Ok, I'll go back and check some older threads regarding the F7; so you're saying that the MTL F7 is really a "toy"? Mark in Oregon
No Mark it's not toy, it's a scale model because MTL can charge you more for it. I know somebody was trying to remotor the F7. The prototype look pretty good, but I have not hear of him taking any orders for the conversion.
You've never had to buy Lego. I wouldn't call either the Marklin or the MTL F7 to be toys. They are well built and are reasonably true to the prototypes. When I refer to toy trains, think of what you see in the movies and TV, Christmas Story, Addams Family and such: noisy coffee grinders, click-clacking along at a break next speed under the Christmas tree. Perhaps they are a bit short on prototype details. For a long time, a lot of people were looking for just that sort of train. Also note that these engines tend to run f-a-s-t, as much as 120 MPH scale at 8V. And as testament to the F7s I have Marklin and MTL V1 and V2 and am happy with all of them.
.........So anyway, I did a rather quick check of this and other forums, and I've yet to see any real info that might lead me (us) to getting these things to run at least quieter. Which leads me to believe that, given how long it's been around, and no doubt how much tinkering has been done on them, there must not be a definitive way to make them run as silently as say, a good Kato or Atlas N scale engine. No biggie, I'll still enjoy mine, and no doubt someday get one of the F3s from AZL, if I pursue Z to that degree...they look to be really nice. Mark in Oregon
Mark, Did you find the Glen Chennier write-up? It's meant to discuss the DCC conversion but has a great deal of detail on the drive train. https://xa.yimg.com/df/z_scale/DCC_...Rs8zOtZNtMbQsI1r8oxCNQYXQz4aLPg&type=download
Hello im new to the scale and have found myself with 5 mt f7a locomotives, i was looking for the above mention motor conversion to maxon or rokuhan motors not being able to find it i have started to design my own, and will share the cad files for 3d printing. i am looking for measurements for the rokuhan a100-2 motor or very detail pics of the shaft ends, tom
