Finally got the shells in, and an actual Atlas RS-11, the shells actually fit nicely on my Athearn blue box chassis, jsut a little loose, but that should be easily fixed.
Hello all,
I have a Model Power RS11 that was a "can of worms" project to convert to DCC with LEDs and body mounted couplers.
Have you considered the chassis from an RS1?
One of my "next projects" is an Aero Train locomotive.
Before I knew there was an Aero Train powered chassis available I considered modifying an RS1 chassis.
The RS1 chassis I got could easily accommodate the RS11 shell. The fuel tank/brake reservoir detailing could be easily scratch built.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
Was hopping to not chop into a perfectly good loco, but I guess theres a reason for the model powers to be so cheap. Get what ya pay for I guess, will have to keep an eye out for some good deals.
wjstix Those for sure weren't the later LL Proto RS-11s, which had a very different chassis / drive and a body considered by many to be the best plastic RS-11 shell ever (see June 2018 Model Railroad News). Could be long ago Model Power and LL got similar engines from the same maker somewhere overseas?
Those for sure weren't the later LL Proto RS-11s, which had a very different chassis / drive and a body considered by many to be the best plastic RS-11 shell ever (see June 2018 Model Railroad News). Could be long ago Model Power and LL got similar engines from the same maker somewhere overseas?
The Proto RS-11 has a hood that is 6" too low, according to many. Here's one discussion:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/85262.aspx
The Atlas has the correct dimensions, I think. But rather hideous handrails that Atlas does not want to fix.
I have several of each brand. I have considered putting the Atlas body on the Proto deck (with handrails). But haven't even taken any out of the box to see. Busy, busy.
Ed
bogp40Agree with Wayne, there are many Atlas RSs used and NIB that can be bought for $40-50. The best part of these is the Kato drive.
True, but with Atlas, look for made in Japan on the box, and on the bottom of the trucks. Japan made are the Kato drives.
Made in Austria, I believe are Rocco, not sure about the locos made in Mexico.
Mike.
My You Tube
Agree with Wayne, there are many Atlas RSs used and NIB that can be bought for $40-50. The best part of these is the Kato drive. The actual shell is what is lacking by today's standards. Modifications to shave off and replace the grabs, roof details, lift rings and proper stacks will provide you with an excellent looking and running loco. The body mounted Atlas version coupler should be changed out. I like to use the Kadee 30 series tortion spring type. It is very short for truck clearance and that rounded Draft gear box is closer to prototype for the unit. Did this on a few RS3s and RS11s. There is plenty of room for a decoder, but it is a hardwire job and toss any of the Kato light board stuff.
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
Many years ago, I ordered a couple of LifeLike (proto-no-thousand) RS-11s from Hobbies For Men. If I'm not mistaken, at that time there was some connection between LifeLike and Model Power. Anyway, the locomotives were extremely poor runners, but not too long after that, Atlas released their version of the RS-ll. I bought two, and painted and lettered them for one of my freelance roads. In the first photo, below, the second unit is one of the Atlas locos...
I then decided to remove the motor from the single powered truck on the LifeLike locomotives, turning them into dummies. Since I was working on them to do that, I also decided to upgrade the details a bit, replacing all of the grabirons with wire ones and changing the cast plastic handrails to ones with formed piano wire railings in Athearn metal stanchions.Not too long after that, I backdated my layout to a late '30s era, and sold off most of my diesels. Had I not done so, I would have re-detailed the Atlas locos in a similar manner.The LifeLike diesels have no chassis as-such, so the power truck used tabs on the side of it which clipped into holes in the cab's sides. I doubt very much that the Atlas chassis would fit easily into that body shell.The photos below are of the reworked LifeLike versions....
If your Model Power locos are similar mechanically and in appearance, it may be worthwhile to convert them to dummies and upgrade the details. Used Atlas RS-11s should be readily available at bargain prices, and I'd suggest that you might have better results looking for complete locos rather than bodyshells. It may be possible to get the latter directly from Atlas, but I doubt they'll be of use for the conversion of which you speak.
Model Power did make some very nicely done and great running locomotives, including their E7s and E8s, and their FAs and FBs, and I still have several of the latter two, but I very much regret selling these two, even though they're too modern for my current layout...
Wayne
Only downside with the earliest Atlas RS-11s is that the chassis they used is the one designed for their RS-3. The prototype RS-3s had the trucks a bit closer together than would be correct for an RS-11, so the RS-3 chassis is a bit off for an RS-11.
That being said, it's not a huge difference; only the most dedicated "Alco-haulic" would probably notice. They still run well. A few days ago at a RR flea market some of the old RS-11s were selling for $40-50 still in the original box.
Bluefox92 I'm looking to purchase some RS-11 shells, but I Was wondering, what chassis would these be able to fit on, I have a few old athearn GP7s, but would rather have the details for the RS-11 fuel tanks etc. Any idea if the atlas bodyies would fit on a model power unit?
I'm looking to purchase some RS-11 shells, but I Was wondering, what chassis would these be able to fit on, I have a few old athearn GP7s, but would rather have the details for the RS-11 fuel tanks etc. Any idea if the atlas bodyies would fit on a model power unit?
Dunno if an Atlas RS-11 shell would fit a Model Power shell.
Why not pick up a used yellow box Atlas RS-11 ? Fairly good deals on old run yellow box Atlas RS-11's on eBay. These run great.
You're going to pull hair out trying to make a decent running RS-11 out of old model power chassis.
Patrick
Fear an Ignorant Man more than a Lion- Turkish proverb
Modeling an ficticious HO scale intergrated Scrap Yard & Steel Mill Melt Shop.
Southland Industrial Railway or S.I.R for short. Enterchanging with Norfolk Southern.