BRAKIE Jim,The Atlas/Roco S4 is still a smooth runner and just as quiet as the Atlas/Kato drive.I have 4 of those S4s plus several Atlas/Kato engines. Atlas/Roco also made the SD24. Advanced modelers would fill that "screw driver slot" with Testors body putty and after smoothing it they would repaint the tank.
Jim,The Atlas/Roco S4 is still a smooth runner and just as quiet as the Atlas/Kato drive.I have 4 of those S4s plus several Atlas/Kato engines.
Atlas/Roco also made the SD24.
Advanced modelers would fill that "screw driver slot" with Testors body putty and after smoothing it they would repaint the tank.
I can only speak from the yellow box Atlas models which I have owned, which were the RS3, GP7 and GP40. The former two had KATO drives IIRC and ran better than the GP40 with the Roco drive, but the GP40 ran pretty good.
I never bothered filling in that slot before I sold all my yellow box Atlas GP40's around 15 years ago, because the fuel tank still looked like an ugly blob since it had the wrong shape. Other than converting the couplers to Kadee, they were stock when sold, which was probably better for selling.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Jim,Speaking of Atlas/Kato combination, that has to be one of the turning points in the hobby.
Not only did you have a nice looking shell(speaking of the RS1,GP7,RS11 and the other Atlas/Kato locomotives) but,you had a top notch drive to go under it and even today they are still top notch locomotive that can be found around $50.00 or less and IMHO a good deal for a budget minded modeler that wants a quality engine.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
My Atlas/Roco S-4 is second only to my Stewart/Kato F units for the smooth runner award.
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My Bachmann EM-1 2-8-8-4 would be #3.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Yes Larry. The KATO drive Atlas were and still is an industry leading chassis in HO. I still have a number of KATO chassis Stewart F units and they are quiet and silky smooth and are as good or better than anything made today.