I just won an Atlas RS-3 on eBay for $17. If the Athearn shell won’t fit, it won’t be hard to repaint the Atlas - it’s PRR, so a coat of grey primer and then some Pullman Green and I have another Reading unit.
–Randy
Good luck, Randy. Keep us informed on your progress!
Jarrell
Definitely, I’m interested too.
If it is a Kato built model (look at the trucks), Pinesol is the only safe stuff to use to strip it (per Kato) - if you use any other chemical, you will be buying a new shell for the chassis. The Athearn (former MDC) shell and Bowser (from Stewart) shell will fit with minor modifications. Is the phase correct for your model? Bowser offers the shells (kits) in several phases; and they are only $12.95
http://www.bowser-trains.com/Stewart/Stewart%20RS%203%20Body%20Kits.htm
It’s a Kato one, the seller had the box pictured with the unit. I did fail to notice the text that said there were no handrails - but since I won’t be using the Atlas PRR shell, it doesn’t really matter. As for exactly getting the phase correct - if it’s close I’m good. I’m picky but not to the point of worrying about minor variances in louvers. For example, the MDC kit I have has clearly the wrong font for the lettering, and the green is a really sick shade that isn’t anything close. So it will get repainted and relettered. And I have to make a mount for the horns on the cab. The Athearn shell already has the horns in the right place and the color and lettering look right. I’m not a big fan of the Atlas shells, some of the details are just really crude, but I did have an undec one I was working on at one time. It’ll do, but I really like the Athearns - if they only ran as good as they looked.
–Randy