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Post by Donnell Wells on Oct 30, 2024 17:32:12 GMT -8
Here it is folks! The newly retooled Athearn Roundhouse F7A in all its "reborn" glory! I'll do an in-depth review and comparison later. Until then, enjoy the pics!                     
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Post by Mr. Trainiac on Oct 30, 2024 18:49:10 GMT -8
the drill starter points for the grab irons and lift rings are a big-brain move. I can see these as superdetailing fodder. The drive is solid, and the shell is dimensionally-accurate, these would be perfect candidates for custom locomotives.
The biggest issue I see are the nose number boards. There is a pretty prominent compromise made to simplify the molding process. The left and right face of the housing are parallel to the body side to avoid an undercut in the nose mold. In reality, they should be roughly perpendicular to the nose. Other models make the number board housing a separate component to mold it properly and avoid the undercut.
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Post by edwardsutorik on Oct 30, 2024 19:25:04 GMT -8
Nose of model: nose of prototype:  I'm seeing a problem, Houston. I do suspect Athearn should have just repaired the molds and keep chugging out the same castings as I bought in 1958. What, exactly, is the improvement? Ed PS: the RI Overlord is sucking me in!! First an F, then a Geep, then a 415. When will it stop? Arghhhh..... |
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Post by wmcbride on Oct 30, 2024 19:32:03 GMT -8
Close-up photos of models can be brutal. I like the grills.
What's up with the windshield? I guess it's light reflecting on the bottom and sides and highlighting [no pun intended] the thickness of the clear plastic.
Bill McBride
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Post by edwardsutorik on Oct 30, 2024 19:36:21 GMT -8
There appears to be a bit of wide-angle ballooning. But the bit above the windows still looks way wrong to me.
Again: what's the point of this?
Ed
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Post by cpr4200 on Oct 30, 2024 19:39:40 GMT -8
Not bad, but the "brow" over the windshields looks too deep or thick. Does the nose slant a bit too much? And the number boards.
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Post by edwardsutorik on Oct 30, 2024 19:49:15 GMT -8
Not bad, but the "brow" over the windshields looks too deep or thick. Does the nose slant a bit too much? And the number boards. Yeah, my thoughts, too. Though "not bad" might be just a bit, uh, forgiving. Here's what ya do: You pay royalties to Lubliner. You scan a typical Highliner shell. You make that your standard cheap-o shell, and pump them out. Absolutely no research involved. You don't like our cheap-o shell? BUY THE GOOD ONE!!!!! Ed |
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Post by Donnell Wells on Oct 30, 2024 20:29:23 GMT -8
IMHO, this shell is exactly what I envisioned the upgraded/updated version of the 1950s Globe F7 model to be. You have to stop thinking of this locomotive in terms of an Athearn Genesis F-unit. It's not meant to be. It is the "new" bluebox F7, and that's all it is. I'm not saying to not be critical, but you have to lower your expectations with an offering like this. You're just going to frustrate yourself pointing out all of the inaccuracies especially given the fact that they were all addressed in the Genesis version.
Donnell
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Post by rockfan on Oct 30, 2024 21:36:00 GMT -8
Nose of model: nose of prototype: I'm seeing a problem, Houston. I do suspect Athearn should have just repaired the molds and keep chugging out the same castings as I bought in 1958. What, exactly, is the improvement? Ed PS: the RI Overlord is sucking me in!! First an F, then a Geep, then a 415. When will it stop? Arghhhh..... |
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Post by rockfan on Oct 30, 2024 21:38:29 GMT -8
Nose of model: nose of prototype: I'm seeing a problem, Houston. I do suspect Athearn should have just repaired the molds and keep chugging out the same castings as I bought in 1958. What, exactly, is the improvement? Ed PS: the RI Overlord is sucking me in!! First an F, then a Geep, then a 415. When will it stop? Arghhhh..... I feel your pain. I need to sell blood now to afford all these new models coming out. |
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Post by gevohogger on Oct 31, 2024 3:51:03 GMT -8
Close-up photos of models can be brutal. I like the grills. What's up with the windshield? I guess it's light reflecting on the bottom and sides and highlighting [no pun intended] the thickness of the clear plastic. I've never tried it myself, but some people spray flat finish over the windshields, except for a little triangle of tape placed where the wipers would keep the glass clean.
I bet doing that would make those windshields look a lot better.
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Post by cellis231 on Oct 31, 2024 4:39:12 GMT -8
Nice, but I'm not sure it lives up to a MSRP $144.99 asking price.
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Post by Donnell Wells on Oct 31, 2024 4:50:42 GMT -8
Close-up photos of models can be brutal. I like the grills. What's up with the windshield? I guess it's light reflecting on the bottom and sides and highlighting [no pun intended] the thickness of the clear plastic. I've never tried it myself, but some people spray flat finish over the windshields, except for a little triangle of tape placed where the wipers would keep the glass clean. I bet doing that would make those windshields look a lot better.
Donnell |
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Post by riogrande on Oct 31, 2024 5:03:40 GMT -8
RIP Globe based Athearn F7, along with the horrible windshields and side grills. Another improvement is the removal of the steam generator roof details at the rear of the roof. There were few F7A's that had them. From memory, 2 D&RGW F7A's (that were wrecked in the early 50's) and some F's in the north west - NP or GN. Ed?
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Post by wmcbride on Oct 31, 2024 5:03:46 GMT -8
Close-up photos of models can be brutal. I like the grills. What's up with the windshield? I guess it's light reflecting on the bottom and sides and highlighting [no pun intended] the thickness of the clear plastic. I've never tried it myself, but some people spray flat finish over the windshields, except for a little triangle of tape placed where the wipers would keep the glass clean. I bet doing that would make those windshields look a lot better.
I was thinking the same thing: weathering would be a vast improvement for the windshields. I'm anxiously awaiting the newly tooled Bowser F units - slightly different market and price point, though. With Lomabard selling these new Roundhouse F's at $92, I will continue to keep my eye open for online / group bargains for Genesis Fs and Proto units. Bill McBride |
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Post by Donnell Wells on Oct 31, 2024 5:24:25 GMT -8
Nice, but I'm not sure it lives up to a MSRP $144.99 asking price.
Now, the second run saw the price increase to $139.98,another "huh?" moment. And the latest run bumped the price up even higher to $144.98, all with NO improvement to the model. For $144.98 we are going to need a lot more... Honestly, for future low-cost F-unit needs, I would rather opt for the Walthers Mainline F7. For just $10 more @ $154.98 their unit includes separately applied wire grab irons, a cleaner "front-end" F-unit nose profile with more correctly shaped numberboards, a more correctly shaped fuel tank, and windshield wipers. I don't particularly like the windshield contour, but overall the model is more aesthetically pleasing than the newer Athearn Roundhouse F-unit.
Donnell |
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Post by cera2254 on Oct 31, 2024 5:33:34 GMT -8
Man those numberboards are a non starter for me…
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Post by riogrande on Oct 31, 2024 6:33:02 GMT -8
Man those numberboards are a non starter for me… I see what you mean. The outer sides slope away like the old Globe versions and should be 90 degrees off the front on all sides. How did Athearn miss that? |
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Post by edwardsutorik on Oct 31, 2024 6:50:52 GMT -8
RIP Globe based Athearn F7, along with the horrible windshields and side grills. Another improvement is the removal of the steam generator roof details at the rear of the roof. There were few F7A's that had them. From memory, 2 D&RGW F7A's (that were wrecked in the early 50's) and some F's in the north west - NP or GN. Ed? Both. Plus SP&S. Ed |
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Post by soolinerr on Oct 31, 2024 7:06:20 GMT -8
Anyone care to guess how many of those old Globe/Athearn models were made. They certainly got their moneys worth out of them.
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Post by Donnell Wells on Oct 31, 2024 7:16:56 GMT -8
Man those numberboards are a non starter for me… I see what you mean. The outer sides slope away like the old Globe versions and should be 90 degrees off the front on all sides. How did Athearn miss that?
I tend to think of this release in terms of how Brian Banna recreated his childhood trainset trains a few years ago. They were not exactly prototypical, but the enhancements were spectacular.
Donnell |
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Post by cera2254 on Oct 31, 2024 8:14:12 GMT -8
I think that most of the changes they mad were really good, but I think that the numberboards are almost a downgrade from the globe.
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Post by riogrande on Oct 31, 2024 8:54:10 GMT -8
Don't get me wrong, the improvements were major, but yeah, that numberboad kind of spoils it for me, not that I have any plans to buy any. I have quite a few from Genesis, as well as some still from Proto 2000 and Stewart.
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Post by Donnell Wells on Oct 31, 2024 9:19:53 GMT -8
I see what you mean. The outer sides slope away like the old Globe versions and should be 90 degrees off the front on all sides. How did Athearn miss that?
I tend to think of this release in terms of how Brian Banna recreated his childhood trainset trains a few years ago. They were not exactly prototypical, but the enhancements were spectacular.
Donnell
Donnell |
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Post by Donnell Wells on Oct 31, 2024 9:30:38 GMT -8
Don't get me wrong, the improvements were major, but yeah, that numberboad kind of spoils it for me, not that I have any plans to buy any. I have quite a few from Genesis, as well as some still from Proto 2000 and Stewart.
"Nov 2, 2014 at 1:08pm via mobile QuoteEditlikePost Options
Post by Donnell Wells on Nov 2, 2014 at 1:08pm
If I had fantasy wallet, I'd "borrow" the BB F7 molds from Athearn and make a few changes including rounding the fillet under the windshields and reshaping the windshields to more accurately reflect the prototype. I would also add definition to the nose door and reshape the side cab windows and anticlimber/buffer.
Just these few changes alone would dramatically improve the look of old Globe model, and realistically aren't outside the scope of Athearn's current technical abilities. I know it's a pipe dream, most likely never to be realized, but one can always hope!
Donnell"
Then there was this:
"I remember the Jim Six article, as wells as another good one in Prototype Modeler by Bob and Matt Kosic. Also, I do know about the roof. I was just trying to be reasonable with my alterations, and not go too overboard. If I could do all the work I wanted to do to it the roof, rear and pilot would be revised as well. Of course, there are those that would say, "Why bother? You can just use the *blank* shell." Well, I know that, but I don't want to use that. I want to know what could have been with this shell in particular. Honestly, the few changes I suggested in my above post can actually be done right now with little to no impact on production other than providing a better looking shell for the same price point. It wouldn't be perfect, but I'm not shooting for perfection. If I were, I would bypass this shell altogether in favor of Highliners. I'm looking for improvement, turning what was into what it could be.
Donnell"
How far we've come... |
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Post by riogrande on Oct 31, 2024 10:05:01 GMT -8
Indeed.
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Post by rockisland652 on Oct 31, 2024 11:44:26 GMT -8
I think quite a few of us had at least one Athearn BB F7 at one time. Some had fleets of them. You didn't need a sound decoder, as the BB F units growled around the layout, making a sound all their own.
Some, including me, used the AMB window inserts and filed off the steam generator details. Yes, I also filed off the numberboards and replaced them with more appropriate examples. We applied lift rings, windshield wipers, 'constant' lighting kits with teeny bulbs, and other DA and DW parts to make them more presentable. I especially liked Eric Brooman's excellently detailed Utah Belt F units and can remember the article "F Unit Finale on the Utah Belt" vividly. Good times.
The old Athearn F unit simply worked, and we took a step forward into the larger world of diesel detailing and weathering. It was good practice for the still best-in-the-business Highliners F units that were to come later.
With this new version of the classic Athearn F unit, prospective modelers have a loco with a more correct roofline and windshields than we did as a starting point.
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Post by lvrr325 on Oct 31, 2024 12:46:06 GMT -8
Plus, the windshield area looks better
Minus, the number boards look terrible, should have been made a separate part.
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Post by markfj on Oct 31, 2024 12:46:20 GMT -8
These models seem like a good entry point into the hobby for the budget-minded and I would expect the club runner crowd will jump on these too.
But those number boards, yeah, I would at least try to fix those.
Mark J.
Reading, PA
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Post by soolinerr on Nov 2, 2024 5:19:44 GMT -8
I seem to recall the Globe F7 having separate number boards, and Athearn made the change to molded on.
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