Hobbytown RS-3 as B&M 1538 upgrade

[jbvb]

Back when B&M RS-3s could still be found on secondary freight routes (1973), I modeled one using a Hobbytown kit. I didn't have much in the way of resources, and couldn't drive to photograph the prototype, so I build the kit stock. I always loved the way it ran, but the gears eventually got out of whack and with four brass wheels doing the pickup, it wasn't a candidate for DCC conversion to run on the Hub Modules. But now my B&M Eastern Route layout needs more roadswitchers, so I got it out.

(I'll post a picture once I figure out where the 'upload' button is)

I fixed the gears by judicious filing on the bottom of the gear tower. I milled off the casting pillars on the inside of the cab, spoiling my old paint. I decided to leave the factory handrails and cast-on grabs. And then got to the detail part selection. Here are some choices I'm unsure of:

Cal-Scale 190-400 horn (cut down) for a 2-trumpet Nathan M-3 to bracket-mount on the cab front?

Detail Assoc. 229-1408 (out of stock at Walthers) for the drop steps? The B&M used long ones, the end was even with the top of the handrail.

[kcs1967]

James, that thing is a historic beauty, Love the tarnish on the flywheel, I would be tempted to run it without the body, to to show off that well used drive train. here is a pic
www.rr-fallenflags.org/bm/bm1538pma.jpg , I wish I had suggestions for the horn and the drop step, but as I am working on my first Alco I am still learning, lol

[dekon]

Hello James,

I have an article from the August 2002 Model Railroading where they detail a MEC RS-3, and on it they use a Details West 186 Nathan M-3. I know that B&M owned MEC until 1953 so maybe they used the same horn. The pictures in the article of actual MEC have the 3 chime M-3 on them. As for the Detail Associates 1408 Alco long drop step, you might want to check Highball Graphics Decals for them. Hope this helps.

I just check his site and he has 6 sets of 1408 in stock.

[jbvb]

Thanks for the pointers, nice work on the D&H unit. I got the DA 1408 drop step at Charles Ro; it's the right length but too wide, so I'll cut it down. That issue of MRG isn't available on paper, but I can buy their DVD.

[jbvb]

It's been two years, but I got back to work on 1538 a week ago.  The cab is painted and the fireman's side decals are drying.  I decided that wrecking the rest of my long-ago paint job was not worth re-doing the cast on grabs.  But I am going to do the headlight, drop step, horn and cab windows.  I am astonished at how much Javascript proboards wants to run so I can post, and from how many different sites.  But it's still not clear whether you'll actually see the photo I attached.

Attachments:

[jbvb]

The B&M used a Nathan M3 with only two trumpets, bracket-mounted to the cab front:



I used a Cal-Scale casting and made the bracket from 3/32" square brass tube. I soldered the flat plate to the cab end of the bracket for more gluing surface.



Hobbytown's zinc-alloy castings are, as far as I've seen, just about the epitome of the technology. Since part of this is about my own history with the locomotive, I decided to keep their handrails. I don't think I've ever been so pleased with the results of 30 minutes with small files, taking off the draft angle and rounding things that weren't squared off in the prototype.

[jbvb]

I finished this project later in 2013, but never posted pictures. I don't find a way to upload to this site, so all I can show is what I have on my own site:

[icghogger]

Excellent work, James, Thanks for sharing!!

[countryroads]

Imgur is a good site for downloading pics to the uploading from there to here

[oldrail]

Nice work