Charlie wrote: CAZEPHYR wrote: The model FP45's will not have stainless steel side panels since the real ones did not have stainless sides. They were painted silver panels and not stainess like the later passenger F3's and the F7's/. cazypher, I'm not talking about the F45/FP45 but the F7s. I couldn't give a rats a** about the F45/FP45s. Ch
CAZEPHYR wrote: The model FP45's will not have stainless steel side panels since the real ones did not have stainless sides. They were painted silver panels and not stainess like the later passenger F3's and the F7's/.
The model FP45's will not have stainless steel side panels since the real ones did not have stainless sides. They were painted silver panels and not stainess like the later passenger F3's and the F7's/.
cazypher, I'm not talking about the F45/FP45 but the F7s. I couldn't give a rats a** about the F45/FP45s.
Ch
Easy tiger!!! We knew what you were talkin' about. Give it a chance.
YES!!
Finally! An N scale FP45!!! Woohoo! I've been waiting for a good one of these ever since I started N scaling. Dreams do come true! I just hope it is reasonably priced.
I'd like to see an N scale P30...They were awesome looking.
Scott - Dispatcher, Norfolk Southern
If you don't want to wait for Athearn Genesis to come out with that N-Scale F45, you can buy a resin body shell kit (complete with etched metal detail parts) that will fit a Kato N-scale SD40 mechanism here:
http://southernalbertarail.com/index.php?page=navleft_2_col
Pretty darn good looking N-scale kit that is too!
Sorry for the confusion. The F7's did look good in the yellow warbonnet scheme and the passenger units did retain the stainless panels without being painted.
The 347C is pictured in yellow warbonnet in the Santa Fe Diesel book. This unit was repainted back to the Red Warbonnet scheme and donated to the California State Museum in Sacramento along with an F3B in Warbonnet paint.
Received a reply from Athearn after sending them an e-mail asking about the cowls.
7/19/06 - "Is true. Details will follow in several month. NO additional information at this time."
I guess the rep is a man or woman of "few words" but still, it is welcome news.
At this stage I wonder if Athearn is still working the details out with the manufacturer or if the tooling/dies have already being produced. My guess is a late 2007-early 2008 release.
I hope I'm wrong, but based on these manufacturers' track record it's at least over one year away.
Guys, it might be a good idea for you to continue to give Athearn input on this. For example what versions will we see? There's quite a few:
Santa Fe Warbonnet Red 1968 with Gyra-Lights. (100 series)
Santa Fe Warbonnet "Super Fleet" Red 1988. Gyra Light space plated over. (5,000 series, renumbered to 100 series, renumbered again to 90 series) - can drive a prototype modeler nuts!
Santa Fe Warbonnet Blue (5000 series)
Santa Fe Solid Blue
Milwaukee Road Yellow (with Gyra lights)
Milwaukee Road Orange
Wisonsin Central
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
AntonioFP45 wrote: Received a reply from Athearn after sending them an e-mail asking about the cowls. 7/19/06 - "Is true. Details will follow in several month. NO additional information at this time." I guess the rep is a man or woman of "few words" but still, it is welcome news. At this stage I wonder if Athearn is still working the details out with the manufacturer or if the tooling/dies have already being produced. My guess is a late 2007-early 2008 release. I hope I'm wrong, but based on these manufacturers' track record it's at least over one year away. Guys, it might be a good idea for you to continue to give Athearn input on this. For example what versions will we see? There's quite a few: Santa Fe Warbonnet Red 1968 with Gyra-Lights. (100 series) Santa Fe Warbonnet "Super Fleet" Red 1988. Gyra Light space plated over. (5,000 series, renumbered to 100 series, renumbered again to 90 series) - can drive a prototype modeler nuts! Santa Fe Warbonnet Blue (5000 series) Santa Fe Solid Blue Milwaukee Road Yellow (with Gyra lights) Milwaukee Road Orange Wisonsin Central
AntonioFP45
Thanks for the update from Athearn. That list of FP45's will be welcomed with a lot of sales ehen they are availble.
Let's not forget the F45s, Antonio:
Santa Fe Blue w/ Yellow Details
Santa Fe Blue Bonnet
SF Kodachrome (FP45s too)
Burlington Northern
Santa Fe Blue Bonnet BNSF Patch
MKM
Wisconsin Southern
Wisconsin Central
CAZEPHYR wrote: AntonioFP45 wrote: Received a reply from Athearn after sending them an e-mail asking about the cowls. 7/19/06 - "Is true. Details will follow in several month. NO additional information at this time." I guess the rep is a man or woman of "few words" but still, it is welcome news. At this stage I wonder if Athearn is still working the details out with the manufacturer or if the tooling/dies have already being produced. My guess is a late 2007-early 2008 release. I hope I'm wrong, but based on these manufacturers' track record it's at least over one year away. Guys, it might be a good idea for you to continue to give Athearn input on this. For example what versions will we see? There's quite a few: Santa Fe Warbonnet Red 1968 with Gyra-Lights. (100 series) Santa Fe Warbonnet "Super Fleet" Red 1988. Gyra Light space plated over. (5,000 series, renumbered to 100 series, renumbered again to 90 series) - can drive a prototype modeler nuts! Santa Fe Warbonnet Blue (5000 series) Santa Fe Solid Blue Milwaukee Road Yellow (with Gyra lights) Milwaukee Road Orange Wisonsin Central AntonioFP45 Thanks for the update from Athearn. That list of FP45's will be welcomed with a lot of sales ehen they are availble.
Lets not forget the F45 that had steam lines as well. Have a noticable difference in the front plow
MP 53 on the BNSF Topeka Sub
4884Bigboy, Wide awake as always!
Thanks for that correction and additional info (also shame on me in forgetting the "Kodachrome" scheme).
Looks like Athearn will actually have a wider selection to choose from as far as versions and road names.
As for adding the steam lines...seems like an easy mod that modelers can add if Athearn decides not to.
Another point to ponder:
The F45/FP45s on the roads mentioned had quite a few modifications over the years. Will Athearn just produce one or two "basic" versions of the F and FP and splash on all or most of the above mentioned paint schemes? For example, the 1960s SF FP45s had Gyra lights, but years later the Gyras were plated over and horns relocated to the roof center. The F45s went through some similar changes. BN's F45s had the famous yellow "beacons" on their cab roofs.
Will the gyra lights and beacons be functional?
I definetly will be e-mailing Athearn with "suggestions".
AntonioFP45 wrote:One prototype was saved last year by a gentleman who purchased it. I'm not certain, but someone on the TRAINS forum mentioned that it was the MAERSK unit. The SDP40fs, IMHO, were attractive units that should not be so easily overlooked, especially by Amtrak and Santa Fe modelers/fans.
One prototype was saved last year by a gentleman who purchased it. I'm not certain, but someone on the TRAINS forum mentioned that it was the MAERSK unit.
The SDP40fs, IMHO, were attractive units that should not be so easily overlooked, especially by Amtrak and Santa Fe modelers/fans.
That's DLMX 644, normally based at the Brooklyn Roundhouse in Portland, OR with SP 4449, SP&S 700 and a few other assorted interesting locomotives. It's still painted in the silver and blue warbonnet.
Right now it's in Albany, OR at the Portland & Western RR enginehouse - they're in a power crunch so they are leasing it. Reportedly it's got some real issues.
I doubt the BN F45s will have working beacons, I've yet to see a stock model with one. Working Gyra lights on early Santa Fe units (although some retained them and their passenger horns into the late 1970s) and Milwuakee Road units is a distinct possibility, hasn't Athearn produced their Genesis F units with working MARS lights?
I will personally be getting one (or two) of the ATSF Superfleet FP45s, assuming that scheme is done in the first run. But with the popularity of the scheme, why wouldn't it be?
(Antonio, don't worry about forgetting Kodachrome. Even I forgot about it until the last second!)
LongIslandTom wrote: If you don't want to wait for Athearn Genesis to come out with that N-Scale F45, you can buy a resin body shell kit (complete with etched metal detail parts) that will fit a Kato N-scale SD40 mechanism here: http://southernalbertarail.com/index.php?page=navleft_2_col Pretty darn good looking N-scale kit that is too!
Those ARE some purdy looking locomotives...Now, I just need to check the exchange to see how much they are in USD.
jeffshultz wrote: AntonioFP45 wrote: One prototype was saved last year by a gentleman who purchased it. I'm not certain, but someone on the TRAINS forum mentioned that it was the MAERSK unit. The SDP40fs, IMHO, were attractive units that should not be so easily overlooked, especially by Amtrak and Santa Fe modelers/fans. That's DLMX 644, normally based at the Brooklyn Roundhouse in Portland, OR with SP 4449, SP&S 700 and a few other assorted interesting locomotives. It's still painted in the silver and blue warbonnet. Right now it's in Albany, OR at the Portland & Western RR enginehouse - they're in a power crunch so they are leasing it. Reportedly it's got some real issues.
AntonioFP45 wrote: One prototype was saved last year by a gentleman who purchased it. I'm not certain, but someone on the TRAINS forum mentioned that it was the MAERSK unit. The SDP40fs, IMHO, were attractive units that should not be so easily overlooked, especially by Amtrak and Santa Fe modelers/fans.
Jeff,
thanks for that info. From the info I read back in 2004, this unit at the time was not in running condition. For the MAERSK display even though it was on the front of the special train, it was actually being shoved by a locomotive that was coupled behind it. It's not surprising that the old girl has issues since collectively the SDP40fs, F45s, and FP45s racked up several million miles on Santa Fe's steel highways. Add to that the miles the SDPs accrued on Amtrak.
4884BigBoy,
Yes the SF FP45s kept thier gyra lights during the 70s but all were gone by the time the Super Fleet program got underway. I'm pretty sure that if Athearn does the 1968 Milwaukee and Santa Fe versions, they should have functioning Gyra lights, just like the current Athearn SD45-2. The Mars lights on the Genesis F units are impressive.
As for a functioning beacon light on the BN F45, interested modelers again, should bug Athearn about that idea. There's nothing to lose
BTW: If I'm not mistaken, I think www.richmondcontrols.com offers a functioning beacon light.
10-4.
Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, COClick Here for my model train photo website
csmith9474 wrote:I doubt there will be steam lines on the FP-45s. Athearn has not added steam lines on it's other passenger diesels. Of course who knows; we could get lucky, although Athearn has not released any of it's passenger diesels with steam lines.
all Athearn needs to do is put the notch in the bottom of the pilots to give the impression of the steam line connections
James, Brisbane Australia
Modelling AT&SF in the 90s
ML
I can hardly wait!!!!
http://www.dallasrailwaymuseum.com/image/atsf_107_ElCapitan.jpg
AntonioFP45:
I have to add for my sake and hopefully others that I think that Athearn should also include Montana Rail Link in this line-up as well, since the MRL are the only ones still using them these days. I would love to see Athearn come out with the F45 in MRL with ditchlights and all.
I know it's a bad picture.
--Zak Gardner
My Layout Blog: http://mrl369dude.blogspot.com
http://zgardner18.rrpicturearchives.net
VIEW SLIDE SHOW: CLICK ON PHOTO BELOW
I have been waiting for some time for new tooling for the F45 and FP45. I also would like to see MRL. My other wish list would be Great Northern, Burlington Northern (F45) and Early Santa Fe passenger (FP45). Athearn could do quite a bit mroe like NYS&W and all the various liveries of Santa Fe.
zgardner18 wrote: AntonioFP45: I have to add for my sake and hopefully others that I think that Athearn should also include Montana Rail Link in this line-up as well, since the MRL are the only ones still using them these days. I would love to see Athearn come out with the F45 in MRL with ditchlights and all. I know it's a bad picture.
Hi Guys!
Here's the August 2006 Update from Athearn News:
F45-FP45
The flagships of the Santa Fe railroad are accurately rendered with all-new state-of-the-art tooling, Genesis drive, directional lighting and other top features, including DCC and sound. Line listings are not yet available. ETA Summer 2007.
Well.....sounds like good news to me! My only sticking point though is that I hope they don't use MRC sound! I've read that a few of you like them, but after hearing MRCs, and comparing them to Soundtraxx, and Lok Sound decoders........MRC diesel decoders just don't cut the mustard.
Interestingly enough, Lok Sound has the correct sound for these big cowls: The EMD 20 cylinder 645. If available, the horn sound should be a Leslie S3 series.
Anyway, I'm still happy and looking forward.
Just my opinion as well, but I'm guessing that since Athearn has announced they're producing these units, chances are that the older Athearn cowls that keep popping on ebay may actually start selling for cheaper prices since they'll no longer be "hot and hard to get models".
user="4884bigboy Ack! I think we all forgot about MRL! Good catch. Let's also not forget that NYS&W has/had F45s as well. GN big sky blue is another option.
Ack! I think we all forgot about MRL! Good catch. Let's also not forget that NYS&W has/had F45s as well. GN big sky blue is another option.
Yes indeed. Unfortunatly, I doubt I will now be able to afford the genisis offerings. Especially if they put a full DCC and Sound package in it. Oh well Second hand e-bay is going to have to come to my aid when I am ready for mine.
James
AntonioFP45 wrote: Hi Guys! Here's the August 2006 Update from Athearn News: F45-FP45 The flagships of the Santa Fe railroad are accurately rendered with all-new state-of-the-art tooling, Genesis drive, directional lighting and other top features, including DCC and sound. Line listings are not yet available. ETA Summer 2007. Well.....sounds like good news to me! My only sticking point though is that I hope they don't use MRC sound! I've read that a few of you like them, but after hearing MRCs, and comparing them to Soundtraxx, and Lok Sound decoders........MRC diesel decoders just don't cut the mustard. Interestingly enough, Lok Sound has the correct sound for these big cowls: The EMD 20 cylinder 645. If available, the horn sound should be a Leslie S3 series.
Antonio
The Genesis will probably use MRC since Athearn has some kind of contract agreement with them. As you know, PCM models all use Loksound, while the BLI uses QSI. Proto uses QSI also and Tower 55 uses Digitrax. All of the companies use one sound supplier, probably by contract and price guarantee for a certain amount of time to keep budgets in line. The companies seem to have an agreement or contract with one sound maker only for each brand.
If Athearn had sufficient feedback on our dissatisfaction about their sound installations, maybe they would consider changing brands for their supplier in the future.
I will probably get some of the FP45's, but without sound so the Loksound can be installed.
It should be a great model that many of us have been waiting for.
BTW: I've forwarded this thread to Athearn.
CAZephyr,
Very good point about these manufacturers having contracts with the DCC/Sound vendors. Like you, I'll likely get a "non-sound" unit and install Soundtraxx or LokSound technology instead.
If Athearn is "forced" to stay with MRC then I hope that the management at leasts puts pressure on MRC to improve their sound decoder's quality. At my LHS alone a number of customers were turned off by the sound equipped SD45-2 and opted to instead, purchase non-sound SD45-2s and install decoders from Soundtraxx and Lok Sound.
Master of the Big Blue Sky,
Don't write your prospects off so quickly. You can still get one or two of the new cowls. Lots of businesses still offer "Layaway" plans. That's how I purchased my Stewart F7 and my first P2K E7 A&B set.
You'd probably have a big smile seeing a nicely detailed GN F45 cruising on your rails.
Hey guys!
Latest update from Athearn: "Trainfest Show" in Milwaukee, Nov 11th & 12th.
Athearn will have the new Genesis F45/FP45 shells on display! Hopefully we'll see some photos of the new cowls.
If any of you here attend, please take some closeup shots if you can.
( Now if only Athearn could go a step further and produce the SDP40f! Hey, I can dream! )