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 Posted - August 03 2013 : 6:57:07 PM
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I found this at a flea market and it seems to have taken a nose dive from a significant altitude... I have identified the shell as Life-Like by Tony's resource sight, but when I removed the damaged shell I found a die-cast frame and eight wheel drive as shown...
I have some ideas, but I would like to hear from you guys?
Mike
Thanks,
Mike
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Posted - August 03 2013 : 7:17:48 PM
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| I might have a shell to replace the broken one, if you don;t care about what railroad it is though.
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Posted - August 03 2013 : 7:35:29 PM
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Thank you LGLrr845, but I did find a replacement shell. I am just curious about the chassis and drive...
Mike
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Posted - August 03 2013 : 8:53:14 PM
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That's a Varney model! I don't have the Varney model in B&O, BUT I bet an Athearn shell would fit the same frame.....
But that's who made it, Varney, I have a BUNCH of those frames!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid... 
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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Posted - August 04 2013 : 6:52:40 PM
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Thanks John, is this around the time that Life-Like bought Varney?
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Posted - August 04 2013 : 7:06:44 PM
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Mike,
I don't think so....I may be wrong on that one, but, they weren't the same even after Varney was sold to Life-Like back in the day....I don't think ANY Life-Like frames, EVER resembled those from the Varney years, but as I said, don't quote me, as I have been wrong but I myself have NEVER seen a Life-Like frame that looked like, or resembled one of the Varney frames!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid...
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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Posted - August 04 2013 : 7:09:13 PM
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That's the Life Like version. Poor and cheap motor. I have one that's absolute junk in my opinion!
" Heck with counting 'em rivets, TRAINS ARE FOR FUN! Not called the Mad Scientist for nothing either!"
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Posted - August 04 2013 : 10:37:44 PM
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Justin,
I have that same frame in both plastic and metal, same motor and everything, came in a Varney box! I do not believe that's Life-Like at all! Reason? ALL of the early Life-Like frames had one powered truck, with a open frame "DC-90" type motor, with a single shaft going into a round "plug" looking section that was the inner frame of the truck to protrude through the frame and a plastic "C" clip to hold it in place.
Then, with Varney, they in the end, before selling to Life-Like, had plastic frames under their plastic shells that were made from the same molds that the metal ones were! I believe they used open frame motors right up to the bitter end! Just like that seen above!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid...
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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Posted - August 05 2013 : 12:19:09 AM
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motor... Pitman... draws 'LOT'S a power, chug-a-lug!
John
I don't have a one track mind. It depends on the turn-out.
"I love your catenary!"
Is that a power-trip or just another pick-up line?
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Posted - August 08 2013 : 8:42:55 PM
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The earliest Life-Like issue F-units have that same drive. At some point the shaft and front gearing was eliminated. LL used a similar, cheap open frame motor into the mid-70s, later ones have it mounted on a new chassis with a gear tower truck - like 99% of those the cup for the u-joint shaft is cracked and slips.
The shell originated with Penn Line and became Varney in 1964. It is a pretty obvious clone of the Athearn/Globe F7 shell with the steps changed to allow more clearance. The Varney version was only available for about four years.
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Posted - August 19 2013 : 3:31:24 PM
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Yeah, late Varney or early Life-Like. Varney became Life-Like in 1971 so that dates this loco to late 60s, early 70s production.
Life-Like redesigned their power chassis' about 1975 or so, whenever the GP38-2 was introduced. They kept the Pittman motor but mounted it at an angle over the fuel tank hollow, with a shaft linking the motor and the gears in the truck. That lasted till whenever the pancake motor made its debut in the early 80s.
Kris Carver-Seaboyer
Modelling the Grafton Terminal Railway, set in New Brunswick, Canada in the 1978-1984 time frame
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babuff
Little Six
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Posted - August 20 2013 : 12:28:29 PM
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| I agree with john it is an early VARNEY (55-60) had one myself. ran great. Other makers were attaching the universal cups directly to the shaft. varney used the transfer gear system in part to reduce the power of the pitman motors. they were prone to slipping, most likely from cracked cups. I never had LIFE LIKE as I moved on to Rivorassi and mantua(later tyco)
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Posted - August 20 2013 : 5:21:54 PM
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I still say its a Varney.....I got the same frame and drive set up with "Varney" stamped/casted everywhere, wasn't this all removed from the day Life-Like took over?
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid...
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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waw47
Hudson
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Posted - August 20 2013 : 5:37:32 PM
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| The B&O F7 was marketed as Varney from 1965 to 1968, thereafter it was sold as Lifelike.
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