Atlas D&H RS36 Upgrade

[jacksong1218]

Hi All,

For the past year or so, I have been working slowly on upgrading a Atlas Trainman RS36, specifically D&H #5018. I model the D&H / CP in the late 80s and early 90s, and a few RS36s were still going strong in that period as local power and yard switchers. While not 100% complete yet, I figured that its a good time to show off the progress and get some feedback from the community.

Pictures and descriptions of progress:

The model started off as a stock Atlas Trainman RS36, already lettered and painted for the D&H. I'm not a super rivet counter, but from what I can tell the model is close to the prototype and a good base for some detailing. Here is the stock model with the only change being the install of a Loksound V5 decoder.



The first modification I made was milling out the molded on plastic fan grill on the rear of the locomotive, and replaced it with a nice KV Models RS32/36 etched fan set. I painted the blades black and the grill D&H blue to match.



Cal-Scale makes a really nice RS36 detail kit that includes all the grab irons, cut levers (although not correct for this RS36), and many other details. The model has nice dimples in the shell where the grab irons go, and molded on nut and bolt detail. I used all of the grabs that we correct for this locomotive, but used hi-tech details air and MU houses as I like them better than the castings. After they were in place I brush painted them with a Tamyia gray that is close enough to the D&H color.



The one thing on this model that required extensive correction was the way oversized fuel tank. It is slightly too long and way to wide. To accommodate a more in scale fuel tank that I resin 3D printed, I machined the frame on a mill taking extra care to leave just enough meat on there to not interfere with the motor mounts. I still need to paint and install the fuel tank, as well as the air tanks and other details.





While the shell was off the frame I weathered the model to be a close match to how it appeared in photos in the late 80s early 90s. I think I went a bit too light, but I'd rather be light on the weathering than heavy. Here is a early photo with just paint fade and washes on the carbody.




And two more photos of where the model currently stands weathering wise. And one photo of it with a few more of my models at the Pittsburgh RPM back in March.









There are a few things left to complete on the model such as the fuel tank detailing, LED light install, and some more minor details. I'm currently debating if I want to replace the handrails, and add walkway tread. I think it would enhance the look, but I would also like to get this project done this decade! I'll keep this thread up to date with progress. Thanks for looking!

-Jackson 

[kentuckysouthernrwy]

Nice job. I have 4 of the Atlas RS units I got from Micro Mark a few years ago. Also added grabs and such and painted up for my home road. Lots of little holes to drill for sure. Lots more could be done but the railroad needed them to operate. If I was into RPM I’m sure there’s lots of potential. Great little engines to use as a starting point for a real master piece.

-Photos n/a since Photobucket’s latest antics-

Nice job on yours, for sure. The weathering is right. Less is more.

[sd40dash2]

Epic. Your stuff holds up exceptionally well to the glaring eye of the digital camera. Mad respect bro.

[drsvelte]

That Alco looks great! When weathering, "less is more" - yours is like Goldilocks, just right.

Hope to see more of your work in the future.

[jacksong1218]

@kentuckysouthernrwy Thank you! They are great engines, I'm sure they run well hauling freight on your railroad.

sd40dash2 Thank you very much! I'm always scrutinizing my work through a camera, sometimes its so much so its to my own downfall and am slower on progress than I would like.

drsvelte Thank you! After many, *many* over weathered models I think I'm finally understanding. Maybe I'll show more of my models in the coming days / weeks. I have about 10 concurrent locomotive / rolling stock projects happening, maybe I should just focus on one to finish.

- Jackson

[dti406]

The biggest thing that is missing and very noticeable are the various lift rings on the top of the unit. On Model Railroads the top is seen more often than anything else.

Rick Jesionowski

[kentuckysouthernrwy]

Aug 16, 2023 10:38:49 GMT -8 jacksong1218 said:

@kentuckysouthernrwy Thank you! They are great engines, I'm sure they run well hauling freight on your railroad.

Maybe I'll show more of my models in the coming days / weeks. I have about 10 concurrent locomotive / rolling stock projects happening, maybe I should just focus on one to finish.

- Jackson

Please do…

[Christian]

Aug 16, 2023 10:57:23 GMT -8 dti406 said:

The biggest thing that is missing and very noticeable are the various lift rings on the top of the unit. On Model Railroads the top is seen more often than anything else.

See drsvelt's following post.

[drsvelte]

Christian, I have to disagree with you. Based on photos I have a number of different roads, I’m pretty sure that Alcos, at least the RS series, had some type of lift appliances on their roofs. They weren’t rings like we see on EMDs of the era, but more like large U-bolts. Also, they didn’t have many. On RS-11s they typically had seven. Here are a couple quick photos.

[jacksong1218]

drsvelte Has it correct. ALCos never had the traditional lift rings, more of lift half circles as in the photos above. Its hard to tell from my pictures, but the shell has some raised areas molded in the correct lift locations. These are good enough for me for now; I'm not sure I want to spend the hours it would take removing the old lifting points, painting the area, drilling holes etc etc. Maybe if I'm really bored one day I'll put some wire grabs on, but today is not that day!

Not to already derail (ha) this thread, but here's an Exactrail Waffle side boxcar I just finished up. Just needs matte varnish and it'll be ready to go. Hard to tell on camera, but there are very subtle tonal differences in each "waffle" and panel from hours of washes and OPR. 

[drsvelte]

I apologize for a bit of a hijack, but here is a photo of my (in progress since 2022) Atlas N&W RS-11 with the U-bolts...

[jacksong1218]

drsvelte No problem, that looks good!! Did you bend your own wire?

KV Models also makes a set of long hood door handles that I have been considering.. kvmodels.com/common-alco-parts/ Maybe on RS32 number 2.

[drsvelte]

Aug 16, 2023 16:44:55 GMT -8 jacksong1218 said:

drsvelte No problem, that looks good!! Did you bend your own wire?

KV Models also makes a set of long hood door handles that I have been considering.. kvmodels.com/common-alco-parts/ Maybe on RS32 number 2.

No, I used CalScale (#512 or 513) parts.  Detail Associates has some that are similar.  

I used the KV handles but they're not visible in that photo.

[wagnersteve]

August 17, starting about 8:53 a.m., EDT

Thanks to jacksong1218 for starting this thread and showing us some truly excellent modeling. I'll try to get a mention of it into the October issue of the all-volunteer Bridge Line Historical Society Bulletin. Thanks as well to other participants for their contributions. I concur in admiring the reasonable weathering you've done, Jackson.

[jacksong1218]

drsvelte Ah gotya. I'll look into those, thanks!

wagnersteve Thank you! Let me know if you need more pictures or anything, I can take some better lit ones.

[cpr4200]

Nice work. I've started upgrading the first of four Trainman RS32's. Sure wish I had access to a milling machine ... trimming the underframe with a hacksaw and files is not exactly ideal. Would be very interested in seeing your new fuel tank. I've cobbled one up using photos of the first order of NYC RS32's (the smaller tank) but it would sure be nice to have an etched metal kit for all (or some) of the variations. Hello, KV???

The RS27/32/36 handrail stanchions are quite different from the RS2/3/11 posts mounted to the deck with brackets and the Century series. I think Dennis Eggert cut the railings off the Atlas posts and then drilled a hole in each post for the new wire handrails on one of his models. Sounds tedious but of course, his models look great.

[drsvelte]

Nice work. I've started upgrading the first of four Trainman RS32's. Sure wish I had access to a milling machine ... trimming the underframe with a hacksaw and files is not exactly ideal. Would be very interested in seeing your new fuel tank. I've cobbled one up using photos of the first order of NYC RS32's (the smaller tank) but it would sure be nice to have an etched metal kit for all (or some) of the variations. Hello, KV???



The RS27/32/36 handrail stanchions are quite different from the RS2/3/11 posts mounted to the deck with brackets and the Century series. I think Dennis Eggert cut the railings off the Atlas posts and then drilled a hole in each post for the new wire handrails on one of his models. Sounds tedious but of course, his models look great.

You might check out Joe Atkinson's modifications to the RS32/RS36 handrails and fuel tank on Trainorders.com.

[jacksong1218]

cpr4200 Thank you! It sure is helpful. I took a lot of material off the bottom too, which would be almost impossible to do well with a saw. I thought about doing the handrails as you mentioned but decided against it.

Here are a few images of the fuel tank. I drew it up in Inventor and resin-printed it. It took a few tries to correct the fit, and I had to do a few filing tweaks on the frame. When I do the next one it should be a much better fit. You can also see the air tank I made using tube styrene and ends from Canon and Co.



And one with the model on the track: 

[valenciajim]

Excellent modeling! Less is more is absolutely right. Your weathering looks great.

[cpr4200]

Nice job on the fuel tank! You might want to replace those sideframes with the newer ones with separate brake cylinders since the light gray paint emphasizes the trucks. They're a direct replacement, no futzing around required. Pretty sure they're available from Atlas. "That train place" also has them. (thattrainplace.com) and also on ebay.

[jacksong1218]

valenciajim Thank you!!

cpr4200 Thanks! Good call on the replacement side frames, I forgot they re ran these models with updated sideframes. I'll have to order a set.

[fr8kar]

Fantastic work Jackson! I can't wait to see what you post next.

[jacksong1218]

@fr8kar Thank you!

Small update for today, haven't had much time to work on the models recently. Thanks to a tip from cpr4200 I bought some of the upgraded atlas trucks with the separately applied brake detail, and they look great! Need to paint them gray, weather, and detail them with a few more components such as speed recorder, brake chain etc. I also added Details West truck light castings on both sides of the frame. I've seen photos of these RS36s with truck lights on both sides, or just the engineers side, but I decided to do both on this model. I'll work on added LEDs behind the castings soon. Here are two photos:

[sd40dash2]

Wow. Are you an RPM guy? I am in awe that your standards are so high that they allow such high quality closeup photos. Very humbling.

[jacksong1218]

Aug 23, 2023 6:02:55 GMT -8 sd40dash2 said:

Wow. Are you an RPM guy? I am in awe that your standards are so high that they allow such high quality closeup photos. Very humbling.

Thank you very much! I've only attended and displayed models at the recent Pittsburgh RPM. Personally my models are just coming up to my own stratospheric standards where I want to display them. As for building models to the prototype, I try to get as close as I can without going overboard. The weathering is where I get the most picky, often cleaning a model with thinner once or twice before I get the look I'm after. 

[690]

The new trucks are a big improvement! Once you get them painted up , detailed and weathered up I’m sure the separate brake cylinders will really pop!

[jacksong1218]

Hi all. No major updates as of late, waiting on a few parts to come in and working on a few other projects at the moment. 

Finally permanently installed the front headlight LED and numberboard LED. I used the orginal Atlas "combo" light pipe and modified it by cutting out the headlight from the numberboards so they have seperate lighting control. I had the rear lighting completed as well, but chipped a large piece out of the numberboard when removing it from test fitting... Oh well, its not like I have another locomotive with the same number I can steal it from Also finalizing placement of the scale sound systems speaker.



Small update on the front pilot, I did a bit more detailing and weathering touchup, including painting the anglecock red as per this prototype. Waiting on the cut levers to arrive to be installed, I'm not good enough to bend my own. 

[jacksong1218]

Hi All, 

Small update for this long weekend, didn't get as much done as id hoped. The correct style coupler lift bars finally arrived, and they are now installed on the model. Hopefully this coming week I'll have some more time to work on it!

[ChessieFan1978]

Fantastic Model

[wagnersteve]

Tuesday, September 5, about 11:05 a.m., EDT
(back yesterday evening after more than 3 days without Internet access)

Amen to all the positive comments!