Description
When it comes to FA-2 locomotives, one size definitely does not fit all. There were substantial variations from railroad to railroad and Rapido covered all of the major ones. Rapido’s model will include:
- Correct water/fuel tank combination for the FPA-2
- Dynamic Brakes
- Vertical battery box louvers
- Prototype-specific details
- Underbody piping and conduit
- Nose louvers for B&O
- Trainphone Antenna for PRR
In all, Rapido actually tooled four different fuel and fuel/water tanks: two FA-2 fuel tanks (one for CP and one for everyone else) and two FPA-2 fuel/water tanks (one for CP/CN and one for everyone else).
The B&O FA-2 and FPA-2 both feature the distinctive nose louvers that were added in the early 1950s. Other spotting features include the Wabco E2 horns, dual-Pyle headlight (other roadnames also feature a single headlight if applicable). The production model will have an etched-metal nose herald and the proper “dotted” typeface in the number boards.
Most importantly, Rapido is the ONLY FA model ever produced that was scaled from a 3D scan of the prototype, FPA-4 #6765 in Exporail. The nose on their model is the only one guaranteed to be the correct shape, as it’s the only one designed from a 3D scan! It is quite different from the nose used on older models.
Rapido HO Scale Alco/MLW FA-2/FPA-2 features:
- HO Scale DC or DC/DCC/SOUND
- 5-pole, skew-wound motor with excellent slow-speed performance
- Operating number boards, headlights and two-color class lights
- Roadname-specific details
- Dynamic brakes
- Etched-metal grilles (Farr or chicken wire, as appropriate)
- Full underbody piping and conduit
- Correct, roadnames-specific FA-2 and FPA-2 fuel tanks
- Separate grab irons and handrails installed at the factory
- Heavy, die-cast chassis
- Full cab interior
- Accurate sounds recorded from a real Alco 244 prime mover
- Factory-installed MacDonald-Cartier couplers mounted at the correct height