Large Scale Central

RS-3 narrow gauge conversion

Modeling
#1

In addition to installing a Revo receiver and Phoenix sound board, I’m also converting my Aristocraft 1/29th scale RS-3 into a freelanced 1/24th scale narrow gauge loco. For now I’m holding off on the electronics until I get the other modifications finished. I started by widening the deck. To do this, I glued 1/4" square styrene strips to the edge of the frame, then topped them with 1/4" x .010" strips. I still need to cover the expanded deck with new non-skid treadplate:

Next I made the hoods slightly taller, by gluing 1/8" x 1/4" strips all along the base of the hood pieces. I also reduced the length of the short hood, in order to accommodate a larger cab:

I also removed the “bug-eye” classification lamps. Soon I will remove the existing grab irons, fill the holes, and replace them with new grab irons that will be larger and spaced more appropriately for the increased scale. To make this look like a narrow gauge loco in 1/24th scale, it needs a new, bigger cab. I began scratch-building one out of .080" thick styrene. I cut the front and rear walls to shape, taped them together and carved out the windows. While doing the windows I also trimmed the curved edge a little more:

Here’s how it will look on the loco:

That’s all for now. I’ll post more updates as I go.

#2

Looks like your off to a great start !
:slight_smile:

#3

Nice work - especially on the cab windows. I hate doing those curves. :wink:

#4

Good ideas Ray. I think this will turn out to be a nice looking loco. You’ve probably seen pictures of my RS-3’s on here as they are the locos I usually travel with. I’m a steam fan, but the early diesels are pretty cool too. I run my 1:29 locos with 1:24 cars and it looks “ok”, but when done yours should look great.

#5

Thanks guys! BTW, does anyone know of a source for large scale diesel locomotive detail parts? Like, brake wheels, horns, air hoses, etc. I’d especially like to replace the odd, floral design brake wheel that came with the RS-3.

#6

Ozark

#7

Nice work Ray

#8

I haven’t been able to get much done this weekend. Too many interruptions, plus I wasted a lot of time trying out a technique that didn’t work before settling on one that did. Anyway here’s the latest update… I’ve been building up the frames around the windows on the front wall of the cab. There are two parts to these. The first is cut from a sheet of .010" thick styrene, then glued to the window. They overlap the inside edge of the window a little bit:

(http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_RS3_Conversion_files/Media/IMG_1243c/IMG_1243c.jpg)

(http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_RS3_Conversion_files/Media/IMG_1249c/IMG_1249c.jpg)

Next I glue down a thin styrene rod to form a sort of “bead” around the inner edge. This is really slow and tedious but adds a lot to the appearance:

(http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_RS3_Conversion_files/Media/IMG_1254c/IMG_1254c.jpg)

(http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_RS3_Conversion_files/Media/IMG_1256c/IMG_1256c.jpg)

(http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_RS3_Conversion_files/Media/IMG_1261/IMG_1261.jpg)

Two windows done, six more to go! Then I do the side windows.

#9

…grinning…

#10

Wow, very nice detail!

#11

Great detail Ray. Is the glass in place already?

#12

Nope, the glass won’t be installed until after the thing is painted. But my work surface is a tempered glass tray or placemat that I picked up at a garage sale.

#13

I knew you could, I knew you could, I knew you could…

cale

#14

I’ve made a little more progress… Finished framing the windows on the front and rear walls of the cab, and glued the cab together. To create the arched roof, I glued in strips of styrene, then sanded down the angled edges:

(http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_RS3_Conversion_files/Media/IMG_1263c/IMG_1263c.jpg)

It still wasn’t rounded enough so I filled it in a bit with spot putty:

(http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_RS3_Conversion_files/Media/IMG_1272/IMG_1272.jpg)

Then I topped it with .015" thick styrene sheet. Unfortunately that wrinkled a little in places, so I had to smooth it out with a little more spot putty. I also rounded all the corners, and started detailing the side of the cab:

(http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_RS3_Conversion_files/Media/IMG_1280c/IMG_1280c.jpg)

In this photo you can see some of the detail on the side of the cab:

(http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_RS3_Conversion_files/Media/IMG_1295/IMG_1295.jpg)

That’s all for now, more to come!

#15

Ray, that’s a wonderful job… Cab looks fantastic…

#16

As always, you blow me away with your detail :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

#17

Today I’ve doing some detailing on the short hood. I replaced the original grab irons with new, slightly larger ones, spaced farther apart, as appropriate to the new larger scale. Most of the grabs are from Phil’s Narrow Gauge, I just bent them a little to fit the corner positioning on the hood. I had to make the longer grabs myself. I used Phil’s brass, nut/bolt pins to secure them:

(http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_RS3_Conversion_files/Media/IMG_1311c/IMG_1311c.jpg)

I also carved off the molded door handles and replaced them with new handles made from brass rod:

(http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_RS3_Conversion_files/Media/IMG_1303c/IMG_1303c.jpg)

I put some small details to the top of the hood. I also made the sand box fill hatch larger and added hinge and latch detail:

(http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_RS3_Conversion_files/Media/IMG_1304c/IMG_1304c.jpg)

#18

Thats amazing!! Wish I would have kept mine now.

#19

think I’ll get me one and send it off to Sunny CA to the In-Ko-Pah shops…

:slight_smile:

#20

Does anyone know what this thing is… it looks like a small step hanging down from under the side of the deck, directly above the center of the truck:

(http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_RS3_Conversion_files/Media/RS3Mystery2.jpg)

There’s one over each of the trucks, on both sides. I don’t think it’s a step though, because in some photos the face of it is flat.