I looked at a pop ad for a soon to be released Bowser RS-3 in Pennsylvania and Western Maryland versions. The MSRP for the Sound/DCC version is $300 which in today’s market seems like an excellent price. I know Bowser used to be a maker of kit built locos but now I think they just do RTR. I’ve never owned one of their locos and wonder what others might think of their quality.
Announced release date is December 17 but if they are like most companies, they won’t hit that target, especially if the product is sitting in a cargo ship off the port of Los Angeles.
I’ve only purchased their older Stewart line of locomotives (FTs, F3s, VO-660 & VO-1000 switchers) and think they are an excellent value; on top of the fact that their drives (Kato, Buehler, or Canon) are 2nd to none. If the RS-3 is part of their “Executive Line” then the detail should be quite good and run VERY smoothly & quietly.
A few years back, I purchased a Bowser Executive Line VO-1000 equipped with a Soundtraxx Tsunami sound decoder. It is very well detailed and a great runner and puller. Bought it from my LHS for $279. It is my one and only Bowser locomotive.
From what I read, the RS-3 will be equipped with a Loksound Select sound decoder.
I don’t know what the final Bowser RS-3 will look like, but I can say that my VO-1000 is not identical to the prototype, if that is important to you.
Here is a photo of the actual CNW #1040 which can be compared to my CNW #1039. The actual loco had two smokestacks, compared to four smokestacks on my model. The actual loco had side handrails, whereas my model has no side handrails. Those are the two most obvious differences in addition to several lesser differences.
I bought two CPR SD 40-2 red barn locomotives from Bowser. They are very well detailed and superb runners in DC and DCC mode. They come with LokSound decoders now which I like very much.
I highly recommend Bowser compared to anything else out there except Kato which I do not own, yet.
I am a freelancer so prototype fidelity is not a big issue with me. My fictional railroad interchanges with the Pennsy and I already have several Pennsy locos on the roster. I try not to gather too much knowledge so minor inaccuracies won’t bother me.
The consensus seems to be that Bowsers are excellent runners so I am sorely tempted to add this one. I really don’t need another Pennsy loco but I have a fondness for the little ALCOs and might add this one. You can never have too many locos.
That’s what I liked about the Stewart versions. They included sprues of additional parts (e.g. stacks) & instruction sheets with the box for outfitting your locomotive to the preferred “phase” of your prototype. My Stewart FTs came with 3 different roof hatches for both the A & B-units: Non-dynamic hatch, Phase I/II dynamic hatch, and Phase III dynamic hatch. IIRC, my VO-660 & VO-1000 switchers had several stack arrangements to choose from.
Rich, does the box for your C&NW VO-1000 say it was modeled in a particular phase?
I am pretty sure that picture was taken after the unit was repowered with an EMD engine. From what I can tell, the C&NW started repowering them in the late 50’s.
Here is a picture of one before repowering. No side handrails present, however it does look like it only has one stack.
As for the OP’s question, I have several 6 axle Alco Centuries from Bowser, and am quite happy with them. I also have 3 RS3’s on order.
I went to the Bowser website to pre-order but as far as I can tell, they aren’t taking the pre-orders. Nice to see someone do something the old fashioned way and only take orders for what they have in stock. They have a lot of other locos listed that I’m guesing are out of production because they aren’t taking orders for those either.
Maybe I’m wrong about the pre-order but I didn’t see any such option on their website.
When I click on the website, it does say that pre-orders are being accepted. On the RS-3 Progress Report, it states to “stake your claim quickly”. But, in my quick glance, I did not come across a pre-order form.
What they mean is that pre-orders are being accepted from retailers like Lombards or M B Klein. Bowser is manufactuer and retail to them is a sidelime, retailers with pre-orders will receive the first units before Bowser sells any to customers directly. Also note the expected delivery date, which may change is December 17th. I have four coming that I ordered in 2017.
I have one Stewart version, on hand 5 Executive models, one on pre-order.
All I have are very smooth, powerful runners with great performance. The new executive models are extremely well detailed, and the newest are even prototype roadname and roadnumber specific.
You will love how well these are built.
The best part? Bowser actually stocks parts you might need. (Like if you pull the goofup I did and damage a cab… Or something similar.) Lee and his team are all top notch guys, and make a great model.
What could be more “obvious” to a casual modeler than 2 smokestacks versus 4 smokestacks?
As far as “complaining”, my comments were simply my observations about my own model. The second sentence of your reply is ludicrous on its face. It has no bearing or relevance on my comments to the OP.
