I recently purchased a Con-Cor Monon collector set with a F3A powered diesel. Its really lame. Almost stops moving at times. Is there a good mechanism that can be used with the shell? Kato , Intermountain, Bachmann? Anything else?Will a F7 or F9 mech work?
I bought a CC F3 during the early '80s and found the mechanism to be a complete lemon - characteristics as you describe. When Atlas put out its then-revolutionary RS3 (also during the '80s), I put one into my old CC F3. Not happy with the overall looks, I traded or sold it shortly thereafter. Scott
I had a couple of those sets when they were released years ago. Including an NP NCL. I am trying to recall what we did to overcome their quirks. I recall doing some remotoring using Sagami cans. But nothing about their gear trains, etc. Boxcab E50
I have a C C Custom painted Monon F 3 shell I picked up at a train show 5 or 6 years ago and I have been trying to find a old C C drive just to set under it and no one seems to have one they want to get ride of...they must have all ended up junked? Jerry
"collector set" !!! Is that what they are calling them now? before they called them junk. I guess one man's junk is another man's collector set. So here is your problem if you remotor it you destroy whatever "collectability" it had. Same is true if you run it. So if you don't know what to do with it then I suggest keep it in its package and put it aside. Then one day you will ask yourself, "Why in blazes did I ever bought this piece of crap." Then you will know what to do with it.
The reason I bought"that piece of crap" is because I am from Indiana and have actually had the pleasure of riding in the cab of a Monon F unit painted in the same colors as the one in the Con Cor set when I worked for the Central Railroad of Indianapolis and CERA leased the F units from ITM to run freight service back in the 90s. Fond memories for me. Might as well make it run correctly. http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2152136750038361265jFOOuW
RK, I would try cleaning it thoroughly. I dont mean feildstrip either. Full disassembly and clean this should begin to eleviate problems. If you can get it running at a constant speed I would consider a "re-break-in" running it modest speed in both directions, that way you polish the communtator brushes enduring good contact. If problems still persist consider a remotor with an LL 5 Pole. HTH, T
This must be the Roco built model. The Fleishmann F3's ran well albeit somewhat noisily. I don't have a Roco one to try but I have several low mileage Kato F3 mechanisms with silver trucks (both A & B) if you are interested in doing so. The mechs are the non-friendly versions DCC-wise. Ben
Its not a motor issue.More of a poorly designed mechanism problem.Ben, if you can spare a mech I would be interested.Let me know.
You might do better buying the newest DCC ready mechs. I presently have my mechs (ABBA) installed in WP shells. Would prefer selling complete, or could sell one A unit complete if all you need is for an A unit. PM me if interested either way. Ben
If this were a Fleischmann mechanism, the motor would be a Kato and they ran fairly well. Can you post a pic?
I was under the impression that the reason Fleischmann built the F3 was that they already had a mechanism and that the F3 body, a somewhat oversized one, was designed to fit that mechanism. The subsequent Roco loco supposedly used an oversized body as well, so I don't know how compatible the later Kato mechanism will be. The body may fit somewhat loosely. But that is better than the body being too small. Ben
I'm sorry I mislead you about the F3 mechanism. I had forgotten I had installed them all in the WP shells which were vacated because I used the DCC friendly mechs in other locos. But your F7 mech fits F3's anyway. Ben
http://www.rail-videos.net/video/view.php?id=2324 Monon F7s on the CERA in Indiana. I was a maintainer there.
The reason these Concor sets are called collectors is they used roadnames & colors not otherwise available. I have a Grand Trunk Western set with an ABA set of the F3's. I think I ended up powering the set with an AK set of GP's. At least the color scheme matched the cars ConCor produced. For the Monon set, ConCor did a better job of using the red/gray color scheme. Because of the rarity, some sets do have some value. I don't remember if ConCor only made 500 sets, presented in a nice display box. Looking at the Spookshow site, it appears the Roco F's used a Kato motor?? I forget if a Kato logo is stamped near the ConCor label?? IIRC you may be able to get the pilot to slip over the front coupler before securing it to a new motor?
The ConCor mech Kato emblem on top. Must have been a beta version gone horribly wrong... With the new Kato mech
Heh...why do the large scale folks collect Lionel hmmmm? Same principle. Those limited run sets Con Cor put out were way ahead of their time. Custom, for lack of a better term, sets that would never be available as a regular commercial item. The first limited run set the Chessie Steam Special, didnt even have a box nor a nice complimentary insert. It was literally cellophane wrapped to a peice of cardboard. The CSS in mint condition I've seen go for funny money pushing 4 digits. Why are they collectible? -it's collectible for history of hobby not to mention the number that may or may not be available. # 1 Chessie Steam Special (1977) # 2 "Alton Limied" Set (1930's) # 3 Norfolk & Western "Powhatan Arrow" (1948) # 4 Union Pacific San Francisco "Overland" (1948) # 5 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (1940's) # 6 Northern Pacific "North Coast Limited" (1955) # 7 Missouri Pacific "Colorado Eagle" (1960's) # 8 Jersey Central Lines "Blue Comet" (1930's) # 9 Baltimore & Ohio "Capital Limited" (1930's) #10 The Monon "Hoosier" (1950's) #11 Kansas City Southern "Southern Belle" (1950's) #12 The Grand Trunk Western (1950's) #13 Rock Island "Des Moines Rocket" (1950's) #14 Illinois Central "Panama Ltd" (1950's) #15 New Haven "The Cranberry" (1950's) #16 Frisco/Katy "The Texas Special" (1950's) #17 Conrail Inspection Train (1970's) #18 New York Central "Pacemaker" Freight Set (1948) #19 Add-On-Set for the "Pacemaker" set #20 Pennsylvania "Merchandise Service" Freight Set (1948) #21 Add-On Set for the "Merchandise Service" Set #22 The Cardinal's Train (New York-Chicago, 1928) #23 U.S. Army Hospital Train (1940's) #24 Santa Fe "Valley Flyer" (1930's) #25 Union Pacific "Portland Rose" (1930's #26 "Fleche D' Or" European Golden Arrow (1920's) #27 Union Pacific "Express Service" Freight Set (1940's) #28 Add-On Set for Union Pacific "Express Service" set #29 Chessie Safety Express (1980's) #30 Circus Train "Royal American Shows" (1960's) #31 Burlington Northern "Executive Set" (1990's) #32 Pennsylvania Special Set (FM Erie Built Locos and 6 cars) #33 Baltimore & Ohio "Mational Limited" (DL-109 and 6 cars) #34 Great Northern "Loader Boxcars" (Mikado Steam loco and 13 cars) #35 Great Northern "Loader Boxcars" Add on Set of 12 cars. #36 New Haven :McGinnis" Set (1950's) #37 Louisville & Nashville "Pan American" #38 Southern Pacific "Overnight" Boxcar Set #39 Southern Pacific "Overnight" Add on Set -not made due to lack of Pre-orders. #40 Whistle Stop "Presidential Tour Train (1996) #41 Southern Pacific "Orginal Daylight Set" late 1930's (Due early 2003) #42 American Freedom Train 7 car set (1948)
