Have any members of this forum purchase one of the HO release of the EMD FT? If so, what is your opinion of this engine.
I have not done so, but will be interested in the replies. My Stewart FT ABBA (CB&Q) is such a good model, I doubt I will replace it.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
I have a mopac set and I am very pleased with it. The detail is far superior to the Stewart and even the last run Hallmark brass Mop set I had. It runs well to, better than Genesis, not as good as the Kato Stewarts but what does. I am also very happy with the Tsunami sound, it sounds like a 1/87 567 to me. I did have to turn down the volume on the brake squeel though, it was excrutiating and I have yet to find the cat. The only problem I had out of the box was one of the circular windows had fallen out. It was still in the plastic wrapping so it was an easy fix. Just be carefull to unwrap them over your workbench.
Also I am going to have to do some speed matching as the B unit takes off faster at mid speed than the A. I do think I will go ahead and buy a Cotton Belt set.
SB
I got an ATSF AB set in August, 2010. Out of the box, I found three portholes completely missing and two metal grill screens fell off within minutes of checking running ability. I contacted vendor and Intermountain by email immediately. Intermountain sent extra screens (they were already aware of screen problem) and windows within a month. Richard Frazier at Intermountain recommended Formula 560 canopy glue to attach new windows and reattach screens. All is good now, including appearance, sound, and pulling power. I'm a big fan of Intermountain F units and already had 16 others in different roads. I had never had a problem with porthole window or screen adhesion before these newest ones.
Dave
USAF (Retired)
Thanks for the information. I know that the Athearn Genesis F units were also having problems with their screens as well.
As the GN FT A/B units that I ordered is from their second run I would assume that the screen problems would have been addressed.
As I mentioned I have a number of Intermountain units with and without sound and find them in my opinion to be the best running units on the market. As to their sound quality I do not think there is any units superior to them.
What does surprise me is how few hobby shops I have visited in my area carry their stock. Plenty of Athearns, Walthers Proto, Bachmann and Stewarts but few Intermountain units. Go figure.
I hope that IM comes out with the Western Pacific version in the original paint scheme. Bowser/Stewart has canceled their run.
The FT in GN is to be released next month. Can only hope that there was sufficient interest and that the numbers were there. I would have assumed that one would have heard by now if the run was also cancelled.
Well finally.
I was just notified that the Intermountain FT set I ordered in the GN colours is in transit and my set will be mailed out next week.
Intermountain has switched over to using Tsunami sound decoders. I am not sure if they are true Tsunami or are specifically built for Intermountain locomotives.
Regardless, am looking forward to receiving the unit. I have a number of Intermountain F series locomotives and they are excellent runners.
I don't have any of the F units that you are inquiring about, but I do have two IM GEVOs. The Soundtraxx board is custom in these units. There are pin and socket connections for everything to plug in the to board. It looks weird at first, but after close examination, it's kind of neat and convenient.
Will
My set of GN Intermountian HO FT's arrived yesterday. The engines were taken right out of the box and placed on my test track for breaking in.
Checking the units I could see that they had been oiled and lubed and there was no need for any additional.
Thankfully they were not overly lubed and oiled like some other manufacturers products that I have received in the past
These are the sound units and unlike most I have acquired did not need to have the volume lowered. The sound is great as is the lighting.
Unfortunately for me a parts package that is included in each set was somehow missing from mine. I contacted Intermountain had they have acknowledge that they would get one of the parts packages to me soon.
Like all my other Intermountain engines these are great running engines and the quality of the sound is second to none that I have heard from other manufacturers. The set has no problems hauling my six passenger coaches and express refer up a 2 1/2% incline.
In comparison with my Stewart FT set the detail levels are higher as would be expected. I love the individual control with the lights, board lights and cabin lights. The quality of the sound to me is quite acceptable and will likely purchase a couple more sets in the future.
Don, Congrats with your FT's. Do you - or anyone else - have any photos of the set on a straight piece of track? The reason I ask is, I was very happy with my Intermountain F3's EXCEPT for the fact that they'd sit slightly tilted on their trucks; the front always a millimeter higher from the rail than the rear. Each of my A-B-B-A units had this. In the end, I sold them because this irritated me (and I have too many F3's anyway) and thought I'd replace them with FT's, for some variety in the diesel roster...
So thanks in advance for any (visual) insight!
I have an AB set of the F units for D&RGW. They are great. I also preorded the new release with the Royal Gorge Route paint scheme for D&RGW. I expect them by March.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
Thanks Michael. Would you say the bodies sit absolutely straight - horizontal - on their trucks or 'almost', slightly tilted, nose upwards?
Rik
They sit straight as far as I can tell. Everything looks fine to me.
Motley, is that D&RGW FT #5481? or was it #5484?
What I'm getting at is that the D&RGW had an FT that was rebuilt and looked externally the same as an F7! =P Thats an Intermountain 4-stripe F7?
I actually only own F units from Genesis, Stewart and Walthers at present - never got any Intermountain but IMR basically duplicated a version of D&RGW F7 that has already been produced by Stewart and Genesis. They would have interested me alot more if they had something to offer that wasn't already produced by two other makers - well the FT might finally a good example of that except my modeling period goes no earlier than 1965 and FT's were gone from the D&RGW by abou that time.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
riogrande,
That's the F7 #5674.
Yep, they do look fine. (As does the layout - nice!) but they're F7's. The few stock photographs I saw of FT's seem to be interpretable either way. But thanks for the pics!
Motley riogrande, That's the F7 #5674.
Actually I was asking about which FT was rebuilt to look like an F7. I looked it up at home - it was FT #5481, part of the set that was used as passenger power until retirement about 1964.
Is your #5674 the Proto 2000 F7 or is it an IMR unit?