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Highliners F7A Kit, Details and Mechanism
The kit has everything you need to make the shell minus the long
chicken-wire/farr grills/stainless grills (as appropriate for your prototype
and model) and some related grill work. Those items are available
as a separate purchase.
Note for WM Fans modeling 1955 and on: The WM had large MU doors on both sides
of the front headlight on the F Units. These were installed in
1955. This kit comes with only one large and one small door. I
imagine the fret that contains those etched doors can be purchased separately,
but I have not yet looked at it. Your best bet will be barter with
someone who is modeling pre-1955 WM or with someone who is modeling another
road that does not use the large MU doors.
To complete this locomotive, you would plop the shell on top of an Athearn
Genesis, Intermountain Regal or Stewart F Unit mechanism.
It should be noted that Athearn uses the tooling from this kit to create their
own F Units
The kits usually cost around $48 each
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The Western Maryland had Nathan M5 horns installed on all the as-delivered F7A
units in their roster. The Detail associates #1602 is a decent model of
that horn. One set includes two horns - enough to do one locomotive.
Price : under $2.00
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I picked up the Details West DS-309 FA detail kit from Peach Creek Shops in
Laurel, MD. This kit has tons of great details for an F Unit. You can see
the details of the kit at the
Details West web site. Not all details are appropriate for the WM
F unit, but most of them are. Both sides of the same package are shown
here.
Price around $12.00
Note: Hi-Tech Details makes nicer castings of the fuel tank supports, and also
offers separate battery box and air tank kits. I plan to use those on future
models.
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I will likely use the speed recorder that is included in the Details West
kit. However, if I decide not to for some reason, I have these speed
recorders from Detail Associates (part 2807) to fall back on.
Price : under $2.00
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One of the most important details (and one of the most difficult to get) is the
Highliners A unit Stainless Grilles and Detail Parts Set. This set
includes the side grills for an F7, but also includes several other necessary
etched pieces such as a new rear door, some panels etc. Don't build the F
unit without it!
Price : around $15.00
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If you plan to convert the locomotive to Proto 87, you will need to either turn
a set of wheels, or buy some. I like to use these wheels from NWSL.
Price : under $10.00
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Of course, you will need a mechanism. I decided to go with the Athearn
Genesis mechanism because it is a very good, reasonably-priced locomotive
mechanism. In addition, you know it will have a perfect fit with the
Highliners shell because Athearn uses the Highliners shells for all their
Genesis F Units.
Price : under $50
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Of course, good references are a must if you plan on building and
super-detailing an FA unit. The Spring 2003 issue of the BMX (the Western
Maryland periodical) is the definitive reference if you are interested in WM F
Units.
Incidentally, I happen to be modeling number 62 (shown on the cover), but prior
to the 1955 modifications.
Two other excellent references are
1) The Western Maryland Diesel Data Book (published by the WMRHS)
2) Western Maryland Diesels by Stakem and Stakem. This book spends
more time on speed-lettered units, however.
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Next Step Glues and Tools
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