I’ve currently got a Stewart (I believe) F3A Phase IV locomotive in Santa Fe Warbonnet pulling a streamline passenger train that’s running out of gas - almost too many passenger cars on the hill, so I need a “B” unit to help it out.
I believe it’s a Kato drive unit, from comparing it against pictures of similar units on the web.
Who makes a Santa Fe shell that would be compatable with this dive unit, and wheres a good source of a complete “B” unit? In addition I could use another A unit, or even an F7 A or B unit for the helper. Any suggestions?
The bad news: I don’t have a Stewart F3B in Santa Fe Warbonnet.
The good news: I have an AB set of Stewart F-7’s in Santa Fe Warbonnet and have only been test run. They’re from the early 90’s/
The bad news: The units are in California and we won’t be back there until a week before Thanksgiving.
The good news: Well, since we aren’t supposed to sell stuff online here at the MR forums, I can’t say. However, I’m set up for an email reply so you can email me offline.
Highliners shells are the top of the line aftermarket F unit shell. When in stock,( !! )
you can get them from Walthers. I believe they offer ATSF shells, though usually
they are only available undecorated.
Thanks for the link. $69 for a single powered unit, but I’d have to refinish it. Definately cheaper than dealing with Stewart directly. Nobody that I’ve found charges Stewarts prices.
There’s also a couple of unfinished ones on ebay. Tempting. I’ve never painted and decaled a train before, always bought them as I wanted them. For the cost I may be going into newer territory.
Go for it, Mark! Here’s your big chance to “grow in your skills” (Easy for me to say. [:D] ) Even it you mess up royally, a shell should still be much cheaper to buy than another unit.
Tom
P.S. Mark, I just checked on the Stewart site for pricing on F3 shells: $15 (That includes either A or B shells.)
‘B’ shell only - Intermountain
‘B’ unit Dummie’s - Intermoumtain, Stewart, Athearn, (new or used)
'B’unit with matching shell,matching drive - Stewart.
Problem: The cheaper Athearn ‘B’ wont run well with the Stewart ‘A’ .
Watch Stewart’s web site for ‘sales’.
Buy any used Stewart B and repaint it.
BEST bet: Aquire a Stewart F-3B -ATSF passenger - new or used .You’ll be happiest.
2nd best: Stewart Chassis ($65) inside an Athearn shell (cheap) with Stewart’s window clamp’s.
The Stewart F3-B in AT&SF war bonnet should be easy to find. No paint necessary.
If you “lean” toward any Stewart B, why buy an additional unfinished shell - since one can paint over over the one you have?
I have Stewart’s original KATO drive and mix it with Stewart’s (copy). They match up perfectly. The Inermountain and Genesis are also close enough to use, but chances of finding a used STEWART F-3 or F-7 in war bonnet I think greater.
NOTE: (Santa Fe replaced all their red war bonnet’ F-3 high fans and ‘chicken wire’ grills with one’s to match the F-7’s. It was common to see an F-3 s with a mixture of high and low fan’s - if you were standing on a bridge.
In short, the F-3’s became nearly identical to their F-7 brother’s, save the SS side panels.