Re: (erielack) Life-Like Erie PA's in black/yellow

[The Jordans <"pamela_@_blast.net">]

Bill-

Your right. I can replace a rubber band, but the point is that the RDC runs
in "jerks" and you really can't get it to run at prototypical speeds with
rubber bands. Mine is decorated for NYS&W, (I don't think the EL or
predecessors had one).  The manufacturer (Athearn) should redo the drive
before releasing any "new" production units.  I don't see Walthers listing
the RDC's from Athearn in the latest catalog, so I imagine, they either
gave up or the next production run may be repowered (I hope and have been
waiting for 23 years). 

Let me know if you come across any more "all metal" units for $4.  I'll
take a couple.

I'm old, becoming senile, lose my patience very fast, have fat fingers and
can't work with small things anymore.  I have more detail parts in my shag
rug than I do on units.  Trying to cut two shells, putting on details and
mix and matching chassis/hoods/motors is sometimes very frustrating and if
you make major mistakes, very costly.  I rather have one of the
manufacturers make a really good unit at a reasonable price in Erie, DL&W
or Erie Lackawanna.

One of my latest projects is cutting pieces off of the chassis from an
SD-40 (Athearn) with a hacksaw blade to get the Rail Power SD45-2 shell to
fit on the chassis.  Wish me luck.  I've only been trying to get this done
for five months.
- -Joe Jordan

 
At 08:03 AM 6/8/98 -0400, you wrote:
>gee, you can't replace a rubber band?  I had one and it didn't run too bad,
>I suppose you could kitbash some switcher trucks under it though if you
>really didnt care for it (It could use flywheels).    The ones to get if
>you can find them and pony up $75 or more for 'em are the original 1952-58
>Athearn all-metal RDC's - all 4 types were made and with a little effort
>they look more realistic than the newer ones.   drive is a vertical motor
>to one truck.  I lucked onto a pair of them for $4 (pays to know people)
>only to discover later they're worth so much. 
>
>Model Railroading had an article on doing the EL SDP45 not too long ago,
>this guy used two shells and part of a GP35 dynamic brake blister to build
>the long hood and a Cannon short hood and cab (easier to put the brake
>wheel notch in a kit nose).   He stretched a Kato frame for it, although I
>don't know why you couldn't use an Athearn FP45 chassis (which a Proto 2000
>motor is a snap fit for).  
>
>Bill's Syracuse rail page 
> 
>http://www.dreamscape.com/pontiac/rail.html
>
>----------
>: From: The Jordans <"pamela_@_blast.net">
>: To: Paul R. Tupaczewski <"paultup_@_interactive.net">;
>"erielack_@_internexus.net"
>: Subject: RE: (erielack) Life-Like Erie PA's in black/yellow
>: Date: Wednesday, June 10, 1998 7:27 PM
>: 
>: Paul-
>: 
>: Athearn makes an RDC-1 in HO and of course if either one of the two damn
>: rubber bands break, the model can be immediately dumped in the garbage.
>: (Why don't they redo the motive part of it?)
>: 
>: Their Trainmaster, however is another story.  I have three (3)
>Trainmasters
>: in the various livery:  #1856 in DL&W original colors gray, maroon and
>: yellow; #1853  - Erie-Lackawanna original scheme - black & yellow and
>#1858
>: in Erie Lackawanna later scheme - gray, maroon and yellow.  Yes, yes,
>: before anybody gets excited #1856 is the EL number, but I'm running EL
>and
>: had to number it that instead of the original #856 because of the overlap
>: of numbers in PA's.  All three models are very good looking (custom
>painted
>: by people other than me), but the best looking one is the DL&W scheme.
>: I'll try to take some decent pictures of them and get them off to you.
>: 
>: Yes, I want an SDP-45, too and am trying to put together a Rail Power
>: SD45-2 body on an Athearn chassis. (I'll never do that again).
>: 
>: -Joe Jordan
>: 
>: 
>
>
>


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