Last 3rd Rail Update 2013

Scott, that AC-9 is a beauty and I can't wait to see it first hand!

Safe travels.

Nick

Philippines?  "Facility"?  Is 3rd Rail manufacturing in the Philippines?  Model train

mfg. has migrated from the U.S, to Japan, S. Korea, China, and now to the P.I.?

(or has it?)

AC-9 looks fantastic!

Glad to hear the Columbian cars are in production. Makes me happy, happy, happy!

Jim

I better revisit the RPO---looks great!   Horse car on order...

Scott good move on the PI!    Great people, reliable and with a work ethic.   I think you will be steady there for quite a few years.

Scott, is it possible to shoot a video that would provide a sound sampling of your new OEM Railsounds system? I am interested in a couple of your to be built steam engines 

and would appreciate hearing your new sound system before ordering.

Has anyone taken delivery of the new 3rd Rail Steam Engine that features the 

"TMCC/New OEM Railsounds" as noted in the 3rd Rail Newsletter?

thanks,

Bill

We have been waiting for our new sound system from Lionel for our AC9. Basically from what we are told by OGR reviewer is that these new sounds are equivalent to RS 5.0. They have taken out road specific Crew Talk and do not have Legacy whistle control. But the dynamic chuffing is really good, and the volume of the sounds are much better than the RS 4.0 we had before.

I will see if we can get some videos.

Scott

That AC-9 is drop dead gorgeous.

ESPEE AC9  ....their all time finest!   And even more so with that Charlie 25 oil conversion.   Way 2 go Scott !     Now if someone would only do those tenders in HO scale.. I could update my Max Gray !

On the AC9, there seems to be something which is blocking the view of the back axle.  What is it?  It looks like some sort of pump.

That is part of the side ash pans, one on each side. When all the AC-9s, except the 3800, were converted to oil burning, all that "ash pan" crap was obviously removed.

Attached is the Oil Version with the ash pan detail removed.

why does the door part of the cab detail look like it is from a different engine and of a different shade of black.  the roof line does not even match.

Just a thought here, did you happen to check any photos of the prototype? How about any drawings of the prototype? 

Aw what the heck,,,,,,might as well complain first, right??

I think that color difference on the cab door is due to the lighting.   In the other photos, that end of cab appears to angle in toward the center.   It is not straight across from the cab windows.   Therefore the light reflected off differently when the photo was shot. 

The AC9 cab has a slightly narrowing section behind the side windows and involving the cab door area.  It's tapered ...kinda like the butt end of a Baldwin Centipede !

As you can see from this picture, the cab door area is not in the same plane as the rest of the cab. It is set inward. Thus you see that on our model, designed using the integrated 3D design method. The roof line is not straight either, like it was an after thought.

Scott Mann

That saves me money as I do not care for the back of the cab.  Hot water the American way is to complain first, you sure do.

If I made it prettier, it would be wrong..

Scott

Scott, this locomotive is on the money. I like everything about it. Can't wait to get mine!

Maybe run it like a cab fwd. SP has done alot of interesting things

I think that is the first time I ever heard of someone not wanting something because it IS prototypically accurate.  Ironlake2, that model is so large and detailed that I bet you wouldn't even notice that part of the cab as there is so much more to look at.

Hi Scott,

            With 3rd Rail producing more diesels, have you given consideration to an SD40-2, GP40, SD60 etc.?

Your big AC looks right on !   Just like the old Max Gray , FWIW !  Also neat to see a Charlie 25 conversion in passenger service...never seen a photo of that before