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Post by shinobi on Nov 14, 2015 3:00:59 GMT -5
Athearn and Bachmann renditions of the RS3 are more accurate than Atlas/Kato RS3's The only thing Atlas has going for it is the drive. This is excellent information, thank you very much!  Athearn and Bachmann renditions of the RS3 are more accurate than Atlas/Kato RS3's The only thing Atlas has going for it is the drive. Actually the most accurate RS-3 is the Hobbytown!
Posted by shinobi If you were to add grabs, lift rings, etc. to a Bachmann model you'd end up with a better result than the Genesis. "
Sorry there is nothing you could do to a Botchmann to make it a good model with those god-awful trucks, which also puts an Athearn Genesis over the Lifellike or Atlas, also the light packages that come with the Athearn puts the others to shame.
Rick J
After reviewing the most recent tooling it appears that Athearn have corrected the obvious mistakes (although I'm just saying this from eyeballing photos), so this model now sits roughly tied with Walthers/Lifelike. It's pretty much a given that Athearn has the best blombergs, this has been the case for as long as I can remember and it's pretty much always been standard procedure to replace sideframes with Athearn parts. The Proto 2k model has had it's dimensional fidelity compared against measurements taken on a 1:1 unit and it was found to be 100% accurate. I'm not in possession of a Genesis unit, but if as accurate as the Proto 2k, then it'd put the Genesis slightly ahead on trucks, detail and lights as you said. If someone would like to do that, the prototype measurements can be found here: www.planomodelproducts.com/GP9pics.htmlAlso here is a general arrangement:  |
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artur
Chairman
Posts: 580
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Post by artur on Nov 17, 2015 17:49:23 GMT -5
You might want to remove E8/9 Lifelike/Walthers Proto 2000. Their shell needs a complete overhaul, best is to replace it with BLI E8/9
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Post by CanadianRails43 on Nov 23, 2015 17:49:44 GMT -5
Any room for Rapido's Bombardier LRC? While I'm at it, I don't see BLI's AC6000 listed. And for the near future, Bowser's GMD SD40-2s may have to be added. But we will wait until they're delivered. Just my thoughts for the list! Love the idea shinobi! |
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Post by slowfreight on Nov 23, 2015 23:44:51 GMT -5
I've heard better things about BLI E-units than Proto. Not having a need for E-units myself, I can't do anything but compare photos, but based on that I agree. I will sustain this. I have owned both and the Walthers/P2K unit needs to be listed in blue. The roof curvature is off and the grills are not tall enough. The BLI unit needs some work but has generally correct contours and will clean up well. |
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Post by shinobi on Jan 22, 2016 11:25:10 GMT -5
After doing some extensive research to figure out which RS3 model is the most accurate, I've decided to remove the Bachmann RS3 from the list entirely, and to highlight the Stewart RS3 red. These are due to my discovery of the following errors: Bachmann. 1. Cab height is too low/hood is too high. 2. Cab centre windows are too low as a result. 3. Cab side windows are also too low as a result. 4. Cab roof profile is incorrect. 5. Truck sideframes are extremely poor. 6. Stepwells are incorrect. 7. Only one fuel tank variant available. Stewart. 1. Cab centre windows have oversized corner radius. 2. Hood roof is excessively rounded. 3. Overall detail fidelity is poor. 4. All 3 phases are available as kits, with the hood sides appearing to be accurate. In comparison to: Athearn. 1. Cab centre windows appear to be 100% accurate. 2. Cab roof profile is correct. 3. Cab and hood are correct relative heights. 4. Cab width is correct. 5. Hood contours are correct. 6. Stepwells are correct. 7. Trucks are correct. 8. Hood louvres and details are correct. 9. Bottom of cab side window is about 1mm too low. 10. All fuel tank variations are available. If someone wanted to make a 100% accurate (or as near to that as possible) model of an RS3, then it seems that an Athearn RS3, plus correct phase hood sides from the Stewart kit, and some styrene strip to correct the cab side windows would produce the best model. If one is modeling a phase 1 RS3, then the Athearn model would be the only purchase necessary. Although I've heard it said that the Athearn chassis does not run as nicely as the Atlas, in my experience this is not the case, and most running issues can be fixed entirely by adding a DCC decoder. I have to say that from what I've seen, the Atlas model is more accurate than the Bachmann. If you compare the following image:  With this image:  You can clearly see how Bachmann's mistake with the cab and hood has resulted in a number of inaccuracies in the paint job. Pay particular attention to the yellow stripe beneath the cab window and which louvres it cuts through, as well as the downward curve on the hood ends. Hope others find this post useful, especially if it saves them having to undertake the hours of research I had to do to arrive at this conclusion. |
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Post by m a y o r 79 on Feb 1, 2016 20:17:29 GMT -5
Wow a great resource for sure. Thanks dor putting tbis together. Worthy of a sticky I think.
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Post by shinobi on Feb 3, 2016 19:20:02 GMT -5
You're welcome, it seemed to make sense given what we do here is all about accuracy. I found it frustrating that no such list existed on the internet, so hopefully this will save people some time. I've even referred back to it several times myself already.
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Post by baldclamlocoshop on Apr 26, 2017 20:00:31 GMT -5
Atlas U36C IMO should be added, You can cut the shell and make a U36B out of it as well. That's what I did a few yrs ago and now of course, Atlas is releasing them SMH... :-)
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Post by iomalley on May 1, 2017 22:59:50 GMT -5
I do want to point out a problem that exists with pretty much EVERY HO model of the RS3 (except maybe Hobbytown) is the fact that the cab should extend over the side sills and most, including the Athearn do not. So you pretty much have to slice them all down the c/l of the cab and thicken them up.  |
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Post by m a y o r 79 on May 4, 2017 12:32:54 GMT -5
Interesting. Gotta be one of the first times I've ever heard of a shell/cab that needs to be "thickened". Exact opposite problem all the old Athearn stuff had!
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Post by poweredby251 on May 6, 2017 12:32:30 GMT -5
For the RS-3, wait for the new Bowser. All new tooling from plans scanned from actual RS-3's. Also, you are missing the RSC-2, made by both Proto and Kato. In my opinion the Kato RS-2 and RSC-2 are better than the Proto. Also missing the RSD-12 by Atlas, red lettered at best, though, due to it being about 3 feet short because of using RS-11 shell and frame. The FA-1 (Walthers) is missing as well. I don't see the SD-39 (Athearn) on there at all. Plus it might be better to separate different models like the GP-7 and 9, 38 and 40 and 38-2 and 40-2. I almost missed the GP-40-2 until I looked a 3rd time... John Gadow Athearn and Bachmann renditions of the RS3 are more accurate than Atlas/Kato RS3's The only thing Atlas has going for it is the drive. Actually the most accurate RS-3 is the Hobbytown!
Posted by shinobi If you were to add grabs, lift rings, etc. to a Bachmann model you'd end up with a better result than the Genesis. "
Sorry there is nothing you could do to a Botchmann to make it a good model with those god-awful trucks, which also puts an Athearn Genesis over the Lifellike or Atlas, also the light packages that come with the Athearn puts the others to shame.
Rick J
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2017 15:30:42 GMT -5
The Kato Sd38-2.
I sent a copy of the EMD blueprints as I have several here various copies from the gp7-sd45-2 & sd45x.
So if Kato followed for the most part that is the most accurate Sd38-2 out there.
Just an fyi
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dti406
Superintendent
Posts: 168
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Post by dti406 on May 8, 2017 11:11:07 GMT -5
After you noted some missing engines, I also saw a couple, the Atlas SDP35 and the Athearn Genesis SDP45 (And varients)
Rick Jesionowski
For the RS-3, wait for the new Bowser. All new tooling from plans scanned from actual RS-3's. Also, you are missing the RSC-2, made by both Proto and Kato. In my opinion the Kato RS-2 and RSC-2 are better than the Proto. Also missing the RSD-12 by Atlas, red lettered at best, though, due to it being about 3 feet short because of using RS-11 shell and frame. The FA-1 (Walthers) is missing as well. I don't see the SD-39 (Athearn) on there at all. Plus it might be better to separate different models like the GP-7 and 9, 38 and 40 and 38-2 and 40-2. I almost missed the GP-40-2 until I looked a 3rd time... John Gadow Actually the most accurate RS-3 is the Hobbytown!
Posted by shinobi If you were to add grabs, lift rings, etc. to a Bachmann model you'd end up with a better result than the Genesis. "
Sorry there is nothing you could do to a Botchmann to make it a good model with those god-awful trucks, which also puts an Athearn Genesis over the Lifellike or Atlas, also the light packages that come with the Athearn puts the others to shame.
Rick J
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Post by Eccentric_Crank on May 11, 2017 18:18:38 GMT -5
The Stewart/Bowser DRS4-4-1000,RS-12 and AS16/616 cabs are way off.
Fortunately F-M bought components from Baldwin, so Atlas and Athearn Trainmaster cabs are good with a bit of work to the roof.
Dan M.
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osrr
Trainmaster
Posts: 130 
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Post by osrr on Mar 9, 2019 17:11:06 GMT -5
Bumping this thread.
How accurate are the Blomberg Bs on the Atlas Master GP38? I've read the Athearns are the best and Details West used to make adapters... that appears to be no longer the case.
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