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Post by steveeusd on May 1, 2020 16:53:52 GMT -5
Rob-
It has been a while since I dabbled in z scale, so may be you can shed some light here. Does AZL have plans this year or next on making an F7? I realize MTL has one, but I want a DCC version and don't want to pay an arm and a leg.
Thanks,
Steve Williams
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F7s?
May 2, 2020 9:08:19 GMT -5
Post by ztrack on May 2, 2020 9:08:19 GMT -5
Steve, AZL does offer EMD F3 sets. The F3s come in A and B combos with exception of the CBQ F3s which is an A-B-A set. Here is the link: www.azldirect.com/azl-locomotives/f3AZL's F3s have a standard PCB board which can be swapped for decoders from Digtrix and TCS. These are true drop in decoders, no soldering required. AZL has acknowledged that they will be offer EMD F7. There is not a time frame on when we will see these. |
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F7s?
May 2, 2020 23:47:35 GMT -5
Post by cwrr on May 2, 2020 23:47:35 GMT -5
I would buy an A-B set of F3's if they were painted Burlington Northern.  |
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Post by rray on May 3, 2020 11:24:38 GMT -5
I would buy more F3's if they were painted in NP Loewy Green or NP Pine Treee Freight Black. I already have a bunch of the less attractive early NP Butterknife Scheme, and i snapped up a few CBQ ABA sets to strip because NP F Units were usually ran in ABA configurations.
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F7s?
May 8, 2020 20:41:40 GMT -5
Post by Curn on May 8, 2020 20:41:40 GMT -5
I have a few of the MTL F7s from the newer WP runs (Green/Orange and Silver Orange ones). They are all basically new and run relatively well. They are a little noisy, but little/no wobble. However after very little run time, the engines feel really warm to the touch. So warm that I never use them, but they all do this so I think it must be normal. I have read that build up in the communicator can cause these to run hotter, but I cant imagine this is the issue as they each have less than 10 min run time on them. I'm running these things with a Blue Snail controller at 9V max, but usually at ~50% throttle (Its PWM so it being pulsed at 9V).
Is it normal for the MTL F7 to run warm when new? Does it get better with wear in?
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Post by mgatdog on May 8, 2020 20:59:31 GMT -5
Curn
the MTL locomotives are not fans of pulse controllers .
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Post by mgatdog on May 8, 2020 21:12:24 GMT -5
When I run my MTL F7’s. I use my MRC power pack.
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F7s?
May 9, 2020 18:08:11 GMT -5
Post by markm on May 9, 2020 18:08:11 GMT -5
The short answer is that the MTL F7s use the same old motor, which typically draws about 125mA unloaded as compared to the typical AZL locomotive at about 15mA. so they will get warmer.
Mark
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F7s?
May 9, 2020 19:40:19 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by Curn on May 9, 2020 19:40:19 GMT -5
Mgatdog is correct. My Kato controller seems better, but a 9V battery with a 22 ohm resistor to ~4.5 v and the engines are running at a realistic speed with much lower heat. Maybe I have misjudged these engines. They will do until AZL F7s come out.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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F7s?
May 10, 2020 1:26:02 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on May 10, 2020 1:26:02 GMT -5
the same old motor, which typically draws about 125mA unloaded Is this the same motor as used in the GP35 ? My NH-GP9 (built with a GP35 from Marsilius and a new shell from ZScale Monster) runs perfectly with my DIY pure DC supply (OPA547), electronically limited to about 100mA (!), upwards on a slope of 1.6% and with 6 cars ... I plan to buy the F7 in a near future. |
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F7s?
May 10, 2020 8:57:04 GMT -5
Post by mgatdog on May 10, 2020 8:57:04 GMT -5
When I run any MTL loco’s I use my MRC power pack. Although can’t speak for the SD 40 .
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F7s?
May 10, 2020 9:21:13 GMT -5
Post by markm on May 10, 2020 9:21:13 GMT -5
Alberich: No. The F7 is the only product using this motor. The GPs and SD have been using a Maxon coreless motor and run about 50 mA. They do get close to 100mA at full (9VDC) throttle and > 6-8 cars. maxonmotorusa.wordpress.com/tag/micro-trains/ |
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Post by markm on May 10, 2020 10:30:53 GMT -5
Getting back to the F7 topic, I've not have no had any significant problems running MTL F7 with a Snail throttle. I see little increase in power consumption running around mid-throttle, but I never did a detailed examination.
Pulse power is really more appropriate for motors using magnetic materials like the coreless motors. The motors used in the MTL F7 and many of the Marklin locomotives can have problems.
If the AZL F7s are far enough out into the future that there may be another F3 run first, perhaps AZL might consider producing a few units from select roads without road numbers. After all, the late F3s and early F7s (and PRR F5s) really looked much the same.
Mark
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F7s?
May 10, 2020 10:58:46 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on May 10, 2020 10:58:46 GMT -5
Thanks Mark, I think I will finally wait for the AZL F7 (if it is available in same livery as MTL #980 01 431 and A unit alone). |
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Post by rray on May 21, 2020 8:38:25 GMT -5
So I read Rob is a 1951-53 Santa Fe Super Chief fan, aren't we all. That is the train with the classic F7 Warbonnet ABBA locomotives that wed all fell in love with as kids. When I was 8 years old, we went to Disneyland, and on the way, stopped off in Barstow to pick up my cousin Micky. While on the way to Barstow, I spotted the coolest train I ever seen, and my dad told me it was the Santa Fe Super Chief on the way to LA from Chicago. The following year I got a Lionel Super Chief train set for Christmas. I had a simple loop setup on the floor of my bedroom, with half of the track going under the bed (my tunnel). Over the years I have had HO, and N Scale examples of Warbonnet F7's, before I left ATSF for the even prettier NP Loewy Green North Coast Limited. If it wasn't for the NCL, I would simply have to have a Warbonnet F7 in Z. Sadly, the Marklin Z F7 in Warbonnet scheme is about as accurate as the LEGO Warbonnet F7, and the MTL versions sound like a coffee grinder... What to do? Let's make the case that since Rob and Hans have been for years satisfying Hans SP sweet tooth, that it's high time poor Rob gets his proper 1951-1953 Warbonnet F7 led Super Chief train! Yes, I said F7, since the F3's had been replaced with the newer F7's by late 1950, on Santa Fe's flagship train. Let's all rally together in support of getting Rob's Warbonnet F7's released in time for his Christmas train! Woot Woot, F7's!.... so I can take them to the stripper and make NP units out of them.  |
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