Atlas Rs-1 help

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hello,

I want to get an Atlas RS1 N-scale. The website said it doesn’t have Dcc ready frames, could I try to fit a decoder in there, or is it not DCC compatible at all.

Also, if it is DCC compatible, what decoder would I use?

Thanks
Andrew

2

Andy,First it takes some work to install a decoder.First you need to disassemble the drive and use a dremel tool to grind the weight down on one end so the decoder can fit ,reassemble the drive and install the brand of decoder you use on your other Atlas locomotives…

3

There are a couple of companies, Aztek is one, that offer this service if you don’t feel comfortable in grinding the frame of your own loco. At least for some models, they do it as an exchange, you send in your frame, they send you a milled one, not necessarily the same one you sent out - faster turnaround that way.

–Randy

4

go to aztec.com. they mill the frames for $10 and i believe they return it with a decoder recomendation and instructions on installing it. you’ll need a z scale decoder for the rs1. i’ve got a couple of frames that i’m going to send them soon including rs1’s gp7’s and gp20’s

5

here is an alternative:

DigiFrames DCC Replacement Cast Digital Frames

here is a good site for info:

http://www.trainweb.org/nrmrc/dcc/conversions.html#retro

here is a site that stocks them:

http://www.fiferhobby.com/html/digiframes_digi-frame_digifram.html

hope this helps,
Craig

6

Southern Digital offers replacement frames (Digiframes, as Craig mentioned) with the decoder slot already milled (or molded) out. They claim theirs are made of a different, heavier alloy, so the locomotive may wind up heavier than it was before the installation process. Since they are not modifying stock frames, there is no need to send them the old one.

Their web site is www.sodigi.com. It looks like they offer RS1 frames for $9.99. One of the on-line DCC specialist was also carrying their frames and was about a buck cheaper, but I don’t remember who it was. Not Tony’s, Loy’s Toys or John’s Hobbies (I just checked).

Looking at Craig’s post above, it looks like Fifer carries them.