Hi All: Do any of you have "down on" pics of Frisco's F's and GP7's that would indicate where the Frisco mounted the "thumbtack" radio antennas the Frisco used during the 60s? If you could share same here, it would be much appreciated. I would like to use the Frisco's locations for that style of antenna as guide as to where to locate such antennas on my KC&G Geeps n' F's. Thanks for any input you can share, and especially any photos that would help.
Update: Using my well worn (literally) Marre & Harper "Frisco Diesel Power" book, I think I've found enough F pics to locate where the thumbtack antennas were mounted on the F's. Now to find turn up pics of the Geeps.
Okay, I have yet to find a Frisco GP7 with a thumbtack antenna. All the 60s era Geeps I've seen since the search began indicate firecracker antennas. Interesting!
I just saw your post and have lots of pictures of the Nail type antenna. Is that what you are calling the thumbtack?
Hi Keith: I was referring to the antennas that would resemble the head of a straight pin in HO. Looking again, the type of antenna I called a "Thumbtack" does look a lot more like a "Nail". Anyway, the "Nail" antenna as used on the Frisco F's from the 50s through the 60s, like this one: I have yet to find a pic in my collection of Frisco GP7's that used a "Nail" antenna. Instead, I see what I call "Firecracker" antennas, such as seen on both of these Frisco GP7's: Am I correct in my deduction that (as a general rule) in the 60s "Nail" antennas were used on the F's and "Firecrackers" on the GP7's?
The "nail" antenna was in vogue at the time the F's ruled the day. When the GP7's appeared, the "firecracker" antenna was in vogue, I think it provided better reception and/or range, and the Geeps were so equipped. I had/have a Frisco antenna evaluation report around here somewhere. K
Andre, here is your antenna 9059 - Antenna, nailhead type, with base - Pkg. 1 (americanscalemodels.com)
Thanks John! I'm always happy to learn about products I did not know existed. IF I follow through and install nail antenna's on the KC&G F fleet, I would probably use small straight pins that I've blackened with Micro Engineering's "Blacken It" blackening chemical. (Doubt you can still get that product.) Experiments indicate: * Blackens excellent and the blackening is tough. * The straight pin will be strong and survive the handling my engines receive going to/from the storage shelves in between assignments. * Blackened straight pin "nail" antennas would be fine for my purposes and and look good enough doing it. Haven't decided for sure as to installing the nail antennas on the F's, depends on what I decide concerning "firecracker" antennas that meet my "durability" requirements.
Andre, At $4.95/ea. that would be an expensive issue to outfit all the F's. Yeah so are the air horns and everything else to make these things perty. There is plenty of ideas/ingenuity out there to accomplish this, also keep THIS in mind, as they say GOOD ENOUGH. On my F's the firecracker is the mainstay for now, until something else shows up. The brass ones hold up better than the plastic. Please submit photos of your straight pin antenna. John
Hi John! Yup, I would be spending $50+ just for nail antennas to equip the F's I have on hand. I have yet to decide whether to go forward with the idea of modeling antennas. My thinking is that if the F's have some form of antenna, then the Geeps and hood Alco's need antennas, too. I don't think whip antennas were in common use in 1964? Those are so small in diameter in real life, if scaled nicely, you wouldn't be able to see it in HO scale without magnification, so pointless to install! Wish you lived closer. I bet you'd enjoy operating on the KC&G and I know I'd enjoy operating on your Frisco layout! Andre
Coonskin - There is a nail size that is almost dead-on for the "nail" antenna. Check your local hardware store. Buy a box of them for a couple of bucks. I think the actual nail looks better than a straight pin would. The pin head isn't big enough in diameter, and the top is domed, not flat like the "nail" antenna. I've used the nail for a long time. I agree with John. Don't waste your time and $ for the plastic firecracker antennas. They simply don't last as they break off easily. Go with the brass option. Ken
Thanks Ken for the tip, Ken! I didn't fully understand that the nail antenna was flat on the top until I saw the diagram of it. The proto photos make it look like its domed. However, I now understand the angle of the photo was making it appear so. The diagram John posted shows it to be flat. Once our roads clear up enough to safely come off the mountain on which we live on the side of, I'll have to go check out the small nail section at our local hardware stores. Hopefully the "Blacken It" will work on the plating those small nails probably have applied to them. This arctic blast our region is experiencing certainly isn't typical for our winter season! Andre
Andre - I just painted the nail flat black, or on a few, semi-gloss black if it was to go on a new looking unit. K
Ken: If my KC&G F's get nail's, I would paint it flat black if I have to, but I prefer to blacken stuff like that if possible. Blackened brass/etc seems a bit more resistant to the wear and tear of an operating layout my models receive. Speaking of Micro Engineering's "Blacken It": I've yet to find it on their website. Anyone know if it is still offered? (I have a bit less than half of a bottle left from decades ago.) I suspect "Blacken It" has fallen prey to the EPA. Andre
Yep, I would like to come out there and do ops on the KC&F RR. When this Rona is bit on the rear we can all get back to normal and operate on each others railroad. I know I'm going to need a vacation! John
Andre here is the one I use for blackening. It is still available. One should last a few modelers a lifetime.
https://caswellplating.com/search.php?search_query=Blackening§ion=product This is another place that sells those type products. I know a couple gun collectors that shop here for chemicals.
