It could seems incredible, but I guess this is a very good looking locomotive and, after some modifications, a good runner too. First I tried to get those modifications on my SP F7B but something went wrong... Then I made the modification on the A unit and now it works flawlessly coupled to a LL SD7 on my layout. Now I'm looking for a B unit mechanism (the A unit is the same to me). Of course, I'll pay for it! Thanks in advance for your attention, Giovanni By the way, I'll post the easy modification as soon as I'm going to receive the mechanis )
jgiovenni, Contact me via private message or email. I think the shipping to Italy will be more than anything I'd charge for a unit. Now, do you want one with cracked gears or non-cracked gears? This was the big problem with these units--they ran well until the gears on the axles cracked. (I've got plenty of both.)
The PLUS units are of earlier manufacture. They are the ones that had all of the problems with the gears' cracking and the runnability's getting worse the more that you ran them. The SPECTRUM are of later manufacture and did address most of the problems. The runnability is still not the best for the SPECTRUM: they will not hold a steady twenty-five SMPH, but at least the gears do not develop hairline cracks and the other problems do not surface. NWSL did sell some replacement wheelsets for these. They were pricey and I do not know how much they did to correct any problems as I have never spoken to anyone or seen results in print from anyone who has used them. Rumour has it that B-mann is aware that the poor sales have been the result of the SPECTRUM F's failure to hold a steady twenty-five SMPH. The same rumour has it that B-mann is going to re-do the mechanism yet ONE MORE TIME!. It is supposed to be based on the E-R shark mechanism. B-mann took over production of the E-R sharks since E-R is out of business. Many have complained about the sharks but I have more than a few pairs and all but one of mine run well. The odd pair had a pick-up problem which I solved by hardwiring them together. All of my sharks will hold a steady fifteen SMPH. It is a shame as N scale still lacks a decent running, reasonbably priced and readily available F-unit in a number of roadnames. For many, the F-unit is still the entry-level locomotive to this hobby depsite the fact that the majority of the F-units are now running around as doors and hoods on Fords, Chevrolets and Chryslers. Why B-mann could not do in N what it did in HO with the PLUS F-units will always escape me. The HO PLUS F-units run well, have a good price and a number of road names, although not as many as the Athearn Blue Box F-unit, which has all sorts of road names, and is also a good runner as well. So yes, they PLUS are of earlier manufacture than the SPECTRUM and are also of MUCH inferior quality, although the motor and flywheels are allright. If you look, you can find the PLUS Fs at shows for ten bananas apiece. More than a few have done this and cannibalised the power chassis for the motor and flywheels and put the shell onto a LL GP-20 chassis. The wheelbase on the GP-20 is a bit more than that of the F-7, but the difference is not that noticeable unless you know that the chassis came from a GP-20 and are keenly aware of the differences.
