American Models Locomotive | FP7 | Historical Note

American Models

Locomotive

FP7

Historical Note

Truck Sideframes

Former NASG president, Bill Winans, recalls that when the American Models FP7 was first released these models, the trucks' sideframes were not well done. The FP7 was American Models' very first commercial product in 1982.

So, Bill obtained Sunset Models' permission to make a reproduction of their GP locomotives' trucks. These were cast in pewter with the correct 9'0" wheelbase. One has to look very closely, but the wheels were not perfectly centered to the journals. Bill, who owned a hobby shop at the time, was able to produce and sell a few hundred sets of these replacement sideframes.

However, when American Models later came out with their much better plastic version, Bill stopped casting more of his, and they have been long out of production.

American Models

Locomotive

FP7

Historical Note

Truck Sideframes

Don Thompson found this photo in his collection, but he doesn't recall who took it. It provides a bit of history of how the American Models trucks have changed over the years. These are for their FA2 and FP7 engines.