I got a bunch of the boddy mounts on order through my LHS with Red CAboose for 4 weeks now. They claim they are in stock. On a side note the body mount couplers are only for the later issue split frame FA/B 1's and 2's. The original plastic frame FA/B 2's have a truck mounted coupler and the short "T" shank coupler is the one to use.
Thanks very much for the link. They appear to have them in stock and I sent in my order (along with some other stuff
You are welcome. If you have any problems mounting them just let us know so we can help you put them on the locomotives. They really make them look good with the close coupling.
And you can add the large numberboards using Kato's PA-1 numberboards, part #[FONT=verdana,arial,default][SIZE=-1]934050, too. [/SIZE][/FONT]
That looks great! Any minimum radius issues with them that close? Thanks for the offer of help. It sounds pretty straight forward, but then again lots of things I've tried SOUNDED straight forward
I just tried them out on my 12.5"r Kato test track loop and they diaphragms don't even touch. Should be able to handle less than that.
Question????? Has Life Like reworked the chassis and motor as compared to the floating weights and electrical wires and spring or rubber connectors (that go from the motor to the geared trucks)? If so does anyone have a picture they can share of the new chassis assembly? Perhaps I should have asked this sooner. Actually I did on a earlier thread and the response was "It's all the same". Just wondering if Life Like has upgraded the guts and heart of their equipment?
I just got a set of Intermountain FT's. In comparison to my Life Like FA1's, the only thing the FT's have better is the separate hand rails, and DCC ready. The FA's are better pullers, were better low speed runners right out of the box, are just as quiet, and the paint is just as good as the FT's. I like the FA's a bunch.
I picked up a set of the Undec's to paint up some foobie B&O's until I find a set of FA2/FB2. I have one of the original FA2's, just need an AB set to go with it to complete an ABA. The FA1's will have to do for now.
To R. I. Straw and all tuned in, Thanks for the update. WOW have they changed! Kindly disregard my previous statement with regard to the comparison Kato to Life Like. I should reserve my critiquing until I purchase one of these newer units. From most of the comments shared here this is a unit to be excited about. Thanks for sharing the pictures.
LifeLike was in the process of upgrading their locomotives from the old style plastic frame to the newer metal split frame design. They did this on the GP 18 and the FA/B 2's while producing newer models like the GP 20 and FA/B 1's with the metal split frame. When Walther's purchased LifeLike a lot of people [myself included] thought this might be the end of LifeLike. Fortunately it appears that is not the case and Walthers has continued the practice of upgrading the LifeLike locomotives. To wit they announced a new run of 2-8-8-2 with sound and traction tires.
For those interested in the DCC aspects .. I "edited" my first reply (as posted on page-2 of this post) ... hope the info helps. :teeth:
