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 Posted - November 09 2008 : 3:04:45 PM
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This model was made by three manufactures for the mass market. Athearn the oldest run was all metal. They made 3 or 4 different versions. They had one gear driven truck. The next, Athearn produced the HI-FI belt (rubber ban) driven die cast chassi with a plastic body RDC in 2 versions. The next,(this photo) came out when the second Athearn was still new, was made by one company for release by another. Tri-Ang made for ATT (American Train and Track Co.). Last are the Ptoto for Life Like trains. I have seen two versions. Maybe their are more. What do you know about any of these.
frank
toptrain
" It's a Heck of a Day " !!!
Edited by - toptrain on March 18 2009 2:56:28 PM
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Posted - November 09 2008 : 3:24:35 PM
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hi frank have a look at these ken
http://collectables.shop.ebay.co.uk/items/Trains-Railway-Models__at-t_W0QQ_nkwZatQ26tQQ_catrefZ1QQ_flnZ1QQ_sacZ1QQ_sacatZ479QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em282?_trksid=p3286.c0.m282
http://www.modelfair.com/acatalog/American_Train___Track_locomotives_previously_sold.html
http://www.modelfair.com/acatalog/American_Train___Track_Locomotives.html
Edited by - catfordken on November 09 2008 3:32:01 PM
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Posted - November 09 2008 : 6:47:25 PM
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Ken: The English are crazy. Three weeks ago at a train show for the New York Society of model engineers. I could have gotten 9 of them. 4 powered and 5 dummies. None had boxes. Four were sold as pairs, aPower and a dummy. The remaning 5, some one had painted a blue stripe down the window centers. None sold and they were cheep. The painted ones $2 for a power and $1 for a dummy. The pairs were $20 and $15 each. People must buy them to keep them in their boxs.
The ATT Alco 415 is a junk locomotive. Made in Yugo. It doesn't last when run. At least the Tri-Ang RDC has a better drive. Tho it is OO in size.
Frank
toptrain
" It's a Heck of a Day " !!!
Edited by - toptrain on November 09 2008 6:48:18 PM
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Posted - November 09 2008 : 9:13:24 PM
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I have the Athearn models in the Hi-F drive, both the RDC1 and RDC3. My powered model runs like a watch but does have an interesting "boing" bounce if throttled down too fast. They are "shorties", about 10 scale feet shorter than actual prototype specs.
Edited by - shaygetz on November 09 2008 9:14:38 PM
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Posted - November 10 2008 : 06:04:59 AM
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| he frank remember,triang is really a uk collectable,and at&t are american,so we did not get many of these items so there will always be a demand from the true triang collecter,the at&ts go any where from 30 unboxed to 250 for the rarer versions,athearn go for 20/50 higher figure for the standard drive,proto 1000s for about 30/55 for the odd liveries ken
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Posted - November 10 2008 : 07:56:00 AM
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Here is a picture of the Athearn All Metal Gear Drive RDC 1. Early 1950s. Athearn made Powered and Dummy Metal RDC-1, 2 ,3, & 4. Later on the plastic Hi-F versions they only made RDC 1 & 3. Carl
Numquam Immoderatio Satis Est
(Too Much Is Never Enough )
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Posted - November 10 2008 : 08:41:02 AM
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Does anyone have a Athearn Plastic RDC repowered with a Earnst regearing kit.
frank
toptrain
" It's a Heck of a Day " !!!
Edited by - toptrain on November 10 2008 08:41:29 AM
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Posted - November 10 2008 : 10:52:52 AM
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I have one Athearn RDCs with the Ernst gear set. I installed a can motor and made a driveshaft from Athearn and Hobbytown parts.
It runs ok, (like an Athearn gear drive loco) 
Ray
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Posted - November 11 2008 : 7:40:19 PM
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I have a Via RDC-3 with an upgraded motor and gears. The guys at Hoseeker figured out what it was a while back, but I don't remember what it's called. I also have an undec. RDC-1 with the stock rubber band drive.
-cheez
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Posted - November 11 2008 : 9:28:49 PM
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That is the Ernst kit installed acording to the instruction.
The RDC got the motor upgrade about the same time as the Hustler.
Ray
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Posted - November 11 2008 : 9:33:35 PM
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| The Alaskan RR has one in service. Does anyone make a model in the Alaskan RR colors.
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Posted - November 13 2008 : 11:08:25 AM
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Get some decal !
frank
toptrain
" It's a Heck of a Day " !!!
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Posted - January 11 2011 : 5:15:00 PM
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I'm doing my first RDC gear kit install. The instructions say to remove the motor and then later on, reinstall the motor but there are no instructions on how to do this. It looks like the motor is heat staked in place.
Has anyone ever installed one of these kits and if so, what did you do about the motor removal and installation?
~ Dave
They're ALL toys
Edited by - RDC1 on January 11 2011 5:15:48 PM
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farace
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Posted - January 11 2011 : 5:50:07 PM
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| If it's the typical Athearn motor mount, it's a two-piece soft plastic mount that's a press fit into the four holes on the chassis, and should with a bit of wiggling pop out without much problem. But if it's the typical Athearn motor mount, it may also be the case that the soft plastic has ossified and become hard and brittle, so that when you wiggle to pop it out it breaks. Fear not, as the mounts are readily available.
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Posted - January 11 2011 : 6:26:36 PM
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Allllrighty, thanks ... here goes nuthin'
~ Dave
~ Dave
They're ALL toys
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Posted - January 11 2011 : 6:54:12 PM
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quote:| Three weeks ago at a train show ... I could have gotten 9 of them. None sold and they were cheep. The painted ones $2 for a power and $1 for a dummy. |
Wow, I woulda snapped them up at that price! I hardly see the RDC's at my shows, and DEFINITELY not for that price!
quote:
The ATT Alco 415 is a junk locomotive. Made in Yugo. It doesn't last when run. Frank
Originally posted by toptrainÂ
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I have several of the 415's now, one is an ATT. I bought a 5-pole skew motor to replace the noisy, nasty stock one, but it requires cutting the mounting bracket to make it fit. I haven't decided yet to do it, but I think I will. My current motor runs ok, but noisy. Probably won't last, and I'd rather have the peace and quiet of a skew motor that's well-balanced.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - January 11 2011 : 10:01:43 PM
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I'll never do another Ernst conversion again. The kit with shipping cost more than I paid for the engine, it's poorly engineered, it needs a LOT of work right out of the package and one of the 16 tooth gears are out of round. If this thing runs nice, I'll be amazed. If not, I'll either convert it back to rubber band drive or kick it down a hill somewhere and get some old ATT RDCs or the newer Proto 1000 models.
~ Dave
They're ALL toys
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Posted - January 11 2011 : 11:42:59 PM
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quote:I'll never do another Ernst conversion again. .... If this thing runs nice, I'll be amazed. If not, I'll ... get .... the newer Proto 1000 models.
Originally posted by RDC1Â -Â January 11 2011Â :Â 10:01:43 PM
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Yes, the Ernest gear drive install is kinda hokey from what I read. I have a kit, but never used it, for an MDC Boxcab conversion. The engine shell is supposed to have tape put in the top to press the gear down to shim it, and you add or remove tape to do so. Strange and crude!
I do have a Proto 1000 RDC in ACL livery, it runs well, it's got DCC in it. Only issue is the gears whine a bit, but I never lubed it out of the box. I need to take it apart and check it, I guess. But I've used it for many hours now at my club layout, and it's always run fine except for the minor noise issue.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - January 12 2011 : 9:54:46 PM
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Ernst must like tape in their gear kits. They say to use tape to build up the thickness of the drive shaft so that the U joint will stay on and then super glue it in place. Guess what just failed on my attempt at their Scotch Tape engineering? The U joint removed itself from the tape.
This kit is nearly all plastic parts and at today's prices, would amount to roughly 15 cents in raw plastic. I wonder why they didn't include a properly sized U joint with the kit.
After hearing the loud grinding of the Ernst gears, watching my RDC crawl around the loop at a snail's pace top speed and then witnessing my RDC slide to a halt as the Scotch Tape let loose and motor whined away, I've decided that this Ernst gear kit endeavor is not for me.
I shall now crack open a George Killian's Irish Red and enjoy the rest of the evening watching my newly resurrected Tyco GP20 Chattanooga cruise around the track. This weekend, she'll (The RDC) be converted back to rubber band drive.
~ Dave
They're ALL toys
Edited by - RDC1 on January 12 2011 9:56:47 PM
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Posted - October 11 2011 : 5:29:06 PM
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This May Be Slightly Off Topic, But Was A SPV2000 Ever Made?
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