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Post by lnrrfan on Jul 14, 2012 8:53:11 GMT -8
does any body know if Highliners has the right to the Athearn genesis FP7?
I contacted Athearn and they say they do not offer a undec version and it doesn't seem that they are going to offer undecs much any more.
Pat Coleman
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Post by onequiknova on Jul 14, 2012 9:07:37 GMT -8
As I'm sure you know, the Genesis FP7 is a factory kitbash of the standard Highliner F unit. Highliner was selling a conversion kit, which consisted of a bare A unit shell to cut up and some longer FP panels. You would need to supply a complete Highliner A unit kit to complete the conversion. You will then need to source a chassis some where.
IF you like the Intermountain nose, their FP7/9's are available undecorated.
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Post by drolsen on Jul 14, 2012 9:12:42 GMT -8
Pat - There actually isn't a complete FP7 model. Athearn kitbashes them at the factory from regular Highliners F shells. You can see a small seam on the roof of the Genesis models where the two body shells fit together. Highliners sells a FP7/9 Conversion Parts Set for $32.95 (Walthers Part # 328-5001). I haven't ordered one yet, but my understand is that it comes with a spare shell to cut up and extend the A-unit and the longer side panels for the FP7/9. This is the same process that Athearn uses to make their FP7s. Unfortunately, it's out of stock at Walthers, but you might be able to find it somewhere else.
Dave
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Post by lnrrfan on Jul 14, 2012 9:16:33 GMT -8
I had read a post some where saying athearn kitbashed it.
I was hoping that highliners might have been involved so we could get some undec shells.
I don't own any intermountain shells however from pictures on line I like the looks of the genesis and the ride height better.
Thanks
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Post by onequiknova on Jul 14, 2012 10:05:22 GMT -8
I don't own any intermountain shells however from pictures on line I like the looks of the genesis and the ride height better. Thanks No doubt the Highliner is the better looking shell. Unfortunately, getting an undec Highliner FP will require some pretty precise cutting and splicing, which some guys won't want to do. Of coarse you could always strip a decorated model. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2012 14:03:58 GMT -8
Of coarse you could always strip a decorated model. Man that line just made me snort my Diet Coke.....the pain was worth it  I have a decorated Genesis FP7, which I was going to strip......This shell is so glued up, it is unworkable. I don't care about the add on parts or windows, but the Farr grilles MUST BE TAKEN OFF CLEANLY, for they are irreplaceable. But the grilles have been tacked down with at least two jugs of glue! You will end up destroying parts and more than likely filling in lots of holes. It gets expensive to buy a decorated FP7 and replacement body parts from Highliners. |
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Post by riogrande on Jul 14, 2012 18:32:52 GMT -8
Sooooo.... getting an undec is not workable because it's basically a bag of parts you need to fit together. Genesis FP7's are unworkable because of the glue.
Well, I guess that leaves Intermountain?
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Post by atsfan on Jul 14, 2012 18:51:40 GMT -8
What paint scheme do you want to paint that is not out yet, or probably will come out?
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Post by pennsylvania1954 on Jul 15, 2012 7:13:28 GMT -8
I have a Highliners #5001 FP7/9 Conversion Kit available. NIB, opened for inspection only. Contact stevehprr at cox dot net.
Steve Hoxie
Pensacola FL
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Post by drolsen on Jul 15, 2012 8:43:41 GMT -8
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Post by riogrande on Jul 15, 2012 8:50:37 GMT -8
Never say never! I'd send them photo's and inquiries just the same.
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Post by spookyac47 on Jul 15, 2012 9:20:44 GMT -8
Sooooo.... getting an undec is not workable because it's basically a bag of parts you need to fit together. Genesis FP7's are unworkable because of the glue. Well, I guess that leaves Intermountain? The Intermountain FP-7A has a few issues. The one I noticed when I was adding PRR Trainphone antenna to was an issue between the rear (steam generator) hatch the the adjacent hatch for the cooling fans. There is a larger gap between the two hatches than there should be. I didn't catch it until I received my Genesis FP-7 locos and did a side by side comparison. I then compared the Intermountain FP-7 to an Intermountain F-7. The spacing is correct on the F-7 so how did they manage to make that wrong on the FP-7? Also notice the vent and stack location on the steam generator hatch. The location on the Intermountain FP-7 is very wrong. The locator holes on the Intermountain shells (F-7 and FP-7) are in the wrong location. With the undecorated shells, the holes can be drilled in the correct location. Also, the skirts on the Intermountain FP-7 undecorated kits that I received duplicated the same error they had on the early decorated units. There should be three access slots on the skirts but there are only two. The later release decorated versions had this corrected . . . my undecorated kits were purchased when they first came out so, maybe, new undecorated kits will have that corrected as well. The top model in the photo is the Genesis version (including a hair by the rear cooling fan donated by the photographer), the bottom the Intermountain The eyebolts on the dynamic brake hatch are reversed between the two models. They should be offset but I believe the Genesis model is correct The Intermountain FP-7 shell is also missing one important detail. AFAIK, all FP-7 and FP-9 locomotives came with steam generators and the requisite water tanks to supply the steam generator. The Intermountain shell does not have a water fill hatch for the water tanks. If I recall, it is not included in the undecorated kit either. I think the only recourse is to fabricate them or purchase the Highliner detail kits, which do include them (but a lot of money for a couple of small detail parts)  |
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Post by drolsen on Jul 15, 2012 9:45:59 GMT -8
Never say never! I'd send them photo's and inquiries just the same. I believe I heard a while back (I think on Andy H's Diesel List) that Athearn will only produce a paint scheme on the Genesis Fs that they can offer in at least 4 numbers. That makes sense to me - if you're going to go to the trouble of doing the artwork, might as well get your money's worth - but maybe they could be convinced to do the whole CSX A-B-B-A set (F7A-F7B-F7B-FP7A). Dave |
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Post by riogrande on Jul 15, 2012 9:48:42 GMT -8
I bought the Western Pacific California Zephyr FP7A and I noticed Genesis did the horn cluster as per the prototype and at least attempted to similate the cut away on the fuel tank side skirts, and of course the stainless steel side panels, the grab irons over the windshields etc, they really did a good job matching most of the major phototypical details.
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Post by spookyac47 on Jul 15, 2012 10:44:08 GMT -8
Never say never! I'd send them photo's and inquiries just the same. I believe I heard a while back (I think on Andy H's Diesel List) that Athearn will only produce a paint scheme on the Genesis Fs that they can offer in at least 4 numbers. That makes sense to me - if you're going to go to the trouble of doing the artwork, might as well get your money's worth - but maybe they could be convinced to do the whole CSX A-B-B-A set (F7A-F7B-F7B-FP7A). Dave Fortunately, for me and other PRR modelers, the PRR did four of the FP-7A locomotives in the Tuscan Red, 5 stripe passenger scheme . . . and only four. However, there were only 2 F7-B with steam generators (with passenger gearing to match the FP-7) that were decorated in the Tuscan Red, 5 stripe passenger scheme. Perhaps Athearn knew that the "B" units, even though there were only two road numbers, would sell since they were only offered as a package deal with an FP-7A unit. They were eventually repainted in the Brunswick Green (DGLE) single stripe freight scheme to match the rest of the FP-7 and F7-B passenger geared units with steam generators. |
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Post by onequiknova on Jul 15, 2012 11:35:58 GMT -8
There was a post on the old Atlas forum on how to correct the height issue. It looks like an easy fix. forum.atlasrr.com/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=30313&whichpage=2 My biggest gripe about the Intermountain shell is the way the windshield glass sticks out past the shell. That could probably be fixed with some trimming of the glass for a recessed fit. I may end up buying an undec Intermountain one of these days to do a RI FP7. |
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Post by el3637 on Jul 15, 2012 23:36:35 GMT -8
What paint scheme do you want to paint that is not out yet, or probably will come out? Well I'll bite. I want a Penn Central FP7. I saw one in a consist with two other F7s. Pretty cool. I don't think Athearn is likely to do a PC. I'm planning to do some Superfleet PC stuff. At least one SD45, a GP38, GP40, GP35, maybe a GP9 or two. I have some Atlas GP38s which are ok as B-fleeters. And I imagine Athearn will do their GP38-2 in PC eventually, which I will go for. I have a couple of the PRR FP7s, which were just a big PITA to get up and running right, and I have a WP one, which was a factory Tsunami and that one turned out ok. I don't really need any more FP7s... although I ended up with a couple of CN ones I didn't think I needed. Andy |
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