1st look Railking RSD5

Nice! 

Too bad MTH cant seem to give us dual head lamps.

Thanks for the post and cool layout photos! 

Yes - neat!  Close up of the truck side frames?

I picked up an MTH 3.0 D&H RS3 back in March; my first MTH Alco.

Every time I start this engine up it leaves me grinning.  My first real job after I got out of college was at an export grain elevator and terminal along the Houston Ship Channel.  We had several Alco switchers plus an RS3.  The sounds my D&H RS3 make when starting up remind me of what our real Alcos sounded like.  The only thing missing is the belch of black exhaust we’d get out of the real ones.

And to SIRT’s comment about the headlight; at least the single lense headlights are correct for my D&H model.

Curt

I just picjked up my CNJ version and started it up tonight. It's really wonderful. The sounds are great and the smoke is a full blast. This is on eof my favorites.

Ralph, thanks for sharing the photos...and good luck with your new engine!  I pre-ordered a pair of the CNJ’s from one of the Forum sponsors and was just notified today that they are on their way.  I have big detailing/weathering plans for them when I can find the time.  I may even swap out the headlights to the prototypical dual version that SIRT mentioned.

Curt, I also purchased the D&H RS3 (a pair in fact) earlier this year, and have plans to detail them as well.  I love the ALCo sounds like you do, even if they are “generic”...and now that the PS3 versions have smoke units, all the better!  

I already owned the older D&H PS2 version (no smoke unit) and noticed on the latest run that MTH upgraded the truck side frames with more detail.  I can’t tell from Ralph’s photos if this upgrade applies to the RSD’s.  MTH has been doing quite a few of these product detail upgrades on their engines and Premier rolling stock over the past several years with very little fanfare or public announcement.  I think that’s great!

I have several  MTH Alco's and the sound sets are very nice.

The RS and several others are in the RK scale and they are the best bang for your money. 

Dave

Here's a closeup of the sideframe someone asked for: 

Yes, a dual element headlight would have been a nice touch.  

 RSD5 trivia - PC #6804 was originally PRR #8449. PRR 8449 was built in 1952 without M.U. The MU was added in 1961. 

-RM

Dual headlamps: did this particular locomotive group on the PC  actually have dual headlamps? (I haven't researched it.)

Very good-looking loco; I have always liked a simple black paint scheme, and those Tri-mount trucks are always sharp.

D500 posted:

Dual headlamps: did this particular locomotive group on the PC  actually have dual headlamps? (I haven't researched it.)

Very good-looking loco; I have always liked a simple black paint scheme, and those Tri-mount trucks are always sharp.

Yes, they did. 

Homework indicates most RS3,4,5, units had dual lenses. Lionel has it correct, MTH not so much.

Found old BOWSER overpriced dual head light brass caps @6 bucks ea + 9 bucks to ship.

Quite pricy when you need 6.  ..........................Anyone have a better price or link?

D500 posted:

Dual headlamps: did this particular locomotive group on the PC  actually have dual headlamps? (I haven't researched it.)

Very good-looking loco; I have always liked a simple black paint scheme, and those Tri-mount trucks are always sharp.

The thing to remember is this is a RailKing model, so by nature it's not going to be prototype specific and use the RailKing RS3 body.

Rusty

Makes no difference with mth. All  rk engines look as good as premier. Premier just have a few more operating features.

Ralph M posted:

...MTH chose to have this loco start up to run long hood forward.

"Forward"?  Which end is "Forward"?  I don't see a little "F" at either end, despite having enlarged the photos to 200%.  Perhaps my eyesight is worse than I feared.

SIRT posted:

Quite pricy when you need 6.  ..........................Anyone have a better price or link?

I think PSC makes some in both brass and plastic. Not sure of the prices but I'd imagine the plastic models would be a little cheaper.

Rapid Transit Holmes posted:

Ralph M posted:

...MTH chose to have this loco start up to run long hood forward.

"Forward"?  Which end is "Forward"?  I don't see a little "F" at either end, despite having enlarged the photos to 200%.  Perhaps my eyesight is worse than I feared.

A small "F" from a decal or dry transfer sheet can easily take care of that...

Rusty

Ralph, thank you for posting this.  I did not order the engine and did so today after looking at your pictures.  

My pair of CNJ’s arrived today.  I’m looking forward to getting them unboxed and tested over the weekend.  Will try to post some photos here.

ES44AC posted:

SIRT posted:

Quite pricy when you need 6.  ..........................Anyone have a better price or link?

I think PSC makes some in both brass and plastic. Not sure of the prices but I'd imagine the plastic models would be a little cheaper.

Yes, PSC did (does?) offer brass dual headlight castings for ALCo RS-series locomotives.  As shown in the photos below, the PSC item # is 56179.  I purchased mine in January from P&D Hobby Shop for $4.50 per 2-pack.

Also Cal Scale has this detail as well!

CNJ #1601 posted:

ES44AC posted:

SIRT posted:

Quite pricy when you need 6.  ..........................Anyone have a better price or link?

I think PSC makes some in both brass and plastic. Not sure of the prices but I'd imagine the plastic models would be a little cheaper.

Yes, PSC did (does?) offer brass dual headlight castings for ALCo RS-series locomotives.  As shown in the photos below, the PSC item # is 56179.  I purchased mine in January from P&D Hobby Shop for $4.50 per 2-pack.

These P&D pieces can also be used to add the twin sealed beam headlights to a Williams Niagara. They are not quite the same, but a little judicious filing for a smoother face (or a little judicious ignoring) makes them serve the purpose. 

On the MTH RSD (I have a dummy WM RSD, "scheduled" for a re-lettering, whenever), however - I had forgotten that MTH blew it on the contour of the hood ends on this shell - used for the RS-3, also - they are much too flat. It bugs me, as does like the Premier MTH NYC Hudson smoke box front door (just the door) - wrong contour there, too. I still like the RSD, but that incorrect shape error is surprising. Their RS-1 is fine.