Does anyone know of a manufacturer, besides Atlas, which offers any of the ALCO RS series HO locomotives? Or do I have to wait until Atlas actually restocks the undecorated RS-1?
I just ran an eBay search for ALCO RS (NEW) and there are quite a few from $28 to $107.
Mel
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Bowser has announced a RS-3 in its Executive line and Rapido Trains a RS-11 and the Canadian counterpart, the MLW RS-18. Athearn RTR had a RS-3.
Regards, Volker
Bowser’s RS-3 was supposed to hit the market in the 4th quarter, but they got hit with the China factory closure too.
I’ve got an RSC-3 from Proto 1000. These had 6 axles to distribute the weight on lighter branch lines. It’s a nice model and runs very well. It’s at least 10 years old, though.
Athearn made an RS-3 but I wouldn’t recommend it. It runs so-so, at best. The Atlas RSes are very nice.
Tom
You could check the Atlas website to see if they have the undec RS-1 body shell for sale by itself. I’ve bought a couple of Atlas body shells over the years and then swapped bodies with another Atlas engine. IIRC not too expensive ($25-30?). Guess it depends how long you want to wait for the undec RS-1 to be re-released.
There’s plenty of Alco RS-series locos that have been done. And many that are findable.
But.
Only Atlas made/makes a plastic RS-1. Sure wish they’d redo the handrails. And more. There are also brass ones.
Curiously, and happily, my three Athearn SP&S RS-3’s run beautifully. On DCC, anyway.
Ed
I have a 50% siccess rate with Athearn RS3s. First one has power delivery issues, even after I added a dedicate wire to each truto so bypass the bolster contact. The issue is the plastic part of the truck keeps the bronze bushings from touching the metal part. I am certain I can fix this. Second one I bought ran perfectly fine with no modifications at all.
Do not fear the older Atlas models, they have always been good, going back to the first Kato-made ones. When I see an undec on eBay, I always keep track of it and if it doesn;t go for too high, I will place a bid. RS3s are my favorite loco AND my road had more RS3s than any other class of first gen diesel, so having a lot of them is something I need. They’re all easy to convert to DCC, so don;t worry about that even with the old ones.
You cna also find the old MDC ones as well. The later ones used a P2K drive, the one out of the early FAs (the ones that had the rubber band drive to spin the radiator fan) - the ones I have still have the grooved flywheel for the drive belt. They are diret Blue Box drive clones with a beter motor and drive train, so converting to DCC isn;t all that difficult either.
For cab units, the P2K FAs can be had for a reasonable price if you watch the auctions, though some AB sets go for ridiculous prices - they ARE both powered though. Another good runner are the Walthers Trainline ones, they were quite inexpensive but have excellent running characteristics. They do need details added to the shells - they are the old Train Miniature shells and are lacking things like separate grab irons and ladders.
Those are the only two Alco first gen models I need for my railroad, but ANY of the older Atlas models are a good choice, if you want other first gen RS/RSC/RSD models.
–Randy
Atlas has offered the RS32/RS36 (and Mexican RS11 Low Nose in the same carbody).
The Atlas RSD-4/5 has also been available.
The Proto 2000 (one of last models prior to Walthers’ takeover) Alco RS-27 is a wonderful model and they are usually easy to find.
Or, if you have money to spare, Division Point is producing a number of Alco RS units in brass. They are gorgeous, if you are willing to spend $1,000.
https://www.divisionpoint.com/site/alcos-rs-road-switchers-run-1-ho/
I received an Atlas RS-3 as a gift some years ago, decorated for the L&N, as I recall. I modified it slightly to represent a CNR prototype, then re-did the grabirons and lift rings with metal parts and replaced the side handrails using piano wire in the stock Delrin stanchions. I didn’t attempt to re-do the end railings, though. I painted it with Accupaint’s CN colours, and used their Accucals to add the proper striping and lettering. It eventually went to a friend when I backdated my layout’s era…
A few years ago, another friend was looking for an RS-1. I remembered that my LHS had a used one for sale, so went there and got it for $50.00. I don’t recall the roadname on it, but stripped the paint and then re-did all of the handrails with piano wire, and replaced all of the cast-on grabirons and lift rings, too. It got a CNR-style paint scheme, using Accupaint and Accucals, too, but I lettered it for the friend’s free-lance road, using Champ alphabet sets…
That friend recently left the hobby, and I was able to buy it back, and it’s now gone to the first friend’s layout, too, although I was very tempted to keep it.
Both locos were (and are) great runners.
Wayne
Well, after rescouring the Atlas webs site I found out that the Atlas RS-3 estimated shipping date is the 4th quarter of 2018, and the estimated shipping date of the RS-1 is the first quarter of 2019. So, I think I will wait and purchase one through a 3rd party vendor.
Which begs another question. Do 3rd party vendors, e.g. MB Klein, Walthers, preorder from the manufacturer like one of us peasants?
I agree with you, Docwayne, the RS-1 runs really nice. I hope it has not been “improved” in this respect.
Bachmann has done an RS-2 in both DCC Sound and DCC equipped. For the money, they run well and if details are secondary, then it’s worth the money. Also, Bachmann engines can be found on the secondary market at good prices, especially train shows in both new and used.
As for Atlas, I picked up an RS-1 yellow box, had an NCE decoder installed in it and it runs great!
Good luck in your search!
Neal
Don’t know if MBK does preorders, but Trainworld and Mainline take preorders. I suppose they can gauge by the preorders, whether or not to order for their own stocking purposes.
I would think it would be pretty much like any retail business that is seasonal, as opposed to selling toilet paper or donuts. When menswear was made in the US, my father would select from the colors and patterns of fall clothing shown by the factory rep in early summer and place his order The manufacturers would then make what was ordered.
Neal, I have the Bachmann RS-2 and it is a good runner, but near as I can figure out, only Atlas does an undecorated version of the RS1/RS3.
Athearn:
http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH94000
Might be time for a re-issue.
But there’s one on eBay right now.
Ed
There is no Bachmann RS-2; they only made the RS-3 (and not that well; the trucks are atrocious and the cab windows need some work).
The RS-2 has been made by Kato and Proto 1000. The Kato runs and pulls extremely well, but the radiator fan housing is too tall and the LED’s are too green. The Proto 1000 model looks and runs well (but no grabirons), but is very slow geared. RS-2’s used to haul passenger trains on the NH, and yet the models don’t go much more than 40 mph.
The fingers type quicker than the brain. Bachmann’s engine is an RS-3. Thanks for pointing it out…
I don’t know if it’s an advantage or not, but you should be able to buy direct from Atlas, too.
I recently purchased a number of Atlas/Branchline reefer underframes directly from Atlas.
Wayne