I'm somewhat new to MR and have been looking at the HO Atlas RS-3 and RS-11 and the RS-1 and the Athearn RS-1 RS-3 and the SW1500 and SW1000 I like the RS a little more just for looks but I have $80.00 and thats it, need help with what one is better, and this is for DC on a layout in a 10x12 room. or can anyone come up with better for the money, the turns are about 18. thanks for any help.
Athearn RS-3 shell on an Atlas drive. The Athearn RS-3 shell is better detailed than the Atlas, but the Atlas mechanism is much better. So: best running = Atlas, best looking = Athearn.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I am going to have to agree with Randy on this one as far as the Atlas drive goes. I have not saw either shells, but Atlas has great drive mechanisms. Another engine that you may consider is a Proto 2000 SW8/9/600 engine, that you should be able to pick up off Ebay for probably around $50.
Athearn and Atlas make nice engines, and I would recommend both depending on which models and road names. Atlas generally run better, more like KATO's and Athearn RTR can be hit or miss with some of them running noisy and sounding like a coffee grinder. More of the newer Athearns run well, at least the SD's.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I've got a Proto 1000 RSC-3 (six-axle variant) and Proto 2000 SW8 and S1 models. All of these run very well. The SW8 came with DCC and sound (for $100 on a Walthers sale, no less) and I've added DCC and sound to the others. The P1K RSC-3 is much more "lightly" detailed than the P2K models, as one would expect, but I'm still happy with all of them.
I have 2 Proto 2000 GP9s as well. Again, they run well and have nice detailing. I found these at M.B. Klein for $40 each, discontinued items. They, too, were DC and I added my own decoders.
Think about what you want. Yes, you can get a DC-only engine and add your own motor decoder for fifteen or twenty dollars more, but if you want sound, you are probably better off saving your money until you can get one that's already sound-equipped. It's actually cheaper to do it that way than to buy and install your own sound in a DC engine, and you won't have to worry about putting a speaker and decoder into an engine with no room for them.
If you are looking at Athearn sound engines, make sure you do NOT get one with an MRC decoder. Athearn has ended their run of MRC-equipped engines, and has switched to Tsunami decoders, I believe. The MRC systems had a really poor reliability record. The upgrade to Tsunamis probably will result in lower prices for the older stock of MRC-equipped engines. The prices may be good, but most experts will tell you these engines are no bargain.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Craig North Carolina