How many of you out there have an MDC RS3? How many of you have cussed the handrails at one time or another. Either installing them or having them break when handling the engine, they can be a real pain in the butt.[:(!] Well, here’s a news flash for ya! The new, very flexible handrails from the re-released MDC RS3, (Thats the new Athearn RS3 for those of you in Dawgpatch) WILL almost fit the old bodies! The only problem I had was the drop rail on each side at the step well, front and rear was too short, but easy to take a #75 drill bit and relocate the hole. Also the end rails, the bottom ends need to have holes drilled on each side of the air hoses to fit right.
I found this out while putting the final details on my Western Maryland Hammerhead RS3 this week. ( Thanks again to the forum members that helped find the conversion kit!) Hope to finish it and have pics by the weekend!!
For those keeping handrail score, add this to Atlas GP7 handrails fitting the old Front Range and Trains Unlimited GP7 & 9’s[:)]
hey thanks.
I had asked at our local train shop about handraisl for the front range gP9 and they said the atlas ones may fit it. I still have not gotten around to pickein some up, but Its really good to hear they really do fit =)
~matt
Yeah, go for it! I refitted one (of my 4) Front Range engines with Atlas handrails last year, worked like a charm!
Has anyone else swapped handrails from one maker to another with success??
(almost sounds like a new topic?)