American Models ALCo RS11

No, Milwaukee Rd did not have these but they would at my layout, I don't count rivets.  Milwaukee did not have Alco FAs either but they do here. I run what I like.

Ray

Hi Ray,

I hope you weren't offended by my question.  Besides being curious myself, I only asked since I saw that the RS11's shown by American Models so far have been from roads that had them in real life.  I just figured that if the Milw road actually had some it might be more likely that Ron would produce them in the future and you'd have a greater chance of getting what you want.

 

It's probably best, however, if you contact Ron directly about availability.

 

Mike A.

The Milwaukee Road would be a good candidate for DX series GP-9s. With dynamic brakes, or passenger service with torpedo tanks on the hood. Some were painted in the passenger scheme.

I would also buy a GP9 in C&NW if they were done up in addition to the Milwuakee road. 

Ben

No Mike, I was not offended but like I stated if one does end up here it will come out of the paint shop in Milw. Rd paint, after all this is the IMRR, [It's My Rail Road].

 

Ray

I don't mean to be a party pooper, but while it's nice Ron is keeping the S light on with at least some new engines of interest, I am personally not motivated by yet another diesel, especially when he's taken us so close for so long to what he could do to really turn some heads and open wallets - issue a Dreyfuss NYC 20th Century Hudson steam engine.  The Empire Express is nice, but come on now, we all know the sister it's missing...

The Dreyfuss subject has cropped up several times over the years since the ESE first came out, along with a non-streamlined Hudson.  For reasons known only to Ron, he has chosen not to pursue more NYC Hudson's.

 

Rusty

Yeah for Ron and Co.  I want two undecs so I can have N&W ones.

 

Wayne

Winchester and Western had ex-NW RS11's, dark blue with yellow lettering, very nice looking.  California Western had them, AM's short coaches in Maroon would look good behind them.  Short lines will add a few more road names to the pot so IMO Ron has a great new loco in his line up.  If he develops an Alco tri-mount truck he could use them under the RS11 and RS3 for quick variations too.

 

Greg

Oh yes, I have seen photos of the WW ne: N&W RS11s.  I have made decals I used on some SHS hoppers to make WW.  Unfortunately, I cannot make decals that will work yellow on blue background.  Fortunately, Microscale makes the S scale N&W engine decals.  I have used them on AM RS3, E8, SHS SWs, and Smokey Mountain switcher.  I have ordered a pair of RS11s in DC, undecs of course.

 

Similar topic, I made some Atlantic and Danville decals that I used to decorate another AM RS3.  That pulls much general freight and especially pulpwood cars, all bashed from AF flats, rex flats, Bachmann On30 flats, and a couple of Lionel O27 flats.

 

Ron has really been an asset to S gaugers.

 

 

Wayne

I got an e mail from Ron and he says they will ship in early July.  I will get a pair ordered pronto.  I need more S scale engines like a hole in the head but the RS11 has been a favorite since I first saw one back in 1975 in San Jose with the FM Trainmasters in commute service.  Hmm AM has one of those too. 

 

Greg

How are you guys placing orders?  I do not see them on the AM website.

Ben

I called American Models by phone.  They will not place the RS11s on the web until they actually have them in hand.  But they will take your order and not charge you until they ship your engine.  I wish all manufactures operated that way.

 

Wayne

I emailed AM directly.

 

Rusty

Ordering mine today from Doug Peck at Portlines Hobbies.  10% discount for the preorder.

 

Roger

 

I wonder if the shells will also be available as spare parts, the RS11 with some work could convert into an RS27, and the SOO had a pair them.

 

Colin

I was hoping AM would make a RS27 in a few years. SOO would be my pick too.

Colin,

 

It's possible.  AM's policy has been to make every part available, even shells.  If you have any questions on parts' availability, just shoot them an email or call.  Shells are usually around $50. 

 

With all the buzz on their RS-11s, it looks like Ron has a hit on his hands.  He's been in the S manufacturing longer than A.C. Gilbert was.  I wish him all the best, and have supported his offerings for a long time. 

 

I have called and left a message and emailed AM, have not been able to get them to take my money yet.  It seems I may have to just wait until they are on the website.  

 

Ben. 

Or, they may have put your name on the list, but did not call you back because the engines are not due in till this Summer, I think they told me July.  Don't depend on that.  My  memory is not what is used to be.  Still, I would call them back after they announce in public they have them in stock.

 

Wayne 

It's probably a matter of deciding where the $ are best spent for tooling - a steam engine shell that's appropriate for a single railroad, or a diesel that can be painted up for over 20 original purchasing railroads (plus the engines resold to other railroads second hand) - my guess is there's a much higher potential of making back the $ invested with an RS-11.

I agree.  While I also think the the NYC hudson is a beautiful engine, I only buy engines from N&W, Virginian, Southern and a few short lines I like, here in Virginia.  So I would not buy the NYC hudson.  I guess it is people like me who drive manufacturers to concentrate on diesels.  Even though AM is not producing any of the RS11s in any of those roads, I can alway buy an undecorated one and letter it for N&W.  That is easy to do since Microscale still makes S scale N&W diesel decals.  I would also love to do a Winchester Wester, but I am not able to make decals where yellow lettering can be used on black shells.

J Wayne,

I asked about other road names when I was at the S Spree and it sounded like Ron was considering doing others down the road so if you can wait, maybe he'll come out with one in N&W.  You could also call him and ask.

 

Mike A.

I hope so.  If he does I will buy a couple of those also.  One can never have too many on an N&W coal drag.  For now, I will mix them with my GP9s the way N&W did.

 

Wayne

RS11's are now posted on the AM site.

 

Rich

If you read my interview with MTH they are going to produce EMD switchers SW-9,SW-1 and NW-2 next.  Will these be as appreciated as the RS11's?

 

Wow! The production sample of the Missouri Pacific RS-11 looks fantastic!  Way to go American Models! This HO scaler is rootin' for 'ya!!

 

Bill wondered:

 

quote:

If you read my interview with MTH they are going to produce EMD switchers SW-9,SW-1 and NW-2 next.  Will these be as appreciated as the RS11's?

 

 

If I were still in S scale, I would breathe a huge sigh of relief to see MTH begin to release the SHS switcher line.

 

However, here's perhaps a salient point to remember: I wasn't in S scale nearly as long as the old (S) heads here... and yet I already had over a half dozen SHS switchers on hand. So, I would be more excited about the AM RS-11 (which is a totally new model from the ground up) than MTH finally beginning to release SHS switchers. If I were still in S scale, the Mop RS-11 would be coming home to live on my layout, as well as a couple undecorated units. (However, I didn't see any undecorated units on the AM site?)

 

Frankly, AM is one of the last true S scale companies still standing and I hope for the very best for them. 

 

MTH, on the other hand, is experimenting with S scale. I hope their experimentation goes well for S scale in general, but the only reason I would want it to go well is FOR THE S scalers.  Other than that, I don't particularly care whether it's good for MTH or not.

 

 

 

Bill

They will not be (MTH) as  appreciated as the AM RS11s, MTH is just reinventing the wheel (and I am  grateful they are!!!!) with the SHS rehashes....AM's RS11s are NEW models. 

Ben

Assuming MTH's switchers will have all the "bells and whistles," they will still probably prove more popular than AM's internally unsophisticated RS11.

 

Personally, I have several of the old SHS switchers and am not in the market for any more. 

 

I could get weak in the knees for certain F-units if done, though...

 

 

It all boils down to the "bells and whistles" thing mentioned above.  If S goes the way of three rail O, where it seems a greater number of folks seem more interested in the features than the locomotive, then the "rehashes" will sell better than the RS11's.

 

I put the locomotive first.  As long as it looks good and runs well, that's my main reason for purchasing it.  Anything else, command control, sound, smoke or any other electronic razzmatazz is secondary.  These additional features won't influence purchasing or not purchasing a locomotive.

 

Rusty

I too have a good supply of SHS SW series switchers. But I'm still hoping for a few different and desirable road names/paint schemes from MTH from what was previously offered by SHS.

 

However, new models such as the RS=11s are welcome. The fact they are basic locomotives doesn't matter to me. Straight DC is fine. I can always go DCC with or without sound in the future.

The MKT had that scheme applied to both the NW-2 and the SW-9. They did not own any SW-1s.

It would be nice if they tooled up for a SW1500 as pictured above. The chassis should be the same length. 

This is my "pipe dream" SW1.  The exception to my not being interested in more SW's. If they make it, I would buy it:

The Maufacturers Junction Railway Company had about 1-3/4 mile of main line and 8 miles of sidings, all within the Western Electric (Cicero, IL) property lines.  (Even a turntable and roundhouse just off Ogden Ave.) There was also sister SW1 #6 and an old wood ex-C&NW cupola caboose.

 

But, the MJ was so obscure and tucked away in urbia, I know I'll never see one made.

 

Rusty

Rusty:

 

All I get is an "Image Not Found" white square.  ???

I reinserted the picture as a jpeg.  Some computers don't like .png files apparently.

 

Rusty

Rusty,

 

Methinks you may need to go the airbrush route for your want.

 

Rich

I prefer the original Blue and yellow scheme. 

That ain't the original paint scheme...  It's the late 1980's reboot.

 

Rusty

Rusty: That worked, thanks.

 

Neat paint scheme, both of them. Think I like the black/red the best.

 

Rolling your own, either scheme: Good luck on the dividing pinstripe. 

 

Pinstripe separations are the bane of 1st generation Missouri Pacific schemes.

 

Back in my HO daze, I painted up an old Lindberg SW1 for MJ and a fantasy A-B pair of BLW sharknoses. 

Still got the sharks, but the SW1 is either buried somewhere in my basement or physically buried somewhere in one of the area's finer landfills...

 

Rusty

 

I've made myself a promise to resist another foray into S scale, but if I did succumb and buy the D&H RS-11 I'd first have to check the paint and lettering job out more carefully...it doesn't look quite right to me.

 

I might end up wrangling with the airbrush and decal tweezers even though the D&H unit is being produced...

 

Jeff C