LL FA1/FB1 performance

[untabubba]

That thud you just heard was the good old Breeze fallin' off the wagon. I just bought(won?) a Life Like FA1/FB1 set for $22.57 brand new in the box. I have a couple questions. 1. Are these an "older" design? (see item # - 5912244448 for speecs) Both N scale supply and BLW want $90 and $75, respectively. Yet this outfit out of Baltimore is giving these sets up, at auction, in the "twenties" and selling them "outright" on their web-site for $39.99! WHAT'S UP, oh learned expert buddies of mine?? Have I bought a "pig-in-a-poke"? 2. Since this is obviously a "set", I am going to MU them exclusively. Therefore should I only ever run them MUed right out of the box so they "break in" together? Marc The eBay junkie!!

[ginzokid]

This deserves a new topic so I did it. Do any of you have these engines and how do they run? I have not owned them so can't help here. Pete

[janesew]

I bought a LL FA1 CN Green & Gold for next to nothing at a LHS but they don't make a CN FB1 yet so I got a fair price on an undecorated and will eventually paint it to match. Both units are powered. Are they both powered in the set? I use them to pull my 9 car Arnold Riv. CN heavyweights. So far no problem. Smooth, Quiet and nice creepers with a good weight. They seem to be good pullers, no problem up the 2% slope but those heavyweights are actually kinda light. No problem switching to MT couplers. (hear that Marc?) Not much detail even on the prototype, as they are streamlined, but the models look nice. You can see the fan blades under the grill. Nice bright headlight too. Marc's price sounds too good to be true. They might be selling them at cost. Good one!! I'm not sure if it is older stock or the new releases. Can't help there. Sorry. Fred

[trmwf]

I had several of their early GP18's and SD7's and thought they ran swell. The details were not as nice as the atlas and katos but were not near as $$$ and I thought they pulled better. I once made a statement in a LHS "that I would never spend the $$ for atlas or kato as long as LL was in business." Well, the need for variety and steam power caused me to break that vow (but not in that store). Anyway, also have a couple of the more current releases like the C424 and find them just as nice as the two higher end competitors. They still run very good and the details are really improved. I do not have the FA1/FB1 but would be surprised if you are disappointed in them, especially for $$. Running them as a set is nice but for some reason, I really like the looks of an early diesel consist of jeeps with an old A or B unit in the middle. Anyway, break them in as you please as I do not think it would make that much difference if you broke them in entirely together. Mike

[nascarpetlover]

I believe that LL brought these out after the SW 900/1200 and I think it was about two three years ago. Check MR to see their review for a more accurate release date. Answering by memory, if I could remember the question. Any way I think I answered the question. Ah, what the h**l I'll just run for president as I may know be qualified (over). Lou PS I had three f**t's but they were not purple does that count.

[untabubba]

They are both powered and they get a good rap from what I've read......I'm just SUCH a paranoid I'm wondering WHY I'm getting NINETY dollar (N scale supply) set for $23?? I was wondering if they "redid" the drive mechanism. I have a BUNCH of LL locos and they are NOT "all created equal"!! The E7/8s, PAs and SD7s are ABSOLUTLEY AWESOME, but the GP-38s are a little "suspect"! I can't wait to get an SW8/9 1200(whatever). They have gotten RAVE reviews!! Marc

[janesew]

I have three of the LL NSW9 - CN Green, CN black and TH&B. All purchased within a year. They all run very differently and some work had to be done on one of them to run at all. I also have the LL Saddle Tank switcher. If you watch Dave's auctions you've probably seen hundreds of these listed as not running in the "lot" auctions. They have a simple electrical connection of wipers on the wheel flanges that just don't want to work. They get dirty so easily and the contact point is so small. I'm sure there are other reasons to avoid getting one. When they do work they are a riot because of their size. However, I'm looking forward to mortgaging the house for one of the new Atlas Shays! F

[untabubba]

Fred, DO tell about the NSW9s!! They get RAVES on the web sites! Marc

[beastranger]

Marc I have a set in Erie livery that I won awhile back for around $30. I mu them with a (can't spell it) yellow and black Geep something. They are a little noisey but will crawl up my 3% grade with 30 sixty foot tankers behind them with no problem. One of my better consists. Doug

[janesew]

Marc, I guess the point I'm making is that every Apple tree might have a Lemon. Or is that one bad apple don't spoil the whole bunch. I heard the rave reviews as well but I can only go on the three I have. All were NIB. The LHS fixed the non runner with no hassle. They even let me watch and explained what they were doing. (Panther Hobbies) The Saddle Tank was an ebay purchase on a whim that piggybacked my mallet purchase to save shipping costs. (managed to get across the border with no additional costs too... you've got to pray and make sacrifices to appease the Canada Post gods, Pete! A little screech poured over a page of 49 cent stamps should do it.) The LL Mallet is a little hesitant over the turnouts unless under a boxcar load and I've already expounded on the enigma that is the Saddle Tank. The F units are running smooth and are the first I run when showing off my layout to friends and family. Fred - yes I do have friends and my family is still talking to me.

[flaretired]

I would like to know more about Life like. I understand they were bought out by Walters. I found this and looks like a good deal. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=6026494908&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT I cannot find out any information about these engines. Is LL DCC compatible? Chuck 🙂

[beastranger]

Chuck I have a set of these and they are both powered. They are older inexpensive engines, they are a little noisy but have good pulling power. Don't know about DCC. The price is about right for NIB but in his other auctions the seller says that he doesn't know the difference between scales unless it's printed on the box so I'd be a bit leery of buying from him. Punk

[untabubba]

Chuck, This clown probably won that set from these guys. http://cgi.ebay.com/N-Life-Like-FA1-FB1-Set-7456-SAL-4202-4302_W0QQitemZ6026759442QQcategoryZ19125QQ... Both units are powered and EXCELLENT runners with GREAT pulling power! Don't know about DCC. Write them and ask. They are really good about doing business. They are a BIG, old, well known hobby shop in Baltimore called Klein's. Check their other items out too. I have made numerous purchases from them. If you "snipe" their auctions you can get some truly fabulous deals! ;) Marc

[ginzokid]

I'll settle the DCC question....NO. These engines are not DCC anything. From what I remember, and you guys that have them can correct me on this, the frames on these are not split, which means you can not easily isolate the motor from the frame electrically which is required for DCC. If the frames are split, it is possible that Aztec makes a tooled frame for them, and then you can do a DCC conversion. But I belive these engines are not friendly at all to DCC. B-)

[flaretired]

Here is the features from Marc's site. Features: - Powered A & B units - Dual Fly Wheels - Split Frame Mechanism Thanks Marc I will ask and see if they know. Chuck 🙂