RS-3 kitbash finished!!

[Ray Dunakin]

My 1/24th scale, narrow gauge RS-3 kitbash is finally finished! It's been well over three months since I started it. Here's what it looked like before I started -- a stock, Aristocraft RS-3:

 

 

 

And this is what it looks like now:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's a YouTube video showing it in action on my In-ko-pah Railroad:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJvAk3onISY

 

 

 

And here are some more photos:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to changing its appearance, I also installed an Aristocraft "Revolution" r/c receiver, a Phoenix PB9 sound board, and custom headlights.

 

This project took a LOT longer than I'd expected but it was a lot of fun, and I learned a lot along the way. Now that's it's finished I feel much more confidant about my modeling abilities.

 

There are a couple things I should have done differently. For instance, I didn't realize until too late, that the headlights are only slightly higher than the top of the handrails. I should have made the hood a little taller, and maybe made the handrails a wee bit shorter. Also, the weathering was originally intended to be a bit more subtle, but I had trouble achieving a "slightly dusty/sooty" look using thin washes of acrylic paints. An airbrush would have been more effective. But the final, heavier weathering was easier to achieve, and turned out reasonably well.

 

Many, many thanks to the folks on various forums who offered advice and tips, especially when it came to the electronics -- an area where I am typically in over my head. 

Step-by-step details of this project can be seen in the kitbashing section of this forum.

 

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[vsmith]

That came out great Ray, really 1st class modelling

[PJM20]

Nice work, that is a great looking locomotive! - Peter

[dwbeckett]

I enjoyed the whole build sequence, so what's next??

Dave

[IRB Souther Engineer]

Very Nice.

[dwbeckett]

I've said it before and I will say it one more time wonderfull workmanship, with that said what did you use for grass in the town I like the size and texture of it

Dave

[Ray Dunakin]

Thanks! 

 

That "grass" is some kind of native moss. I just comes up on its own during wet weather here. Later it dries up, and compliments my desert scenery quite nicely.

 

 

[dwbeckett]

Thank's for the reply, we get the same thing but not where I what it, One more question: How did you remove the hand rails on the side?  I need to paint and reuse mine.

Dave