you know what would be awesome in N scale...

[daniel_leavitt2000]

The starsman motor is no longer available.... I got the very last one a few years ago, and that was a special build. I don't want to tell you how much it cost, but it was about 4X the cost if the engine. I added the NWSL wheels and Arnold SW1200 trucks to make an S4.

[Denver Road Doug]

Regarding availability, I see these all the time at shows, and sometimes at good prices. (or what I thought would be anyway)  I don't have any need for them but if someone wants me to keep an eye out just let me know and what you would pay for one.

I expect we will see these eventually from Atlas but it will probably be at least a couple of years.  But that's just a hunch...could be tomorrow, could be 5 years or more.

[Mr. G]

S2s crop up on the 'Bay all the time.  I've generally seen them go for $30-50, with a few going much higher (because of the decoder?  I have no idea).  I wouldn't pay more than $50 for one in good shape.

The shells are really nicely detailed and weighty, with the hoods being zinc.  The paint can be a bit of a crapshoot.  I've seen early ATSF engines that were electric blue and late ones that were spot on.  I'm not sure I'd call them gems, though.  They're noisy, a bit jerky, and prone to gear cracking.  I value the ones I've got, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't love to see new ones hit the market.  With the lack of replacement motors, I don't see myself picking up any more of these, except maybe as donors.

Also, I'd avoid the thing currently on eBay being sold as an Arnold S2 in Burlington paint.

[Bob Bufkin]

Weren't they one of the first if not the first to come equipped with a decoder?  Read that someplace.

[sizemore]

Weren't they one of the first if not the first to come equipped with a decoder?  Read that someplace.

Yeah, IIRC it was a Lenz with horrible speed steps and harder than sin to program. Someone can probably correct me.

The S.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Yeah. these were the first North American models to come with a decoder from the factory. If you want one tat runs DCC, pick up the DCC equipped one. You are not getting it for the decoder (you can toss that piece of trash), but the PC board is different and isolated the motor from the wheels.

These are rather noisy and tend to jackrabbit starts, but after the new wheels, gears and motor mine is easily the best switcher I own. Better than the NW2. Better than the SW1200. Better than the 44 toner.

[Mr. G]

These are rather noisy and tend to jackrabbit starts, but after the new wheels, gears and motor mine is easily the best switcher I own. Better than the NW2. Better than the SW1200. Better than the 44 toner.

But is that better only with the Starsman motor?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Correct... the Starsman motor IS the engine. You can use a Machima motor with similar results. Here is my S4:


http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=608831

[Denver Road Doug]

Correct... the Starsman motor IS the engine. You can use a Machima motor with similar results. Here is my S4:


http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=608831

Hey, that's a nice looking loco!  And, the only Alco I think I've ever seen in person.  Well, maybe saw one at IRM but it all kinda runs together after a while.  But I remember seeing that one in 1987 or so at Union Station.   Thanks for sharing.

[James Costello]

no, not that, or that, or even that, but an updated Alco S2.

I'd rather an SW1500 or at least an MP15AC first....

[Chris333]

Whatever you do, don't distort those springs in any way or it won't run right.

[bbussey]

Didn't Ron Bearden write an article a few years back on replacing the spring drives with the Atlas universals?

[Mr. G]

Whatever you do, don't distort those springs in any way or it won't run right.

Chris, didn't you machine new brass replacements for those springs?

[wm3798]

I did one decoder install in this dog, and quickly raised my price to do the next.  Yes, it looks nice, but by the time you pay for all the replacement parts you NEED to make it even a halfway decent runner, you might as well pay $100 for an Atlas VO1000 with a decoder.  It's damn near impossible to put lighting in it, and way the shell is attached to the frame almost requires you to break it to get it apart.

Out of the box it's a bonafide POS.  Nice looking, but a POS nonetheless.

I stand with Steve on this one.

Lee

[Chris333]

The worm gear engages into the spring at just about half way. The teeth are right at the center line. So if you tried to cut a worm for it you'd be left with just a brass spring. If you can raise up the motor you could get a worm on it: