"This is what makes modeling these such a challenge:" (posted by Randgust) I couldn't agree more Randy But then a select few in our hobby inspite of the many challenges brave the venture and not only help keep the Craftsman in the hobby which are a dying bread but produce some nice products along the way for us less talented Hobbyist. ;-) And we all know which side of that statement that we fit. Glen
Well, remember I got started in this because I basically figured that as long as I was going to scratchbuild something, I may as well make a pattern instead of a one-of-a-kind. Now, for your continued entertainment..... "WHY CF7'S ARE FUN TO MODEL"..... What other locomotive can you name that has had so many dramatic changes in appearance? And like the "woodsman's axe" ITS NOW BEEN RUNNING FOR SIXTY THREE YEARS!!! I've been looking for the 'one single unit' that is the hands-down poster child for this thing, and this is it. #2641. It has it all, the entire program from beginning to end, two frames, three completely different cabs, two owners...and the darn thing is still out there today. Pulling tourist trains. And looks GREAT. Started life as 222L in 1949 http://www.trainweb.org/foothill/images/atsf222.jpg Rebuilt by ATSF in 1970 as a CF7 2641, with open frame, F7-leftover side windows, pinstripe paint, round roof: http://www.qstation.org/CF7/ABPR/jpeg/atsfx2641.jpg Rebuilt again, this time with the round roof, newer windows, yellow warbonnet, closed frame: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1491595 Rebuilt again, this time with the angled roof cab with single windows, silver trucks (you need a trainorders membership to see this one, this was the day it was delivered to Santa Cruz in ATSF paint) http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/attachments/fullsize/169000/scbg_2641.jpg And now on the Santa Cruz, Big Trees & Pacific, livin' on the beach: http://www.flickr.com/photos/68918600@N03/6406171729/ And judging by this, STILL GOING....and looking sharp at it as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYxfke3WtV8 So, as a SUBTLE reminder, you can build about four completely different versions of this thing with me...and number them ALL #2641!
Here is a former industrial CF-7 (Dreyfus handles soy beans and corn locally). A person could do a micro switching layout based around a grain elevator with one of these kits, might make a neat bedroom/office layout.
Hey, I've finished up one of the open-frame/round cab/2-stack units as a 'demonstrator'. I've also put this body on the GP15-1 chassis. More photos here: http://www.randgust.com/prod07.htm Shipping every day now...
I have one buyer that wants an entire fleet of CF7's as they originally appeared with the F7 side windows, so I've decided to go ahead and make a master of that one as well. Almost got it done this weekend, so that will make four available cab choices, not three. From the research I've done those lasted up through 'maybe' 1975, at least long enough that all of them got the frames reinforced with the boxed frame; so that's another couple of version combinations here. You never know with these. I didn't think that open-frame four-stack yellowbonnets existed either, but they did, for about two years 2591-2613 (think I have the unit numbers right). Although I've found photo proof of the F7-windows version with a closed frame, I have yet to find any proof of the following combinations: 1) Any angular-cab unit with an open frame configuration. ATSF was very agressive about the frame program retrofit, the cabs came later. Or for that matter, any unit after 1975 still with an open frame. Finding 2619 with 'patch paint' pretty much proved that - it was almost an emergency fix program. 2) Any F-7 side window cab in yellowbonnet paint, that has yet to be proven to me that it ever happened. If you follow the story of #2641 (above) that's pretty much the evolutionary maximum number of steps encountered - three rebuilds within ATSF with two frame designs, two different paint schemes and three different cabs. Another thing I've been surprised with is realizing the number of curved-cab builds that got the low battery box modification on the engineer side and the bigger window, but never got the angular roof. Yet high battery box versions survived long enough to make the shortline list, so it wasn't a 'get 'em all' program like the frames. There were still a lot of units eventually sold with curved cabs. Oh, and one I never even heard of showed up.... this has to get the award for the most...um....interesting...unusual...perhaps 'jarring' paint scheme put on a CF7 and maybe roadswitchers in general.... I'd love to see somebody do this one! http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr1007/cctr547.jpg That's probably the only paint scheme I've ever seen that had so much going on they almost ran out of a place to put the engine number on it. Maybe next time they'll get a bigger locomotive.
Got my kit today and I am impressed. The quality is excellent. Thanks Randy for all your work in getting this to market.
Well, I got enough requests that I went ahead and made the 'original' CF7 cab - the one with the salvaged F7 windows that cranked down. Now I've become a fan, but even I think this one is ugly! I'll have this as a no-cost option on the kits now. Note that these were only on the Santa Fe, and none left the ATSF with them in place. It looks like they were all changed out by about 1978 or so. Frames were boxed in WAY before the cabs were modified and also before yellowbonnet paint was applied. I haven't found any shots of these ever in yellowbonnet, but have seen several shots with closed frames.
Randy, not sure if you've tried or not, but I'm gonna pick up a Bachmann GP7 for the heck of it and give it a try with the kit. Or at least see if everything will fit. Another chassis I thought of is the GP20 low nose unit.
Art, Let us know how that Bachmann conversion goes - I've been thinking of using one myself since they seem to be more available then the Atlas ones.
I am not 100% sure, but I think the LL GP20 chasis is a bit wider than the Atlas mechanisms so therefor it might cause one some problems to make it work. Ryan
OK, I'll make an offer. I don't have one of the Bachmann GP7 chassis or shells. But if somebody wants to ship me one, I'll use it as the demo to find out if it will work with that chassis/long hood. If it will work, and you let me cut it and fit it if necessary, I'll do it for free and document the process and you'll get it back. If it worn't work, you'll get it back. Email me at the cf7@randgust.com contact on this one. I have a LL GP20 myself, I think the wheelbase/frame is too long, but I'll find out.
Huh, haven't had any takers on the Bachmann GP7 yet, so <bump>... Meanwhile, I got commissioned for my first custom build of the kit, a rather fun one because it's a rare one - a pre-warbonnet, 1971-72 round cab, on ATSF, with the open frame. That went well. I'll be doing a lot more custom-builds in the future I think. All that brass pays off when I can meet the same levels of detail you'd see on OMI, with a better mechanism. Another development is that Dan Pikulski and I will be working together on the custom decals front - if you want to try to get your otherwise-unavailable CF7 shortline done, contact him at www.dansresincasting.com
Hey, big news..... I did get the Bachmann GP7 to work, chassis and shell. Phil H donated one to the cause, sending me a perfectly good brand-new unit to Frankenchop up and see what came out the other side. The only real negative to using this locomotive is that the DC/DCC board is just way to long and won't work, so if you're picking a Bachmann to try to save a couple bucks, getting a new decoder board may erase the savings. This requires narrowing the frame edges, part of the fuel tanks, cutting the ends just a bit, and grinding off the air tanks. I just used a hand-held dremel and this is still way easier than hacking up the GP15 frame.
a our Italian colleagues would say . . . multo bene'! Looks like I need to get crackin on those L&D decals.
Yes. Contact Randy at cf7@randgust.com. In season, he is producing a complete kit and all three production cabs. I just recieved 4 of the kits and am very happy (as a customer) with them. Wayne Birmingham
