Hi,
I have an HO Cox F3 diesel purchased new in the early 80’s. I don’t mind the shell, since the roadname isn’t common- but the drive is awful. I’m thinking about putting that shell on a new diesel chassis. The shell attaches by receiving two screws (left and right side) up through the chassis about half way between front and back. Any suggestions on a new chassis/drive? For example, would it fit on a new Model Power F3 8-wheel drive (Walthers Part # 490-6730) straight out of the box? Are there any F7 chassis/drives that could be easily adapted? Thanks.
Ugh; don’t waste your time or money on Model Power diesels. I’d replace the chassis with either an Athearn Blue Box F7, or a Life Like Proto 1000 F3. Both are readily available, extremely reliable, and can be found for less than $30 if you dig around a bit.
As for swapping shells, you can do that with ANY pair of engines, given work and some thought. How much work & thought is up to you.
Great advice. The Proto 1000 F units are great and some of them have been offered for even less than twenty dollars each if you purchase the A and B pair, and this is with the shell.
I have one of those Cox F-3 locomotives decorated for U.S. Army that was purchased in Germany in 1976. I think it was the only train that Cox ever made. Mine doesn’t run, either, and the wheelsets and couplers on the rolling stock can’t be upgraded from horribly out-of-round wheels, deep flanges, and horn-hook couplers; so the entire train sits on a display shelf at the clubhouse. I wouldn’t consider it worth the effort to attempt switching out the chassis with another brand.
Cox also made a GP9M. Both Cox diesels were later sold to Model Power. A Model Power chassis would most likely fit, since they use the same shell. Other options include:
Stewart F unit chassis
Athearn F7 chassis
Athearn Genesis F unit chassis
Life-Like P1K F unit chassis
Hobbytown F unit chassis kit