By Railroad Model Craftsman Staff
Fairbanks-Morse is a manufacturer first known for its weighing scales which later diversified into the manufacturing of pumps, engines, windmills, coffee grinders, radios, farm tractors and more. Beginning in 1930, F-M produced a diesel prime mover of an opposed-piston design that soon found fame and a stalwart reputation for powering submarines and other vessels of the US Navy. After World War II, the company entered the burgeoning market for diesel-electric locomotives with its opposed-piston prime mover powering switchers and road locomotives of its own design. The H-12-44 was F-M’s 1200 horsepower switcher that was purchased by many railroads large and small all across the United States. The first examples were produced in 1950 for the Milwaukee Road. ‘Phase I’ H-12-44s were produced from 1950 to 1953, with longer truck centers than later production. Like its H-10-44 predecessor, the H-12-44 featured artistic flourishes from famed industrial designer Raymond Loewy that included curved step guards on the walkways and an optional cab overhang serving as a sunshade. These durable locomotives lasted into the 1970s, with a few units preserved today.
Wheels of Time has announced a series of conversion kits that enable modelers to build different Phase I F-M H-12-44s in multiple road-specific versions. Each kit includes a 3D-printed detailed prototype-specific body shell with walkways, fuel and air tanks, and laser-cut cab windows.
Body variations include a high or low front hood door, a high or low mounted front headlight, and the presence or absence of the F-M medallion, cab roof overhang, front mounted bell, “H10-44 style” hood vents or twin hood vents, and Pyle-National large ash can warning lights where appropriate. Five different versions of the kit are offered to cover these ‘Phase I’ H-12-44s for Santa Fe, Baltimore & Ohio, Chicago & North Western, Milwaukee Road, New York Central, Pennsylvania, Southern Pacific, Kentucky & Indiana Terminal, Weyerhaeuser Timber, Penn Central and many others.
To complete the model, an Atlas VO-1000 switcher mechanism, 15″ BLMA/Atlas grab drop grab irons, .010-inch diameter plastic rod, paint and decals are to be supplied by the modeler. Each H-12-44 conversion kit retails for $58 each. Reserve now direct. Delivery is expected in September-October 2023.
Wheels of Time, PO Box 846, Mountain View, CA 94042-0846; www.wheelsotime.com
Five different versions of the conversion kit are offered to cover ‘Phase I’ H-12-44s for Santa Fe, Baltimore & Ohio, Chicago & North Western, Milwaukee Road, New York Central, Pennsylvania, Southern Pacific, Kentucky & Indiana Terminal, Weyerhaeuser Timber, Penn Central and many others. The Southern Pacific version features large ‘ashcan’ signal lights atop each end of the body shell. Preproduction test print shown above, subject to further refinement.
Wheels of Time is offering a series of “Phase I” Fairbanks-Morse H-12-44 switcher conversion kits in multiple versions with road-specific and feature-specific details for N scale. Shown above is a pre production test print of the Santa Fe version.
