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 Posted - September 23 2006 : 12:39:36 PM
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Recently picked up a couple of MIB Life-Like F40PHs for next to nothing, decorated for roads of personal interest: Rock Island (The ROCK) and the Chicago RTA.
The RTA is of the earlier (original?) releases in the "Circus" box. whereas the ROCK is of the later red-white-blue style from the 80's. While detailing them up a bit, I noticed some subtle differences.
The earlier / RTA version features the earlier drive system, with a center-mounted motor powering one geared truck via a driveshaft. The later/ROCK version uses the Kader powertruck drive. If you look at the rear trucks, you can see a difference. The early version is also MUCH HEAVIER due to the use of a full-frame blosk of steel with most of its mass over the rear wheels; the later versions use a few steel plates screwed together placed in the center, where the earlier motor used to be.
What got my attention is the fuel tanks. On the early/RTA release, the fuel tank is a seperate piece, while the later/ROCK release has it molded as part of the frame. The early version features a deeper fuel tank profile under the carbody, and a sight glass. The later version loses the sight glass, and has a much shallower profile.
You can compare the differences yourself in the pic below. Nothing terribly earth-shattering but I found the fuel tank modification to be interesting. It was widened to allow the metal wieghts to fit in, but the earlier version was more accurate. I'm also impressed by the paint job on the RTA version - crisp and aligned, the orange stripe seamlessly blends right into the nose striping - very well done!
(Historical aside: It's no coincidence the prototypes share the same shade of uncommon light blue. The Chicago RTA was responsible for subsidizing the Rock's Chicagoland commuter operations during the Rock's slow fade into oblivion in the late 70's. Life-Like's Rock F40PH is certainly just what the Rock sorely needed in place of its well-worn rag-tag E and F units; but the RTA was the only agency who could afford them. The F40's were deliverd not terribly long after the ROCK's GP38-2's, and you can see the influence in paint scheme. The light blue is all ROCK; the orange and brown were taken from Illinois Central's commuter ops which were also handed over. Long live the 70's color clash!
In the early 80's, RTA became more commonly known as "Metra" - the name it keeps today.)
EDITED to fix photo
Edited by - GoingInCirclez on March 27 2009 10:26:16 PM
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Country:  USA ~
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Posted - February 12 2008 : 12:20:24 PM
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Here's 2 photos of my GO Transit F40ph.
This one has the motor and driveshaft type drive.
Carl T.
President of the Cape James Terminal RR.
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Country: USA ~
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Posted - March 27 2009 : 11:18:14 PM
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My MBTA one...
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Posted - October 01 2011 : 2:19:29 PM
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Is The Metra One Rare? Sorry, I Am Most Knowledgable About Model Power, My Favorite Company.
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Country: USA ~
Posts: 1102 ~
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Posted - October 01 2011 : 5:59:28 PM
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I thought that model looked familiar. I have a Life Like AMtrak shell, not sure I have a chassis for it. Will have to research adn see what one looks like.
I think I bought this shell in a lot I got at a train show not too long ago.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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