Old Atlas Kato RS3 shell transplant onto "Classic" RS3 China

[Mark5]

Ok, my "on the cheap" classic RS3 (newer slow mo run) arrived yesterday!

Background: I had considered remotoring the old Atlas/Kato chassis but with the newer(better) Atlas/China mech out there I decided against (too much work and a little dicey) it contingent on my being able to score one of the newer Atlas releases on the cheap.

So I spent about half an hour dismantling both my old Atlas/Kato version and the new version.

To my surprise and delight my old shell and cab fit perfectly on the new mechanism and sill with a few small exceptions:

1) I had to "snip" the two little prongs on the inside of the Atlas/Kato cab as the new mech does not have "slots" for these.
2) I noticed that the front steps on the shell stuck out a bit over the sill. This puzzled me for a while. I had both shells off again and compared them (they are the same tooling, with minor mods to the tooling on the new release). Finally I figured it out: the new mechanism has two "pimples" on the sides near the ends of the frame. These must mate to some "dimples" that atlas added to the inside of the new shell. I think I'll simply file those down so that the new shell will fit properly.

So I'm pretty pleased - it runs a hell of a lot better! This is the oldest diesel that I have hung onto over the years, and a sentimental favorite as it raised the bar up to respectable for N scale hood diesels.

I took pix last nite, but I havent had time to upload them - will do that tonight or tomorrow latest.

Remaining challenges: the donor sill, fuel tank, and railings are shiny black. Will have to dull these down to match the hood and weather the whole thing a bit me thinks. Also, since I model late 60s early 70s, I will have to repaint the end railings yellow.

Here's the before:


(click to enlarge)

[railspike55]

N&W

This good to here, But how well do they pull compaired to older chassis.

I have 10 of the old runs and they still run vary well.  Lots of parts for backup to.

I agree they need fly's to get them to run better but still not willing to
part with the pulling power these have.

Any thoughts.

Ron N.

[wm3798]

I have a newer RS-3 Classic, and now 5 of the old A/K's.  The older one's will pull out your molars, while the newer ones will likely get a canine, but only if it's loose...  Wait a minute, I just described Skibbe's love life...

Anyhoo, if you don't plan to install decoders, the newer mechanism is very good, smooth running with flywheels.  But there's not much meat in there to take out to make room for a decoder.  It'll fit, but you lose a significant amount of weight.

With a little fine tuning, and adjustments to the CV's, the old mechanism is a better candidate for a brain transplant.
Lee

[railspike55]

Thats what I thought as well.  Mine are running just great lots of n-trak
layout hours on them.  4 loco's pulling 80 car trains. those were the days.

Guess I am just use to seeing the trucks move first then the engine.

If I could find the striping that NKP has for their loco's I would consider
updating all my old stuff. But as of now Micro scale has not released the new updated decals. In N that is.  An don't need to aquire 200 sets for a special run.

Good thing there is N&W locos to fall back on.

By the way I am waiting for after x-mas rush to send out the RS parts.


Ron N.

[Mark5]

As said the old chassis is much heavier. As this loco is a novelty on the N&W (N&W bought 8 IIRC) I don't care.

[Mark5]

My pix stink.

Before:



During:



Here with old shell and cab mounted on Classic chassis, sill, and handrails:



When I originally did this back in the mid 80s I relocated the horns to the roof to be more like N&Ws. I busted one off in this process. Maybe I'll use this as an opportunity to put a horn a little closer to correct on it now.

I also want to figure out how to do those itsy bitsy number boards.

[wm3798]

What kind of number boards are you looking to do?  The corner mounts?
http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/foto_fun_105.jpg

I used a square file to cut a chamfer at the corners, then used simple bits of styrene.


Lee

[railspike55]

The only ones now avilable are from Eric
They are brass

http://www.miniaturesbyeric.com/itm00277.htm

Ron N.

[Bob Bufkin]

I've got this available if your interested.  Sorry for the crummy photo.

[Ryan87]

The only ones now avilable are from Eric
Ron N.

Ron, those are CPR stile number boards, I always thought they were the best looking. 
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/cp/cp8455ads.jpg

Looking at N&W they has the original ALCO number boards which is OUCH! Have you thought about John Sing's file label method?
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/nw/nw300ags.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~atsf_arizona_2/Easy_N_Scale_Locomotive_Numberboards.html

A quick experiment with my bubble jet printer confirms you can print small enough to fit. as for font... ???

[Mark5]

What kind of number boards are you looking to do?  The corner mounts?

Naw.

N&W's RS3s had normal (for RS3s) number boards



I guess I'll need to get an alpha/number decal set to get white #s that small

I'm skeptical about the Sing method as I'm thinking the labels would be too thick.

I'm not gonna sweat about it too much as the N&W RS3 was a very late phase and hence the Atlas model is incorrect for N&W.

[railspike55]

Shell has white no's in "N"

Have you tried these? 

The Number boards on the NKP are what I have used in the past.
Detail Assoc.  no longer making them.

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/nkp/nkp557.jpg

Ryan87
Thanks for CPR info  Eric has a good many details that can be modifyed for use in the
US.  His casting of the snow plows for steamers are fantastic.

Lee
That is a great Idea. If I can not find enough boards I am  going to try that one. 
It may not be good for close up photo's......but  so what. It will look better than no boards.

Ron N.

[Mark5]

Shell has white no's in "N"

Have you tried these? 

Yeas I have the shell scale - they are designed for the larger RS11 and Century # boards.

But ya know, I should measure 'em anyway.