Decoder for N scale Kato F7A

[knewsom]

I just recently purchased the Kato Santa Fe Super Chief in N scale. I need to get a decoder for the F7A engine. Has anyone added a decoder to this engine. Will the replacement light board for the Kato F3A work?

[Adelie]

I have only added decoders to the F3's, but Kato's parts website has both the "DCC Friendly" F3 and F7s listed together sharing most of the same parts. They show only one "light board with LED" for both. That tells me they are the same, but before you plop $28 or so down for the decoder, wait to see if someone can confirm it.

There is no reason for them to be different. Both are recent releases, and given the similarity of the prototypes and models, I doubt that they are any different except for the body shells.