Hi Mike,
Know the feeling when your expectations are higher than the manufactures
"One size fits all" mentality. If you really think you have it bad, try a
Great Northern F7 A+B unit in the orange and green, no one has gotten them
right yet! As modelers we have several choices, don't buy them, modify them
alike they are suppose to be, or just run them the way they are and don't
worry about it.
Cheers lads,
Keith
-----Original Message-----
From: cpsig@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:cpsig@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of
Mike Sowsun
Sent: Friday, July 21, 2006 6:35 PM
To: cpsig@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [cpsig] HO Intermountain CPR FP7 and F7B
I just picked up my Intermountain CPR FP7 and F7B. They run very
well and the QSI sound system is very impressive even on straight
DC.
Overall they are quite nice but if you are a bit of a rivet counter
like me, then you will see many problems.......
1) The lettering is not quite right. It looks just a little small
and is not spaced out quite right so it looks like the
words "Canadian" and "Pacific" are too far apart.
2) The grey stripe on the sides goes right to the end of the body
when it should end before the end of the body.
3) The side grilles on the F7B are attached with little tabs on the
back that work very well. On the FP7 they are just glued on and it
doesn't work very well. The grilles are slightlly bulging or buckled
and there is glue visible in some areas. I might get some new
grilles or try re-applying them.
4) 1417 and 1421 should have 36" dynamic brake fans, not 48" as on
the model. Only 4074 is correct with the 48" fan. The dynamic brake
fan is a separate panel, so it may be possible to swap in a 36" fan
panel with some work.
5) The F7B should have steam generators (especially the 1900's).
6) The dual horns are only correct for the very first few FP7's
delivered in 1950 and 1951. They were upgraded to 3 chime horns
within a few years.
7) The roof has a "peaked" roof overhang when it should be flush
with the end of the body.
8) The FP7 has the correct "round" end door window, but the F7B
has "square" windows in both it's end doors.
9) FP7's all have 3 "slots" in the skirting above the battery box
and fuel tanks. For some reason Intermountain chose to not include
the middle slot.
10) The FP7 has a molded in back up light with a clear lens. It is
not in the correct position for CPR. The light does not have a bulb
behind it.
Mike Sowsun
