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 Posted - April 17 2007 : 08:07:18 AM
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Model Power lists this F9A in catalogs back to at least the late '70s. I'd always wondered about the entry for The Texas Special F9A model. Had never seen one, but then had never seriously pursued it either...anyway I happened to see one on eBay a few weeks back...spent an obscene amount ($40) for it, but I now have one...
The origin mark surprised me a bit...if the underframe is the original one it claims PlayArt...
I've got a few other examples of this obvious Bachmann F9A clone and they have PlayArt on the fuel tank. The big spotting difference between a legit Bachmann shell and the PlayArt clone is the stubby steps...seems somebody decided those steps were too long maybe for the swing of the trucks or something and dropped off the bottom half.
The box flap for this Model Power F9A includes:
6607 Santa Fe
6608 Conrail
6609 Texas Sp
6610 Amtrak
6611 Bur Nor
6612 CP Rail
6613 Can Nat
It also states Single Drive and Dummy as boxes to be check marked to note the contents.
The sides of the box feature various Model Power releases of the time and the F9A shown there is the old American, Train & Track shell decorated for Santa Fe.
Tony Cook
HO-Scale Trains Resource
http://ho-scaletrains.net
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 Posted - April 17 2007 : 10:35:24 AM
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Playart is a name that has some mystery to it. I had a few items from them growing up. They also cloned the 62' tri-dome tank, and I believe the same Roco gondolas and 40' boxcar that others have used.
One thing that surprised me about their F-unit, was the odd can-motor power truck they used, and how well it actually ran! Don't think anyone else used that drive, and it was very nice for its day.
So... who owned playart at the time, and how long were they around in trains?
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Posted - April 17 2007 : 11:23:46 AM
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You aren't kidding that it has a big can motor. My example simply shook rather violently on the track and waddled along at 10mph, when I tested it.
Here's a look inside the Model Power PlayArt F9A...
Looks like plenty of room in there still for sound and DCC!
[:D]
Tony Cook
HO-Scale Trains Resource
http://ho-scaletrains.net
Edited by - Tony Cook on April 17 2007 11:25:06 AM
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Posted - April 17 2007 : 5:45:06 PM
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I have a PlayArt BMW 2002 in Ho scale.
It's pretty neat.
-G.
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Posted - April 17 2007 : 10:27:58 PM
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I have one of those F9s that I rebuilt.
It runs a whole lot better since I put round wheels on it.
Ray
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Angus
Switcher
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Posted - May 15 2007 : 9:12:51 PM
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Tony, you did pretty well on this one. I had never seen it before, and your example got me interested in finding one. I was bidding on one this week, but hit my wallet "ouch" wall at $49. Somebody else was willing to pay $50! Have to keep trying...
Chris
Kansas City
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Posted - May 16 2007 : 10:02:14 AM
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quote:Tony, you did pretty well on this one. I had never seen it before, and your example got me interested in finding one. I was bidding on one this week, but hit my wallet "ouch" wall at $49. Somebody else was willing to pay $50! Have to keep trying...
Chris
Kansas City
Originally posted by Angus - May 15 2007 : 9:12:51 PM
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Chris, I was watching that auction this week too...was sure it would go for $10 and I paid too much for mine at $35-ish...but it did end up at $50 or just better.
That's cataloged by Model Power in the late '70s and though I don't know Model Power that terribly seriously...I suspected it was not produced until I saw that recent example I won.
The paint is typical '70s tampo-stamp fuzzy and poor, but it is still pretty cool.
Tony Cook
HO-Scale Trains Resource
http://ho-scaletrains.net
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