Good points...especially since my voltmeter shows that the draw is pretty much the same with (2) powered units as it is with (1) and this dummy...ah well, it'll look good sitting on a siding... Mark in Oregon
I could not believe that the dummys were that much of a drag either. Tried all of the same, thinned frame, Teflon lubes, polished journals, etc. even a plate for the truck bolsters (super light overall) - NOPE. Shell went on to a motorized frame. Then AZL came out with locos and I have never run the MTLs since then. Wait a few months for WP's from AZL
It took me too long to get the magic phrase for Google to get me back to a web page from long ago. The most innovative (scary?) solution for the horrible MTL F-7 dummy drag was described by Conrail Ray. Basically: Replace the MTL wheelsets with Märklin. I would put a direct link in, but it doesn't seem to work. www.conrailray.com > Z scale > MT F7 A-B-B-A > Rolling Mods
Wow...those look like great ideas! Thanks for taking the time to track that down and post it! Mark in Oregon
Replace the trucks with passenger trucks, and sand down those side frames a bit & glue on the F7 side frames. Easy work, hard to spot, and it'll roll like a dream! You can even use metal wheelsets/axles for power pickup with a brass pickup kit. OR, get one of those Rokuhan powered chassis and just motor the thing!
