|
|
Post by wmcbride on Jul 30, 2024 13:22:09 GMT -8
I messaged Bowser about the arrival of their new F units (having preordered 1 many, many moons ago).
They messaged today that they are in production now and will ship within about 4 weeks and be available late September/early October.
Bill McBride
|
|
|
|
Post by cpr4200 on Jul 30, 2024 13:44:05 GMT -8
Are these basically superdetailed Stewart shells or newly tooled?
|
|
|
|
Post by ChessieFan1978 on Jul 30, 2024 16:38:29 GMT -8
I messaged Bowser about the arrival of their new F units (having preordered 1 many, many moons ago). They messaged today that they are in production now and will ship within about 4 weeks and be available late September/early October. Bill McBride I wonder when the Lehigh Valley RS3 "Hammerheads" will be out. Originally it was January 2024. |
|
|
|
Post by prr 4467 on Jul 30, 2024 16:41:15 GMT -8
So far as I know, they are super-detailed former Stewart models.
I have to be honest: I like the see-through grills used by some other manufacturers like Athearn Genesis and Walthers Proto and even Intermountain. However, the glue work on so many of them that I have seen is just off-putting. Sometimes one can clean up the soft water-soluble glue that Athearn uses, but when those metal grills are mis-aligned it's really difficult to fix them, and sometimes it's not water-soluble glue and you just can't fix them. Maybe most people don't care, but the poorly executed metal grill work on so many locos was one contributing factor to my backdating to all steam-era operation.
Having owned the Bowser F units (from the last run), I actually prefer them with all the metal details that they add over the others out there.
|
|
|
|
Post by antoniofp45 on Jul 30, 2024 17:12:30 GMT -8
Hoping for either the F7 Phase II or F9. Basically a unit without the rear overhang.
|
|
|
|
Post by wmcbride on Jul 30, 2024 18:40:19 GMT -8
My recollection from when these were first announced awhile ago is that they have a cab interior.
The current listing on Bowser's website says this for the Santa Fe F9A (no rear roof overhang in the image):
Santa Fe
Features: Spark Arrestors, Cab Nose Mounted Grab Irons & Nose access steps, Nose Mounted lift rings, Roof mounted air compressor cooling pipes, Partial fuel tank skirting
Here's a few for the F-3s:
F-3A Jersey Central Ph2 (Green; no stripes)
Roof mounted ladder safety rails, cab Nose mounted grab irons and access steps, Hostler light
f-3A Southern
Features: Roof Mounted air tanks and piping, Cab nose mounted grab irons and foot plate, 5 chime horn, Steam generator stack, Cut away fuel tank skirt as per prototype, Firecracker antenna
Bill McBride
|
|
|
|
Post by hudsonyard on Jul 30, 2024 18:42:21 GMT -8
I've been looking forward to the austerity green CNJ units for a while now.
|
|
|
|
Post by rockfan on Jul 30, 2024 19:13:42 GMT -8
I'm guessing it's the old Stewart F.
They're putting money into new Alco diesels and from what I've seen they're great.
|
|
|
|
Post by cpr4200 on Jul 30, 2024 20:08:02 GMT -8
The various UP and RI ex-UP units look interesting. I always liked the tricked-out Southern passenger F's with big fuel tanks and air tanks on the roof.
|
|
|
|
Post by middledivision on Jul 31, 2024 8:16:02 GMT -8
Last fall, on a visit to Bowser, Lee said he was bringing the F's up to "Genesis" quality. Not sure if this run has that detail yet.
|
|
|
|
Post by marknycfan on Jul 31, 2024 12:27:32 GMT -8
They're so many YEARS late I no longer want the O&W I preordered
|
|
|
|
Post by wmcbride on Aug 1, 2024 9:42:46 GMT -8
I received a response from a follow-up message I sent to Bowser about these units.
Because of the problems with Chinese factories years ago and lost tooling, these F units are a completely new design with all-new tooling and share nothing with the old Stewart F units. Bowser reports the units have been tested and production in well underway.
Bill McBride
|
|
|
|
Post by riogrande on Aug 1, 2024 9:51:11 GMT -8
Stewart F shells were the first decent looking F unit back in the late 80's when they were first produced. Yes, there weren't any etched metal grills, but they generally looked good and still do really. I still have a bunch of them. The only visual flaw were the mold lines on the sides of the front.
|
|
|
|
Post by prr 4467 on Aug 1, 2024 14:16:17 GMT -8
Well, it's great to hear that they retooled the shell. It will be interesting to see what their approach is to a new F unit shell.
As I noted above, I have had my frustrations with Genesis grills not holding their alignment and/or related sloppy glue issues (ditto Rapido FA's, but not the FPA4 as it has a different grill design that actually works). I look forward to seeing something different from Bowser.
|
|
|
|
Post by wmcbride on Aug 1, 2024 17:44:58 GMT -8
Well, it's great to hear that they retooled the shell. It will be interesting to see what their approach is to a new F unit shell. As I noted above, I have had my frustrations with Genesis grills not holding their alignment and/or related sloppy glue issues (ditto Rapido FA's, but not the FPA4 as it has a different grill design that actually works). I look forward to seeing something different from Bowser. I had a Rapido FPA4 and it was exquisitely painted and finished. Not so my other Rapido F units... Bill McBride |
|
|
|
Post by lvrr325 on Aug 1, 2024 19:05:40 GMT -8
Lost tooling would explain what happened to the FTs
|
|
pjm20
Junior Member
Posts: 76
|
Post by pjm20 on Aug 2, 2024 4:38:08 GMT -8
Definitely looking forward to how these new shells are going to turnout
|
|
