Favorite FM- FAIRBANKS MORSE

jtomstarr May 8, 2020

  1. Calzephyr

    Calzephyr TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yeah... when I acquired my Erie Built units I was not expecting to do DCC or dreamed of putting sound in N scale. These are very hefty units... so grinding out some of the frame might not affect performance to much.
    Of course... once you finish such a project... some manufacturer will provide a highly detailed DCC/Sound equipped version. Its one of Murphy's Laws of model railroding
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  2. brokemoto

    brokemoto TrainBoard Member

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    You should see them at some point. Some time past, Atlas acquired all of the LL N scale line from WKW. Atlas' first offering from that line will be the FA-1, which is not a bad choice on Atlas' part..I do not have any use for FA-1s (FA-2s, yes, but -1s, no), but, still it is not a bad choice. I do wish that Atlas would re-do the SWs, but get rid of those awful under the walkway pickup tabs. It would be really great if they put them on chassis simialr to the Baldwin VO-1000. That is still the best diesel switcher out there in N scale. I would expect a power chassis similar to the S-2, which, while pretty good, , is not as good as the Baldwin's.

    Almost every road had an SW-something.


    The FMs would be a good choice, as well, as there are EMDs, ALCo s, GEs in current production, there ain't many FMs in current production.
     
  3. Calzephyr

    Calzephyr TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks for jogging my memory on the sale of tht WKW/LL locomotive tooling to Atlas. I had totally forgot about it since I believe it occurred in late 2017. Still no models produced from that deal... and I must have missed the announcement of the FA1.

    Those LL FA1 and FA2 models were pulling dynamos... I doubt that after Atlas gets through with frame mods for DCC/Sound that the performance will be anywhere close.
    I used to get the LL A/B sets for under 60 bananas. Atlas 'Gold Series' version will require the buyers to own a gold mine to afford them... perhaps 'only' a silver mine to buy their non-sound 'Silver Series' version.


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  4. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    I ordered the last H20-44 shell they had yesterday....

    https://www.cmrproducts.com/store/N-Scale-Fairbanks-Morse-H-20-44-Locomotive-Shell-p101664207

    ... but from what they told me they might have more this fall.

    I also just won a second H12-44 two days ago and will be interested in seeing it as it doesn't have....

    [​IMG]

    Rapido couplers in the pictures of it like the other one I have. I wonder if what is shown is the very last generation of these from the 90's? The one I have runs well on DC and runs fine on the ME code 55 track I have but struggles some going through the code 55 turnouts I made. Slightly contacts the PCB ties. Anyone have suggestions on how I can take the flanges down just a bit? Anyone ever try connecting the frame to DC and holding the wheels lightly against a sharpening stone as it is running, one truck at a time?

    I think I can possibly convert it to DCC. Plenty of room for a decoder but the way the motor now has its pickups will be a little challenging. I did find that I can easily put the shell on a Bachmann S4 I have that is DCC and from Spookshow looks like it will also fit a Bachmann NW2. The wheelbase of the S4 is very close, if not the same as the H12-44's. I tried the shell on a Kato NW2 I have but that was a no-go. If I can get the flanges turned down and the decoder installed I'd rather keep the H12-44 on the original frame as it runs well and it would be cheaper as the Bachmann's are a little pricey. I did find the S4 used for $56 but need it for my UP rooster and can't find another that cheap. UP didn't have the H12-44's, but from my info the H12-44 is very similar to the H10-44 they had (more HP) so they will have to do to fill in my UP rooster as H10-44's.

    I also just picked up an Atlas H16-44 for a very good price but it is a Lackawanna so I'm going to have to strip it and try painting it UP. I'll have more questions about that in another thread.

    With the above additions I now have almost all the FM's that UP had on their rooster,

    Sumner
     
    Last edited: Jul 9, 2020
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  5. Point353

    Point353 TrainBoard Member

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    The couplers appear to be the Unimate type, designed to be a drop-in replacement for Rapido couplers and compatible with Micro-Trains couplers, but without the magnetic uncoupling feature.
    The couplers are now available from Fox Valley: http://www.foxvalleymodels.com/NParts.html
     
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  6. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    I was thinking maybe Unimates as well. Cool engine!
     
  7. Des Moines Rocket

    Des Moines Rocket TrainBoard Member

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    If you wish to convert one or both of those H12-44s to Micro-Trains couplers, the conversion kit is #1049, per their web site. I have a FM H12-44 in Milwaukee Road that I bought at a train show a while back. The paint is not accurate, it has pizza cutter wheels, and rapido couplers....but hey...it's a Fairbanks Morse!

    I have a DZ123 decoder that I plan to install in mine. As the poster above mentioned, there is a close look between H10-44s and H12-44s. In fact, my MILW H12-44 model has the road number 1808, which is actually an H10-44, per the Milwaukee roster I reviewed!
     
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2020
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  8. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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    The Minitrix FM H12-44 is a very late model, and really has very little in common with the H10-44. The model is based on the 1956 version with a taller frame that was 3 feet shorter than the old version.
     
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  9. Des Moines Rocket

    Des Moines Rocket TrainBoard Member

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    Ah! Good to know. I will have to do more research to see whether a simple correction of paint scheme (adding black paint) and renumbering would "fix" my Milwaukee Road model or not.
     
  10. Randy Stahl

    Randy Stahl TrainBoard Supporter

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  11. J Starbuck

    J Starbuck TrainBoard Member

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    Randy,

    That’s what my model is that was posted earlier.
     
  12. Randy Stahl

    Randy Stahl TrainBoard Supporter

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    Dec 13 2012 014.JPG

    I have a few of them too but I like yours better...
     
  13. Calzephyr

    Calzephyr TrainBoard Supporter

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    I have a bunch of these Shapeway items on the 'back burner'... waiting for my lazy derriere to get on the move.
    The three FM HH10-44 I got will eventually become DRGW units. The Minitrix FM are actually good for Southern Pacific versions.

    The FUD material is a bit rough on certain surfaces and is somewhat brittle. The waxy mould 'scum' will come off using 'Bestine' and light scrub with a soft bristle brush. Bestine is like turpentine... but much milder... rubber cement solvent. The material will become white as opposed to the transluscent apperance straight out of the bag.

    I also have a bunch of Baldwin VO660 a couple of KM-4000 and a couple Baldwin DT-66-2000. I tend to be more concerned about 'screwing them up' than building them up

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    Last edited: Jul 10, 2020
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  14. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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    As for the 45 SP FM Switchers, The earlier number series, #1486 to #1576 (#2350 to #2374) are of the thinner frame type and longer chassis, #1577 through #1596 (#2375 through 2394) were the shoe box models, so there were more of the longer ones....

    Now for the Baldwin units mentioned, the SP had a pair of VO-660's and the SSW had a single DT-6-6-2000...I wouldn't mind a pair in PE even though they never had any....
     
  15. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks, I ordered one. I'll probably keep the Minitrix but if someone needs one let me know.

    I saw a post before about using the VO-1000 chassis and tried it with the Minitrix. Doesn't work. It is too long and too wide for the body to slip on. I just measured and the VO-1000 has a scale, or very close to scale wheelbase and the Minitrix is shorter (Maybe because it is modeled after the later H12-44's??).

    I do have a VO-1000 I can use as I bought it for the Trix shell and it didn't work. I'll need to order another drop-in decoder for it. I have one on order now for a UP VO-1000. I have a SP VO-1000 with a decoder now. I'm collecting a few SP engines to go along with the UP ones that make up over 90% of the rooster.

    Sumner
     
  16. jtomstarr

    jtomstarr TrainBoard Member

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  17. Randy Stahl

    Randy Stahl TrainBoard Supporter

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  18. jtomstarr

    jtomstarr TrainBoard Member

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    Randy,

    I thought those Looked Familiar, weren't , aren't those almost compatible with MT's and ACCUMATES?

    Tom
     
  19. Randy Stahl

    Randy Stahl TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well, yes, somewhat compatible.
     
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  20. Doug Gosha

    Doug Gosha TrainBoard Member

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    Unimates are OK if you don't mind lifting the whole end of the car every time you want to couple or uncouple cars.

    :D

    Doug
     

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