PRODUCT REVIEW: 1:29 SCALE FA-1 DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE
Manufacturer: Aristocraft Trains/Polk's Model Craft Hobbies, Inc., 346 Bergen Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07304.
Price: $199.95 suggested list.
THE DAY BEFORE I wrote this review I photographed a layout whose owner showed me no fewer than four Aristocraft F-units and the finish on each was virtually flawless. So was the finish of one of the two FA-1 samples Aristocraft sent me. You might expect a manufacturer to cherry-pick the samples he sends for review but Aristocraft Trains deliberately sent two at random. As it happened, the finish on the second had more blemishes than any off-the-shelf FA-1 I have seen.
That review sample, in very accurate orange, green, yellow, silver, and black Great Northern Empire Builder livery had more than two dozen minor to noticeable scratches, blemishes, and areas displaying careless masking or spray painting. It also was necessary to unscrew and lift off the plastic panel on the roof where you add smoke fluid because somebody on the assembly line had left a piece of paper sticking out of the joint and it was impossible to remove the scrap any other way. The first, in black, red, orange, and silver Southen Pacific Black Widow colors, had absolutely nothing wrong with it; it was gorgeous.
You figure it out.
The FA-1 is an Alco freight locomotive dating from the late 1940s and early 1950s. Its brother, the PA-1, enjoys a prestige among many railroad aficionados as the most beautiful of all diesels, particularly when it is in Santa Fe colors. The FA exhibits the family's good looks; it is boxy, clean, and lean.
Nobody produces a scale rule in 1:29, nominally the proportion Aristocraft has chosen for its line, so it is next to impossible to compare the model's dimensions with those of the real engine. But it is evident, and Aristocraft will admit, the engine rides a little high on its trucks (the company claims less than a quarter of an inch), apparently to accommodate the drive train gearboxes. A separate motor powers each truck.
Overall the model measures about 21 actual inches long (almost 23 over the couplers), four inches wide (ignoring the extra width resulting from the projection of the handrails), and 6 3/4 inches tall. That is a big locomotive. The only details the modeler must add are the horns. Be careful when you insert them into their mounting holes because they are less strong than you are and the holes are small. The result, unless you open up the holes a little with a file, may be a broken horn. Fortunately a drop of CA (superglue) will repair any damage. (I categorically deny any suggestion I may be clumsy or overly exuberant and maintain my modeling skills are now and always have been nonpareil.)
Except for the metal parts in the mechanism the model is almost entirely plastic, with brass wire handrails. The detail on our sample was very good, with crisp riveting, cab interior, the prime mover visible through the vent screening, even windshield wipers and a warning bell barely visible on the right side ahead of the front truck. The sideframes exhibit similarly good detail and plenty of relief (even though Aristocraft ideally would have cast the brake cylinders as separate press-on items) and the springs really cushion the trucks to a degree. Some additional touches: The headlight automatically turns off when you run the engine in reverse, the illuminated number boards actually display the road number, the prime mover is a prototypical gray color, and the compartment it sits in has lighting.
Even though the paint job on the GN sample had its problems, its lettering (also that of the SP unit) was very sharp, legible, and in the right places--even on the rear wall of the cab interior, a nice touch. The manufacturer points out all current models are from China and have a satin finish instead of the earlier gloss finish characterizing Korean production.
The couplers are Aristocraft's knuckle-type. If you simply pull a string of cars they should cause no difficulties. But the method Aristocraft uses to mount the couplers may create problems when pushing a string of cars. The front coupler pivots in two places, the rear coupler in three, and the weight and inertia of a few cars tend to push the couplers to one side. The result is involuntary uncoupling or occasional derailments.
Kadee makes drop-in replacement couplers in case you were wondering.
On the rear of the engine, inside the diaphragm casting, you will find three small on-off switches--one for the lights, one for the smoke unit, and one for the motor. If your FA fails to respond when you advance the throttle, check whether the switches are in the "on" position.
Our models began to move at almost 2 volts using pure, filtered d.c. and should run at a maximum of 12 volts. The locomotives started smoothly with a barely noticeable tendency to lurch within the slowest speed range. The reason for that seems to be Aristocraft's use of dual motors; HO scale locomotives with two motors do the same thing. It is characteristic. The engines seemed to have a nice gearing ratio, and once they reached "cruising" speed they ran smoothly, were responsive, and were reasonably quiet. They did run a little better at moderate to high speeds than at slowest speeds. The mechanism of one unit seemed a little stiff, even after running for an hour. It may smooth out after a longer break-in. Aristocraft recommends you use their Number 5450 4-amp power supply to achieve optimum results with these and all their locomotives. (Aristocraft locos do seem to perform a little better with their own power packs.)
A single engine pulled a maximum of seven freight cars outdoors up a 2 1/2 percent grade. Adding a powered B-unit or another A-unit should more than double that pulling ability. Adding extra weight should also help significantly.
If you shop around it is possible to find Aristocraft products at big discounts. Even at full suggested list they are a bargain. If you spend a little time fine-tuning these models, adding extra weight, and possibly adding or replacing a few details, you should end up with an extremely nice, smooth-running locomotive. Aristocraft points out these models are more for running than collecting. They may benefit from intelligent modification.
In short, the FA-1's quality is good, the potential is great, and the value excellent. If modeling in 1:29 scale appeals to you, Aristocraft diesels are definitely worth a close look.--RR
