N-Scale Lamoille Valley RS-3's

[mandealco]

Hi
Thought it was about time I finished another workbench overstayer.  The chopped nosed Lamoille Valley RS-3 only needed a few minor paint touch ups and front window glazing.  It's not as detailed as some other projects, and a little rushed in the finishing, but at least it's departed the workshop.    The chassis only needed a small amount of metal removed as shown in the last photo. 



These 2 RS-3's are part of our "Cab Ride" collection.  Laura & I have been very fortunate over the years in having some wonderful friends and contacts in several short lines, my favourite being the M&E.   I had a cab ride in LVRC 7804 out of Morrisville, and the 7803 in Whitefield in August1985.  Still have a few to build, mostly Alco's, but also a U23C and U25C.  Thanks Hornby.
Cheers
Steve
NZ

[Deleted]

I waaaaaaaaaaant one please please pretty please

Very nice builds there kiwi

[pacbelt]

I'll bet you do, Vince!!

Very nice work!

[mandealco]

Hi Guys
Thanks, these were very long term projects.  The 2 photos below were taken in 2009!!!!!  and I haven't added 'flat grab irons for many many years.  I used to make my own drop grabs as shown on the chop nosed 7804.

Bicentennial, I'd love to help you out with a chop nosed RS-3, can you wait 6 years?  I put these photos on so you can see how easy it really is.  Not much to it as long as the chassis can be cut down.  If I was doing it again, I'd put a window gasket on the large 'picture' window.   If I was going to make another chop nosed RS-3, I'd have a go at a CP Rail version, now they're ugly!!!



Cheers
Steve
NZ

[Deleted]

It's all good just such a cool engine

[pacbelt]

Of course it's cool... it's an ALCo!!

.... might even be cool enough, to someday run on the CIOR!!!

Seriously, nice work.
~ Carmine

[jmlaboda]

How did you do the dynamic brake on this model??? Looks pretty nice overall!!!

Was really a shame that the line gave up to traffic leaving rails, the Lamoille Valley, Vermont Northern and New Hampshire & Vermont were all interesting lines, just as the predecessor St. Johnsbury & Lamoille County was before them.

[mandealco]

Hi Jerry
The resistor grid is cut from one end of the dynamic brakes of an Atlas RS-11. So the part is perfect for the job. I cut it round the edge of the riveted section of roof and the full depth of the Atlas shell. I just filed it to a thickness that looked about right. I should have also added the air intake louvers on the hood sides, which could be done with Archer decals.

I liked the look of the railroad when I bought my copy of "Railroads You Can Model" a long time ago. Great book. Riding in the cab of the 7804 from Morrisville (nearly wrote Morristown!) to Joe's Pond was a never to forget experience, and not just because I cut one of our video cables in the cab door, blowing the power circuit in a VCR. The engineer's seat in the 7804 was out of a Volkswagen.

Cheers
Steve
NZ

[jmlaboda]

The resistor grid is cut from one end of the dynamic brakes of an Atlas RS-11. So the part is perfect for the job. I cut it round the edge of the riveted section of roof and the full depth of the Atlas shell. I just filed it to a thickness that looked about right.

Thinking about it I think I asked you about this before... even have this saved in my Modeling Files, dated November 2012...

[mandealco]

Lol. Nice photo! ;-)

[pacbelt]

Lol. It is.

[srlines]

Does the chopped nose rs-3 have the dynamic brake resistor grids on the nose?
This Scott

[mandealco]

Hi Scott
No, it's just a blank plate. The rebuilds lost their dynamic brakes. As far as I know, the only chop nosed RS-3's that retained DB's were the D&H RS-3U's, and they were placed in a box behind the cab.
Cheers
Steve
NZ