Model Railroading > Atlas FP 7 question......Kadee couples

Atlas release two version of there FP 7....
one had the closed area on the nose.......Orginal 
the secound had an open space next too the
front couple......
Which Kadee is the best for the last release of Atlas FP 7..............

Thanks

I would not spend any time or money messing around with that FP7.    They were made by Roco in Austria and have a tendency like many locos to crack the axle gears and new ones are not available.    Also they do not run as nice as the newer locos the wheel face is flat not convexed and worst of all the couplers are mounted to the body not the chassis so the plastic body has to take all of the load a really bad idea.   Also the roof has too much curvature to it and the body is too narrow, the two combined make it look wrong when coupled to a good unit.   The very early production ones had a major flaw in the die work as there were no vertical batten strips on the side to separate the panels like on the real unit.    I would watch Ebay and try to buy an Intermountain FP7, they run great are the correct contours will look good with other F's, have stainless steel grills and can be had for as little as $50.   And, you get lit number boards, which the ATHearn GEN units do not have, and you get lit class lights.   They are easily the best deal for an FP7.

Rich.

Kade makes some coupler boxes that have a rounded back end that may work. Check their website. I used a heavily modified #5 back in the early 80s. The pin hole closely matches a 2-56 screw. While newer locos of this type are superior in both detail and running quality I have been quite satisfied with my detailed/modified Atlas/Roco units. When the FP7 units went on sale I bought 3 extras to act as parts sources. Still have not used all the parts. On a sad note I have noticed that I have had 2 occurrences of cracked axle gears. Only occurring after 40 years.
CR

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When I had one years ago I used a Kadee #4 with the rear trimmed off and enlarged the hole in the coupler shaft slightly.  It didn't have the centering spring effect, but it did have more prototypical coupling length. 

To be fair... I agree with Super Cap, but I do have an A unit from 40 (?) years ago, and at the time it filled a void in my roster. Would I spend money to upgrade it? Post Intermountain and Athearn Genesis? No. If I had unlimited time and money, maybe LOL