K-Line RS-3's. Good, Bad, Indifferent ?

[dougdagrump]

Thinking of buying one with TMCC, etc. Anybody have one, if you do what's your opinion of this loco? Power, quality, so on and so forth. [tup][tdn][?]
Thanks for any and all input. [:)]

[brianel027]

Dougdagrump, I know these loco's were review by both train mags when they first came out. So being this is the CTT Forum, I just pawed through my train mags and there in the November 2001 CTT issue starting on page 110, the K-Line and MTH Railking RS-3's are both reviewed together.

The K-Line RS-3 is more detailed than the MTH model. I do recall seeing the loco at shops and shows and know it was nice looking, except for one major glitch... the frame of the loco rides exceedingly high off the trucks, so there is a very noticeable space between the trucks and the frame. If this were your typical "toy" train loco, the mistake might be a little more overlooked. But given this is such a detailed, scale model, it is a glaring eyesore in my opinion.

I'm more of a toy train guy, BUT I do know if this same truck / frame gap was on an K-Line MP-15 or S-2 I'd be very bothered by it and try to come up with some kind of fix. If I couldn't change the truck / motor mounting, I'd be tempted to run some kind of strip of flat black painted bass wood or Plastruct beneath the frame, above the trucks on each side to help conceal the space. I've made wood fillers to conceal some of the space on the front and back ends of the MP-15... a space that is not nearly as pronounced or obvious as it is on the RS-3.

The train mag also pointed this visual flaw out in the review and listed it under the "con" list along with the smoke stack popping off easily in your hand. But under the "pros" list was an excellent level of detail, good operating qualities and nice sound system. Overall, aside from the truck / frame space, the review was very favorable and positive.

I've seen these locos at blowout prices a few times. If you find one at a bargain price, it would be worth it.

But if I were you, I'd want to see the loco and see the frame / truck space to see if that bothers you first before you buy.

[dougdagrump]

Thanks Brian. That is one of the things that I noticed in looking at them on the K-Line website. Like you said the price does make them EXTREMELY attractive, initially I had been looking for a Lionel RS-11 but prices have pretty much ruled them out, even used ones.
I'll check the back issues, thanks again.
Doug

[Anonymous]

Picked up the Peabody command version from Western Depot for 150.00. Nicely Detailed, have not run it yet. It's a gift for my son.

There were posts on OGR about the gap between the trucks and frame, some saying it only affected the initial offerings and that K-Line had corrected this in the later offerings, such as my Peabody. I don't have anything to compare this one to but the ride hieght and gap appear to look good on this one too me. Not nearly as noticable as the way it is shown on the web site, or the Western Depot Blow Out Sale add either.

[Anonymous]

I'll try to remove it from the box and take a picture if you like so you can see what the gap looks like. Email if intrested.