@Jim R. posted:No one has made a three-rail FP9, which is what this unit is. But as I say that, I’m still wondering: Did Menards create this mold, or did someone else make it and never use it? I wish in this one instance Menards would be more transparent about this model’s production background.
At least they stopped calling it an F3...
My response was directed at this statement: "(especially if it is marketed as an FP7 unit when you folks say that no one has previously made an O-scale FP7),"
However, that's neither here nor there. While it's true the model represents an FP9, it's missing the 5 horizontal vents on the side panels (while lacking any dynamic brake fan) is a spotting feature of factory-fresh FP9's. In fact it's missing any vents on the side panels, yet it has the odd detail of a drip strip over the nose door, mostly applied to CN and ON F-units:
Personally, I would reason this is someone else's aborted project and Menards is under no obligation to reveal the source if it is.
Rusty
