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Post by Judge Doom on Jul 5, 2018 2:31:50 GMT -8
This should be the Walthers Mainline F-unit tooling, it doesn't look like the same as a Bachmann shell to me - there are differences in the shell tooling (notably the large rivets on the Bachmann), grills (see-through on the Walthers), sand hatches, body louvre sizing, detail on the pilot plows, fuel tank, and truck sideframes. Too many little important differences to be the same tooling or the same models.  (Source: internethobbies.com/products/910-9904) Bachmann F7 with sound:  (Source: railsofsheffield.com/products/27201/bachmann-american-sound-64301-ho-scale-santa-fe-f7-a-diesel-locomotive-dcc-sound- ) Funny, it looks like Bachmann is still using the one-piece clip-on Blomberg B truck sideframes from the toy train F7/9 tooling (that they also used on their GP7/GP9). |
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Post by riogrande on Jul 5, 2018 2:56:46 GMT -8
@dolben, I can tell the difference between the Walthers and Bachmann shells. Judge pointed out some and based on the photo's posted above, it's obvious that the ATSF shell is the Bachman Plus shell of yor which I remember reading the review of over 20 years ago, maybe over 25 years. Here are at least two distinguishing markers of the old Bachman Plus F7: - odd mix of phase details (early phase side louvers and air grills yet it has a 48" axial db fan on the room. - the batten strip on the pilot that wraps around through the anticlimber is pretty much bottom justified (i.e. mounted lower than it should be; it should be about center with respect to the side sill strip.  I'm a bit confused reading your post. It starts out saying "it's a Bachmann, but later you are saying you wil wait for it's return to see how Walthers service repairs these issues. Is your F a Bachmann or a Walthers? |
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Post by Donnell Wells on Jul 5, 2018 13:36:02 GMT -8
Actually Jim, the Bachmann F7 is new tooling as well.
One of the biggest downsides to many of the current F-unit offerings is the incorrect windshield shape/contour. Highliners/Athearn is the only one to get this 100% accurate, with just a few close runners up!
Donnell
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Post by Artur on Jul 5, 2018 14:22:16 GMT -8
Actually Jim, the Bachmann F7 is new tooling as well.
One of the biggest downsides to many of the current F-unit offerings is the incorrect windshield shape/contour. Highliners/Athearn is the only one to get this 100% accurate, with just a few close runners up!
Donnell Don’t forget Rapido 3D scanned an F Unit. So I’m going to say Rapido is 100% accurate followed by Highliners/Athearn |
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Post by riogrande on Jul 6, 2018 7:11:22 GMT -8
Actually Jim, the Bachmann F7 is new tooling as well.
Donnell Can you or anyone post photo's of the newly tooled Bachmann F7 shell? |
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Post by Donnell Wells on Jul 6, 2018 7:31:33 GMT -8
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Post by Great-Northern-Willmar Div on Jul 6, 2018 7:57:41 GMT -8
The side louvers are too small horizontally.
In the video the A-unit appears to wobble along in the beginning.
Sound is not bad, but the horn still sound like a cheap transistor radio.
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Post by riogrande on Jul 6, 2018 8:48:48 GMT -8
Thanks Donnell.
So I was commenting earlier on the photo posted by Judge. I didn't know if it was based on new tooling or old tooling. But just based on how that F7 shell looks, it looks like the Bachmann Plus F7 shell I've seen from years and remember reading the review some 25 years ago.
The aforementioned being the case, I have to ask, is it meaningful the Bachmann F7 has new tooling if it looks just like the old one with the same features? Heck, the old tooling might have been worn out or broken and Bachmann appears to have created new tooling based on the old CAD files from 25+ years ago.
The old MR review of the 25+ year old Bachmann Plus F7AB set called out the odd phase details, a mix of a late phase roof 48" dynamic brake fan while having early phase side air grills and louvers. They also mentioned the batten stripe that wraps around the pilot was tooled in too low (bottom justified) rather than centered with respect to the bottom sill batten strip. The old F7A unit actually sat too high on the chassis and was taller than the B unit, hopefully at least, that was corrected. I never noticed the side louvers being too narrow but sure enough, the do appear that way.
So in conclusion, a newly tooled F7 for Bachmann doesn't seem to be a selling point if the shell based on that new tooling looks just like the old one. There doesn't seem to be improvements made, at least not visible and visible is a very important thing. Sure the Bachmann F7 looks tons better than the old Globe based Athearn blue box F7A, but in this day and age, that isn't saying a lot.
Regarding the phase details being mixed as on the Bachmann shell. Yes, that happened to F units, especially in the latter days when shops re-used parts or EMD rebuilt F units that were wreck repaired. The wreck repaired Rio Grande F3A/F9m 5531 is a good example, but Bachmann's representation is far from typical. Even MR magazine pointed that out years ago. In the end, each person will have to decide if these things matter to them or not.
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