This is a little late, but I missed the beginning of the contest.

Part of my New Years Resolution is to take it easy. As such, i'm picking an easy project. I'm going to take an Athearn model of a Lehigh Valley RS2, and convert it into Conrail 5201. This locomotive was found in Waverly yard, the northern terminus of Conrail's electric freight operations, sorting cars in the yard and transfering them from waverly to other local yards.

This may not be as easy as it seems! The Athearn model is based on Lehigh Valley #210, and is a fairly accurate model of the 210. However, 5201 was formerly unit #214, and the differences include different headlights, fuel tanks, horns, and other parts. There is of course the matter of patching the unit in a believable fashion, and then weathering it.

As it was-



what it will look like-





Right now, I just need to find the proper parts.

I have already removed the headlight castings, incorrect horn, and other parts. I seem to be having a problem finding a single beam headlight. I am also unfamiliar with the equipment on the short hood deck in this photo. What is it?

Otherwise, this looks to be an interesting project. Even if I can't get it perfect, it should be close enough.

While Conrail 5201 is an RS-2, the Athearn model is an RS-3 (unless there have been some recent surprises). There are slight differences in length and cab-short hood detail, as well as fuel tank, between the RS-2 and RS-3, and you might even be better off starting with a Walthers RS-2. Alternatively, find a Conrail patched LV RS-3.

The fuel tank appears to be under the cab floor, you can see the filler cap under the numeral 1. The square boxes under the frame appear to be battery boxes, one on each side,that hold four massive batteries each. In front of the battery boxes is a round air tank. The appliances behind the cab look like they might be valves for the air brake system, these were often mounted under the cab floor but with a fuel tank there they would have to go some where else. But I could be wrong as I have never actually seen a real one of these.

The fuel tank is indeed under the cab on an RS-2.

I like the idea for this challenge GEC. Good luck with it.

As an ex-New Jersey boy, I always thought the LV was the most mysterious, and the RS-3s are no exception. Conrail Cyclopedia has only one photo of an ex-LV RS-3, and while it's a Cornell red patch, it's a hammerhead <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://crcyc.railfan.net/locos/alco/rs3/xlv5487ef.jpg">http://crcyc.railfan.net/locos/alco/rs3/xlv5487ef.jpg</a><!-- m --> Looks like you've got your work cut out for you.

They're good New Jersey locos, though, because CR concentrated all the RS-3s from the component lines on ex-CNJ sand trains from South Jersey while they waited to rebuild them into DeWitt geeps.

jwb Wrote:As an ex-New Jersey boy, I always thought the LV was the most mysterious, and the RS-3s are no exception. Conrail Cyclopedia has only one photo of an ex-LV RS-3, and while it's a Cornell red patch, it's a hammerhead <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://crcyc.railfan.net/locos/alco/rs3/xlv5487ef.jpg">http://crcyc.railfan.net/locos/alco/rs3/xlv5487ef.jpg</a><!-- m --> Looks like you've got your work cut out for you.

They're good New Jersey locos, though, because CR concentrated all the RS-3s from the component lines on ex-CNJ sand trains from South Jersey while they waited to rebuild them into DeWitt geeps.

Indeed, my work IS cut out for me.

Unfortuneately, i'm not sure the Walthers P1K RS2 is a better base than the Athearn RS3. All physical dimensions between an RS2 and RS3 do not exceed one scale foot in difference, and none of these differences appear obvious to me. My primary gripe with the P1k is that the exhaust Stack is place differently (would require surgery and repaint to fix).

I think If i can find the right detail parts, I can rebuild the RS3 to appear like an RS2. Probably the most annoying part will be the Fuel filler. If I could get a hold of the Walthers RS2 cab and underbody parts, I might be able to slap them onto the Athearn body and frame.

I can't seem to find the details on the short hood you mention. are they on the roof (difficult to see in the photos)?

As for the hammerhead, that WOULD be a cool unit. If i could find a photo of it as 9920 (Rebuilt as an RS3M) I would build it. It turns out LV 211/CR 5487/CR 9920 is still running today, though now in LV paint again. I can only assume it kept the Hammerhead. Might be an cool future project.

G'day GEC,
Regarding LV211, the `hammerhead' RS3, there is an article on building an N scale version out of an ATLAS RS3 in the September/October issue of N Scale Railroading Magazine:

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://tophobbytrains.com/nscalerailroadingseptemberoctober2011.aspx">http://tophobbytrains.com/nscalerailroa ... r2011.aspx</a><!-- m -->

It may provide some information, inspiration, and outline the major issues with the conversion.
Regards,
Andrew G.

The instant spotting feature between the RS-2 and RS-3 is the walkway on the short hood end. On the RS-2, it's the same level as the walkway on the long hood end. On the RS-3, it's stepped up for battery boxes on both sides. The photo isn't good for showing this, poorly lit. This is fairly major surgery, also involving new handrails at the short hood end.

A detail part manufacturer once made an aftermarket kit for an RS-3 hammerhead -- a quick search shows that one was available from Detail Associates, not sure of current status, and also from Tiger Valley. You'd still have an issue with painting and striping that end.

jwb Wrote:The instant spotting feature between the RS-2 and RS-3 is the walkway on the short hood end. On the RS-2, it's the same level as the walkway on the long hood end. On the RS-3, it's stepped up for battery boxes on both sides. The photo isn't good for showing this, poorly lit. This is fairly major surgery, also involving new handrails at the short hood end.

A detail part manufacturer once made an aftermarket kit for an RS-3 hammerhead -- a quick search shows that one was available from Detail Associates, not sure of current status, and also from Tiger Valley. You'd still have an issue with painting and striping that end.

I'm inclined to agree with you. There are other issues that are starting to crop up that can't be easily resolved by building a frankenstein unit. I'm better off buying a purpose built RS2. There are also some questions about 5201's retirement date that i can no longer be sure of.

I only have so much tolerance for inaccuracies, and it has been surpassed. Kato sells an "undec air cooled RS2" shell (apparently the RS2 itself is no longer produced). This would match CR 5201, but I cannot find a suitable Kato RS2 at a price I can afford to part with.

Kato's parts picture.



Kato wants $35 for the shell, but I'm not sure if it pays to buy it and slap it on to an Athearn frame. I'm better off hunting down an Kato RS2. Unfortuneately, I don't have the budget for a brand new locomotive.

So far as I can tell, few other LV RS3s made it into Conrail for very long.

I'm thinking I need to find a New project... but I have plenty of those. Back to the drawing board!


Speaking of Tiger Valley

Tiger Valley is allegedly still in business as of 9 months ago. The trick is you need to "know" his contact info, since they make things out of the basement of a farmhouse. I'm told if you call their number, you can still order parts. If anyone wants it, I can get you the phone number. I personally haven't tried, if only because I don't have any more room on my plate for an RS3M conversion!


PS Gotta cast that Jersey Arrow you lent me (gonna try and order the casting rubber this week. When I get it, it will take one night to cast the different parts. currently calculating the proper volume required).

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/910-9020">http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/910-9020</a><!-- m -->

jwb Wrote:http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/910-9020

I know, I saw that is in this month's Walther's flyer! Looks like my job might be slightly easier. The only problem is if they don't change the exhaust stack to the late "aircooled" type, it still wouldn't be right for the project.