Just wondering what companies are making S13s these days!
Thanks!
alexP
Hi Overland and Van hobbies both produced brass models in HO ( nothing in the last ten years though )Kaslo shops weer making a resin body and frame along with sideframes that could be mounted on Atlas S3 guts I’m not sure if these kits are still available though.Train shows are likely your best bet,that or ebay.
Rob
As far as I know, there are no S-13s in production right now. Van Hobbies (now out of business) imported HO scale brass RS-23s and S-13s back in the mid-1980s, and if you’re lucky you might find a used one for sale.
There were some HO scale resin body kits available back in the 1990s, but I don’t remember who made them. A company by the name of Point One Models made a complete RS-23 or S-13 kit (with drive train) in HO scale, and I believe Kaslo Shops took over the Point One line. I don’t know if they plan to bring back the RS-23 and S-13 kits.
The major problem with modeling MLW end cab diesels from 1958 until the end of production is that the frame sits higher off the ground to accommodate the air tanks and fuel tanks. It looks kind of wonky and would be difficult to model if one were to use a standard switcher chassis.
Thanks guys! Their definitely big switchers! I saw one on our mainline today, and decided I needed to have it on my Niagara CN layout… It seemed they were the main yard power in Toronto for years! Seems to be a Canadian only thing. I agree it would be hard to model using a standard chassis, but I think it may be easier to just try and kitbash something as opposed to endless searching on the net for one. Anyone know a good candidate for this transformation?
alexP
I thought of taking on such a project, but I’ve never been ambitious enough.
The body shell would require some scratchbuilding, but I think I’d use an Atlas RS-11 cab as a starting point to build the S-13 cab. The Atlas cab has the correct roof contour and side windows. It would have to be shortened a little because the S-13 cab is not as long as the RS-11 cab. The S-13 also needs a set of centre windows above the hood (the RS-23 doesn’t have these windows), so I would graft in a set of centre windows from an Atlas RS-3 cab. The back of the cab (windows, door, etc.) would have to be made from scratch.
The hood and hood doors would be easy to scratchbuild because there are no louvres on the S-13 hood. Miniatures by Eric makes the bell, horn, and headlight castings.
As for a frame and power chassis, I’d probably go with a Life-Like Proto 2000 Alco S-3 chassis, but the frame would have to be modified (or a whole new frame built) to resemble an S-13 underframe.
Here’s the link for Kaslo: http://www.kasloshops.com/ Unfortunately, they don’t list an S-13.
Wow! I think I am going to have to start working on this. I have some pics of the unit I want to model, as well as some drawings. Thanks tons for the info, I think I may start up a thread about this! It would be a fun winter project, and be something that not many others have. BTW Aloco, I may pm you from time to time as you seem to know what your talking about! Hope you dont mind!!!
Thanks for the info guys!
alexP