'd go quickly. Ironically I think that it was some of my southeastern modeler friends that were among the bidders snatching them up!
Genesis & Intermountain SCL F's were beautiful. I should be wearing a dunce cap for having procrastinated and foolilshly thinking "Ah no biggie........they sold out so we'll see another run!". But, as modelers point out to me "You know that if it's Santa Fe or the other goodl ol' boys from the west or north.....no problem........ you'll get tired of seeing em'. But Southeastern? Well.........we wish you the best, buddy!"
When an SCL version does pop up on ebay, as the bids continue climbing towards the $300 mark, my budget says "Don't even think about it pal!".
So I have to go for what I can get whether it is Athearn's new units or older used "Stewart-Kays" that are (hopefully) in good condition. I'm not complaining as it is my own fault.
I learned my lesson, which is why I did not wait long after the SDP40F and the newly tooled Atlas U36B were produced.
The current F7B shell will still be in production- are they going to put it on a new chassis? The original Blue-box F7Bs chassis didn't match the F7A chassis, they rode too high.
Re some of the comments on errors (overhang/no overhang, etc.), Athearn has said this is an improved Athearn (i.e. "blue box") engine; if you want a RTR engine with all the railroad and engine number specific details, you need to get a Genesis.
I would like to see Athearn post pics/video of the new chassis with the 21-pin receptacle etc. Apparently this came out first, listings re the batch of F7s that came out before the new improved bodies were announced say they have the 21-pin receptacle.