Originally Posted by webfoot:
Honestly, I am just building a few models up for the fun of it, as a nice change of pace from building Pontiacs. I may be able to build a small switching layout at some point when my son gets older. So for the time being, being the most accurate model is the most important thing.
If you are looking to build the most accurate model the first thing you need to start with is the blatantly wrong (side) handrail mounting on nearly all of the plastic RS3's.
The hand rails are supposed to be mounted on the flat/horizontal surface of the walkway. (like your original red-box one on Ebay).
On most models, they are mounted on the vertical frame of the locomotive. The Atlas Trainman model is blatantly wrong and this was brought up ad nauseam on the old Atlas forum.
I would start with an old Weaver twin-tower drive not because the drive can be made superior for slow speed but simply because the bodies have the correct handrail. This is and was a trademark of ALCOs and to me this matters most.
Of course, YMMV.