Life-Like n scale FA1

[MopacFAN]

I want to put a Life-Like FA1 shell on a Kato FA1 mechanism.  Has anyone ever done this?  Is there anything I should be aware of when trying this?

[C855B]

I want to put a Life-Like FA1 shell on a Kato FA1 mechanism.  Has anyone ever done this?  Is there anything I should be aware of when trying this?

Aside from Kato having never made an FA1, I don't see any problem with this swap.   

[thomasjmdavis]

I want to put a Life-Like FA1 shell on a Kato FA1 mechanism.  Has anyone ever done this?  Is there anything I should be aware of when trying this?

I am going to guess that what you mean here is that you want to put a Life Like FA1 shell on a brand new ATLAS (not Kato) mechanism.  Atlas bought the Life Like tooling from Walthers (who had purchased it from Life-Like), and the current Atlas FA1 is a retooled version of the Life Like.  My understanding is that the shells are easy to swap, and I believe some of the denizens of the Railwire have accomplished it- so you may want to do a Railwire search function.

Do beware, if you are purchasing the makings for this on eBay or other second hand sources, there was an earlier FA1 from Atlas, made by Roco maybe 45 years ago.  It was one of my first N scale diesels.  Was a very fine loco for its time. I mention this just to alert you that not everything sold as an "Atlas FA1" is their current production, so be sure you know which set of innards you are getting.

[bbussey]

Yes, the vintage Life-Like FA1 shell will fit on the new Atlas FA1 mechanism. The bodyshell tooling is identical including the clear glass numberboards, which will illuminate with the new mechanism. The only notable change is that the windshield glass has been retooled, as the windshield wipers are in a different position with the new Atlas units than the vintage Life-Like units.

[Point353]

Yes, the vintage Life-Like FA1 shell will fit on the new Atlas FA1 mechanism. The bodyshell tooling is identical including the clear glass numberboards, which will illuminate with the new mechanism. The only notable change is that the windshield glass has been retooled, as the windshield wipers are in a different position with the new Atlas units than the vintage Life-Like units.

Have you (or anyone else) weighed the old Life-Like and the new Atlas chassis/mechanisms to see how they compare in that regard?
Or, have you compared the relative pulling power of the two versions?

[bbussey]

The new iteration weighs slightly less due to making room for the extra electronics.  But it still is a brick and still pulls a ton.  The mechanism is the same design as the vintage version, with better wiper pickup design (necessitated by the speaker residing in the fuel tank).