I for one, would like to see the N-scale FT shrunk to Z! Milwaukee Road FT's with the "lightning stripe" scheme would be sweet! Just throwin' it out there.
It would be a prudent idea for them to bring it back. Z scale won't be without F units forever. An F-unit would be the perfect opportunity for someone like Inter Mountain to get into Z. So it would be a good idea to fill this void before someone else does. -Curn
F7 Yep, We are re-releasing the F7 starting next month. I'm looking at schemes that will work with the passenger cars we released and add Freight Schemes to the mix as well. And, yes, we are still working on the E8-9's, waiting for our new vendor to get up to speed on production. Cheers Joe MTL
Will there be any changes to the mold? Say like the molded on horns? I would love to see those removed.
Although Joe has already confirmed this, MTL actually made the announcement in their MTL E-Line Newsletter (e-mail newsletter) yesterday: "Attention Z Scalers… The F7 Locomotive is Coming Back! After years of being out of production, we are now able to run the Z scale F7 Powered A-unit model once again. Watch next month for the first scheme and the months following for a variety of newly released F7 schemes." So, not only is it true, MTL actually announced it. Dan S.
Although my main interrest is current era I must admit I should probably give in for a BN F7. As far as I remember MTL didn't ever release any BN F-Unit, which is odd as Burlington Northern was the last major road to run F-Units, until 1981-1982.... Dom
I've just posted a quick F7 Q&A over at Ztrains.com with Ben Thielemann, Marketing Director at MTL: Ztrains.com | Micro-Trains Reissues The F7 John Ztrains.com | Z Scale (1:220) Model Railroading
There goes my retirement..Horded those last 20 thinking I would cash in..Thank you Kurt, John and Joe.
After reading the interview, all I have to say is... disappointing. Not to take away from Joe's efforts in promoting and pushing Z through on MTL's mis-management... all this will do is take away man-power and resources from working on and releasing actual new Z body-styles. Same old bodies with the same old mechanism and the same old B-unit rolling issues... sorry, I'll take a pass.
Garth, could you be nice enough to show us how you chop the GPs an use them in the F 7s? This might make it easier for me to dcc what I have.
The good news are there will be more affortable F7 stuff around to kitbash. As the interview stated it's more or less a patch until the supply issues for Geeps and SD40-2 finally resolved. Interesting to see how they "patched" the A-unit mold, the "final" SP release was quiet borderline. Hopefully the "limited" success of this release will put the FT or F3 with state of the art chassis back on the agenda
I still don't get it. What's wrong with the old F7? No other locomotive can pull as many cars as the F7 can, maintenace is simple (my old work horses draw only 120mA), with a little effort it can be converted to DCC, the B unit can have sound and who knows what else, the shell can be super detailed and/or converted to F3. Actually I'm going to put the etched brass conversion kit on my "to do" list. Another note. Not everybody can afford to put a pair of Challengers or Big Boys upfront of 100 PFE reefers, but for sure, three F7s will do the job for the less demanding, more modeler minded Z-scaler.
Well, while some of you were quietly hoarding F7's, I have been silently hoarding SD40-2's, GP9's, and GP35's for kitbash fodder. Also I have been snapping up mechanisms so I can keep my fleet running years down the road after the supply dries up. I did the same thing with Alps printers and ribbons, and thankfully, I can still make decals while waiting for solvent jet printer technology to reach a usable point. Remember my motto...
I, personally, do not have a problem with the MTL F-7. My point is... MTL will be using limited man-power and resources re-marketing these, when those same resources could be better utilized. I've been doing the same as Mr. Ray... hoarding GP-9's, GP-35's, and SD40-2's. Just ask Gerd!
Lajos, not all people want to grind and file around and insulate the chassis to get a loco DCC ready, Drop'in is what is expected. And you must agree a 10mm coreless motor with a massive fly wheel would improve things. Just look on FR's F40PH. And the overall appereance could be improved too like glased windows, single applied horns, sharp details, etc. Of course, anything can kitbashed and I have no problem at all, but how many guys are really doing this? 1% or less? But I understand MTL, that would be a complete new project like the E8 and can't be done at this stage.