Scooooooooore!!!

[Hawghead]

I've been looking for this engine for years at a price that won't break the bank.  Ebay finally came through.  It's one of the only run produced (as far as I know) of this locomotive in HOn3.

Introducing RGS C-17 #42.  I believe this was one of a run of 300.  They do come up for sale now and again but usually in the $600 to $800 price range and I could never justify spending that much for one especially considering I'm sure I'll have to re-gear and re-power it plus add DCC/sound.  I was able to get it for less than $300 all in with tax and shipping.  It was being sold on a Salvation Army Ebay store.  I'm sure someone cleaned out Grampa's attic and took it all to the Salvation Army thinking it was just toy train stuff.  Additionally it was listed under N scale so was probably missed in most people's searches.  It's in very good shape, some tarnish and I don't know if it runs or not, (don't have a DC power pack) but like I said, I'm sure I'll want to re-power it anyway.  This brings my RGS roster to 3 of the K-27s and 2 of the Consolidations.  If I can find a deal on at least one of the Ten wheelers that would give me a nice representation of the RGS roster for my era.



Scott

[learmoia]

Thats a great deal!..

[Dave V]

I'm jealous!

Thinking I'd never find one for less than $800 (not including paint and upgrade to DCC and sound), I coped out and modified a Blackstone C-19 to look just a little like RGS C-17 #42.  If you put my 42 next to that beautiful baby you'd immediately see how much of a compromise I made.  But FWIW, it's a challenge sometimes to get brass to run as well as a Blackstone does out of the box.

That said, yours will almost undoubtedly have much greater pulling power than mine!

Here's my bastardized Blackstone "pseudo-42":

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[CRL]

I wonder what % of brass locos manufactured never get painted, but just sit on a shelf or in a box until sold to the next collector.

[Mike C]

 Dave Ebay does have an RGS # 20 at a good price . Its a tender drive , but it seems to be one of the better ones .  https://www.ebay.com/itm/255099226471   I was thinking on bidding . but I've spent more than I should have in the past couple months ....Mike

[Hawghead]

If I hadn't found this engine my plan was to go with a MDC inside frame locomotive kit bash as they are designed with the main drive rod going to the third driver and they come with both an Alligator and Laird cross head.  I did do an outside frame one that I used a NWSL motor and gear box on that ran great going forward but had just the slightest little hitch running in reverse.  I never did track down the cause of it.  Luckily I won't have to mess with any of that now.  I don't think anyone can dispute the running quality of Blackstone's locomotives, but with gearhead motors and the like now I should be able to get #42 running pretty good (hopefully).
I would say the vast majority of brass engines never make it into paint.  I think the main reason is two fold.  First having an engine custom painted is usually very expensive and second, most people are afraid to try and paint them themselves.

Scott

[Hawghead]

Dave Ebay does have an RGS # 20 at a good price . Its a tender drive , but it seems to be one of the better ones .  https://www.ebay.com/itm/255099226471   I was thinking on bidding . but I've spent more than I should have in the past couple months ....Mike

Shhhhhhh!!  I'm the high bidder! 

Scott

[Mike C]

 Sounds like a challenge !      Good luck !  Need a K28 ? ...Mike

[Hawghead]

Sounds like a challenge !      Good luck !  Need a K28 ? ...Mike

It's funny just after I posted about the C-17 and mentioning I'd like to pickup at least one of the Ten wheelers, I checked ebay and lo and behold there was one and I just couldn't resist, if I do win it the wife is gonna kill me when she finds out.    Unfortunately the RGS never used the K-28s.  I wish they had as I think they are the best looking narrow gauge locomotives of them all.  Besides Blackstone is coming out with the K-28 annnnnnny day now. 

Scott

[peteski]

It's in very good shape, some tarnish and I don't know if it runs or not, (don't have a DC power pack) but like I said, I'm sure I'll want to re-power it anyway.  This brings my RGS roster to 3 of the K-27s and 2 of the Consolidations. 

Wow! Nice find Scott!

As far as testing it goes, put it on a piece of track, take a fresh 9V battery and touch its terminals to the track for instant DC power.   Easy-peasy! Who doesn't have a 9V battery hanging around? I often have battery on me when I attend train shows to be able to test a model I'm interested in buying  For most modern locos track is not even needed - just touch the battery to the wheels.  But with Brass where the loco probably picks power from one rail and tender from the other, piece of track is needed.

[Dave V]

Dave Ebay does have an RGS # 20 at a good price . Its a tender drive , but it seems to be one of the better ones .  https://www.ebay.com/itm/255099226471   I was thinking on bidding . but I've spent more than I should have in the past couple months ....Mike

Don't let me stand in your way!  I have a brass #20 with a can motor that's already painted, but I'm going to outsource the DCC and sound.

[Hawghead]

Well I won the bid, the wife knows and I'm still alive, so.. so far, so good.    Dave is yours a tender drive?  I'm wondering if you kept it tender driven or did you covert it to a conventional drive system?  Peteski, thanks for the tip, I should have thought of that myself.

Scott

[p51]

Great deal, I'm always happy to see someone find something rare that they badly wanted.

I wonder what % of brass locos manufactured never get painted, but just sit on a shelf or in a box until sold to the next collector.

I'd bet that % is a high one. I can't count the number of people I know who have brass that never leaves the boxes and never even sees a jar or can of paint...
I've never understood it.

[Dave V]

Well I won the bid, the wife knows and I'm still alive, so.. so far, so good.    Dave is yours a tender drive?  I'm wondering if you kept it tender driven or did you covert it to a conventional drive system?  Peteski, thanks for the tip, I should have thought of that myself.

Scott

No, I have the Empire Limited version with the can motor in the boiler:

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[Dave V]

Also, an undecorated modernized C-19, scarcer than a hen's tooth, is available with a "buy it now."

If I didn't already have twice the number of C-19s than I reasonably need, I'd snatch this one up and use my two remaining San Juan Central decals on it.

Figured one of you other fine HOn3 narrow gaugers could use it more than me!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/393532506423?hash=item5ba05d8137:g:YScAAOSw6pRhJshZ