Can any one tell me whether or not the first run of the Atlas FP7 is a good qualtiy model in terms of running? I found one on the internet and I have found the Rocobuilt / Atlas S-2 to be a fine model? Any comparison in terms of quality?
Well, first thing to realize is that the FP7 and the S2 are years (maybe decades?) apart.
That being said however, I love my Atlas FP7’s. They are good runners, quite but are a bit light so do not pull that well. That can be fixed by adding some extra weight.
The front windows need a bit of work to look right, but at least its just making them bigger/getting the shape right.
When the FP’s and the GP 38, GP 40 and SD 24 and SD35 where on the market, lots of people where taking the drives out of them and putting them under others shells, like Athearn. That’s how good they were in the 70’s.
Of course, the InterMountain FP is supposed to be quite a bit better but I am not complaining.
Thank you fellow Cannuk!
David in Saskatchewan
I have an old pair of NP FP7’s by Atlas. They run smoothly and I’ve never had any problems mechanically after all these years. Only negative comment would be the coupling distance is too far apart.
PS … hello Canadians.
I have literally run the wheels off my pair of Atlas FP7s. They pull my 1966 version of the San Joaquin.
Can’t be any better than the old ones that used the Kato drive.
A Kato drive? - All of the HO Atlas FP7’s I have ever seen have the Roco drive from 70’s era…
Jim
There are two very distinct runs of Atlas FP7s. One with the Roco drive dating from the 1970’s until about 1983, and the other from about 1996. I have no idea what drive train was used in the later model, other than it was NOT Kato. The two runs are easily distinguished from one another by looking at the front pilot. The more recent run has a large “D” shape (prototypical) opening for the front coupler.
Also I did not know the S2 was ever done with a Roco Drive. I thought the S2 was the first one to use the china drive that Atlas went to after the Kato.
I thought that mid-90’s version was done by another company, not Atlas, but using the same shell. May be wrong here tho (not the first time). And the mid-70’s were a Roco product for sure.
And my S2 is stamped Roco, and it is a first run. I can see the later runs being the Kato/Roco copy from China.
Both of the FP7 runs were made in Austria by Roco. The yellow box S2 was also made in Austria by Roco. I have all of them.
There are actually a total THREE different versions of the
ATLAS FP-7 available on eBay and elsewhere
The FIRST and oldest version was produced by ROCO for ATLAS in the
1970’s and was available in the following roadnames:
#7041 Santa Fe
#7042 Union Pacific
#7043 Pennsylvania
#7044 Amtrak
#7045 Undecorated
#7046 Seaboard Coast Line
#7047 Penn Central
#7048 Southern Pacific
#7049 Burlington Northern
#7050 SOO Line
#7051 Baltimore & Ohio
Check out his link:
http://tycotrain.tripod.com/atlashoscaletrainscollectorsresource/id1.html
They can easily be identified by the 36" Dynamic brake fan on the
roof. It is the same size as the other four fans on the roof. The
steam generator detail on the large rear roof panel is just one
center mounted rounded vent surrounded by four small tabs
representing lift rings. The front coupler opening is very small
and is held in by a small push fit pin. It has shiny wheels with
grayish coloured plastic side frames that usually show up well in
photos. Some of these early units lacked some of the vertical rivet
lines on the sides of the body. Undecorated models are in black
plastic. I don’t think they were available in the dual head light
or non-dynamic versions.
These were and still are pretty good runners. It has an enclosed can
type motor with one silver coloured flywheel on it. The chassis and
trucks are pretty much the same as the later versions.
The SECOND version was again produced by ROCO for ATLAS in the late
1980’s. It came with or without dynamic brakes.
The 48" dynamic brake fan is noticeably larger
than the other four roof fans. The steam generator detail has a
ri
The Atlas FP7 is a good locomotive. I had four of them with the Roco drive and they ran excellently.There is a pair of Atlas GP40’s and a SD35 with the Roco drive in them and all three run great.
I have a set of Intermountain FP7’s in A-B-B formation for my BLI California Zephyr and they run as well as the Athearn Genisis units.
The only drawback to the Atlas FP7 is how to mount a coupler on the rear that allows prototypical spacing between units.
As other have commented, running quality has always been good from Atlas drives including the older Roco. The shell of the FP7 is something I have never cared for. When it first came out it was better than any F around, but here are some of the issues I have with the shell and chassis:
-Very difficult to get scale coupling distance
-Windshield look too narrow
-Air grills on the side aren’t rendered very well or accurately. Stewarts molded plastic air grill were far better. Now etch metal is the rule.
I’m holding out for the next run of WP Intermountain FP7’s since I missed out on the first run. Need one to MU with my two F3B’s for handing of the CZ too in SLC.
Here is how I close couple my old FP7’s…
It doesn’t self center, but it will “close couple”:
A big thanks to Msowsun for posting his method of close coupling the Atlas FP7’s. I’ll put that on my to-do list for my two FP7’s.