I'm not surprised. I'd guess IRC was disappointed by the slow sales of their original HO Frisco FP7-F7B units in b/y they first released in 2007. Of course, the fact that they messed up the F7B by sticking a d/b fan on it is lost to them I guess, and that the yellow color looks like a heavily weather-faded shade. I originally ordered two FP7's and four F7B's from Walthers. When I confirmed the d/b on the B-unit ( I called them), I got back to Walthers right away and cancelled all six units. I then re-ordered one FP7 and two F7B's from Ed's Trains at a pretty deep discount, but later sold one of the F7B's, so now I just have two units. At least, IRC did send me a pack of non-d/b roof hatches for the F7B, undecs, but they are a pain to install. I think if IRC would do a bit more homework, and get things right, they might sell a few more units that are aimed at the smaller roads, like the SLSF. I know they would have sold four more if they had only bothered to look at a picture of a Frisco F7B. Ken
Having never owned an IM loco. What do they compare to, as far as the how the loco runs, details and such? Thanks Tom Holley
Tom - The two IRC survivors from my "purge" run great! They mate very well with my Athearn Genesis F's, and also with my Kato drive Stewart F's. They were a little stiff at first, but when run in, perform very well. I have no complaints with the IRC drive. Body details, like on most all IRC models, are a slight step down from the best. Ken
The Intermountain N scale version of the Frisco FP-7 still shows as April 2012 (Mine have been "pre-ordered" since MAY 2010!) I'm skeptical that they'll ever be delivered... Tom G.
I will tell you, if N scale had been 15 years ago what it is today, I might have gone that way, boy you talk about coming a looong way, that N scale has made some serious headway just in the last 7-8 years. I have been trying with no success to get Pat Sanders of Trainworks to do some HO stuff too but so far he aint biting. We have a rather huge N scale mudular RR here in GJ, they come over to run my stuff I run on their RR too they are a great bunch of guys, but I guess I will have to be the one to get a B/Y or O/W Loco painted for them, not sure about painting that small yet. Tom Holley
Thanks Ken Any idea how the non sound shells would do with a BB Athearn frame?, Thanks Tom Holley|-||-|
Tom - As far as I know, the IRC non-sound shells are the same as the sound shells. It depends on which Athearn chassis you are talking about, but I think the IRC shell will fit them, and anybody who is as good a modeler as you are will easily figure out how to secure it on the chassis. I don't think it will be a problem. Go for it! Ken
Why put it on an Athearn frame when you'd have a perfectly good IRC frame? Looking at the pictures it should mount up just fine. Ethan
Ethan, That is perfectly reasonable point, understand all my stuff is based on a simple chassis and drive, and not DCC, so it needs to be somewhat enter-changable, or compatable as far as speed and direction goes. Thanks Tom Holley
