Back to looking for F unit dummies. You can find old minitrix units cheap at many train shows. Most are A units, but you find a B unit now and then. I have matched them with Kato powered units and they look fine. They strip easily and make great painting projects. I do like the idea of adding a sound unit in the available space. FYI, Minitrix uses a metal frame so weight is not a big issue. Dave G Cache Valley & Northern RR
Really? When? The powered units indeed have a metal frame. The 2 dummy Minitrix units I have (1 A unit & 1 B unit) BOTH have plastic frames.
Here's one on Feebay! http://www.ebay.com/itm/N-Scale-Min...l_RR_Trains&hash=item2329cae384#ht_232wt_1328
Those guys at Bachmann and Lifeike must be real dummies. They have been making dummy units for decades.
Dummies have never worked right for me. I like the power of a second motor just like the prototype. If you take your train visiting and hit a tough hill a dummy is only a hindrance.
And where is LifeLike right now???? Bachmann only produces dummies in train sets currently, a loco that only costs them $5-10 to make in the first place because the molds are 20 years old. They can take a $3 motor out and see a percentage of savings. I'm actually curious to see what happens in the future because the most recent Bachmann trainsets that come with an F Unit, have been coming with the Spectrum shell on them. I haven't had one apart yet to see if it is the Spectrum mechanism but the shell is most certainly Spectrum. I almost think they have to have the Spectrum mech because they have the enclosed pilots on them.
