RDC in O scale.

Sunset/3rd Rail has already offered them. More than once, as I recall.

 Water posted:

Sunset/3rd Rail has already offered them. More than once, as I recall.

The first run was done in brass, the second in plastic. They are virtually identical. I think some from the second run are still available. The brass ones came without cruise but still run like a watch. Not sure what Legacy would add other than a higher price tag.

Pete

I have one of the 3rd Rail from the second run, love it

I know sunset has done them. No smoke units in them. Would be neat with some station sounds like station sound cars as well. Would make it fun as well.

I'd pass.  I have enough RDCs in various "flavors".

Sadly, Sunset did not do RDC-3's, so l had to pass. If those are done.....?

Station Sounds would be cool but given these were usually run on branch lines I doubt Lionel would ever do the Stations along the tracks I grew up on. But you have given me an idea. Rather than TMCC/Legacy I might upgrade mine to PS2/3 and then insert my own Stations.

I think its a good argument for Lionel to finally get into self programable sounds.

Pete

I'd buy several!!

Norton posted:

Station Sounds would be cool but given these were usually run on branch lines I doubt Lionel would ever do the Stations along the tracks I grew up on. But you have given me an idea. Rather than TMCC/Legacy I might upgrade mine to PS2/3 and then insert my own Stations.

I think its a good argument for Lionel to finally get into self programable sounds.

Pete

You can get George, at ITTC Sounds to do a custom module for you, at no extra cost.  

I would definitely buy them, especially if they made them for Jersey Central. 

Dan Padova posted:

You can get George, at ITTC Sounds to do a custom module for you, at no extra cost.  

I believe those are switch triggered modules, they don't have a command interface.

But gunrunner.... Isn't that what ERR's mini-commander dummy version is for?

Nope, not really.  You need a switch closure to trigger those modules.  You could cobble up something that would work, but not out of the box.  When I was faced with a similar sound requirement, I made this little module that triggers from the coupler outputs and plays two different sounds, one for each coupler.  In addition, it has three extra contact closure sound triggers, I used two of those with trackside magnets tripping reed switches on the bottom of my little creation I made this for.

This is what the sound module went into, a command controlled handcar.  the electronics are in the trailing wagon.

I always hoped MTH would do scale RDC's (I run DCS only). If they ever do ,I would be in for a SP and WP!

They certainly have enough road names to run RDC's. I could see this as something MTH doing. I would get a Reading and Northern in a heartbeat! Maybe in the catalog they announce at York. 

I would definitely like to have a Reading Company version with the tiger stripes in the front.

While I would like one, I'm not sure how much demand there would be to justify the tooling costs for Lionel or MTH to create a scale version.  Everything about an RDC is unique and not shared with anything else.  Another issue would be the shear size; the prototype is 85' long (slightly longer than a scale GG1) so it is unlikely that you could run it on 031 or 036 curves.  I think all we will ever see, in scale, are the beautiful models from Sunset/3rd Rail.

Lots of variants of the Budd Cars over the years.  The Rapido article sums them up:

https://rapidotrains.com/budd-rdc-master-class/

In O scale they all seem to be the same as-bulit variant.  To the best of my knowledge no one has done the phase II cars nor the ones with diaphragm ends. 

I remember some years back that K-Line announced scale length and scale detailed aluminum bodied RDCs at the TCA museum but never got enough orders for a profitable run. I would have loved a set, or even bought a set of 15" cars with the detail that was promised.

When sunset did the second run of the RDC's, they didn't have enough orders to rerun the Amtrak model. I need an RDC2!

The reason the Sunset version doesn't have a smoke unit is because what would you do with the interiors?  Yes the control board takes up a portion of the unit, but add in vertical can motors and a smoke unit and there is no point in doing one with interiors.  With the in truck motors, the interiors of the Sunset RDC are what makes the design so good. 

I am custom painting a CNJ one for a friend as the CNJ decals are available online.   At the current price of Lionel product, the 3rd Rail / Sunset version is a good buy too. 

Harry,

Now that I have a Legacy controller, Yes, I would be interested in buying one.  I agree with you that the station sounds are fun!  I have thought of buying an RDC sometime for my small mountain layout that is in the late planning stage, and ready to build soon.  I'm a Western Maryland and B&O fan, but I would not be against buying one of another road name.

It would be cool, but not for all.

Unless you have a very large layout, scale cars above 60' start looking awkward in "O" especially when overhanging on curves. I'm quite satisfied with the detail and length of Lionel PW B&O Buds over MTH. I have the option of mixing PWs with the L re-issue set. Smoke would not be a factor to have on these as only a small amount of black was seen during acceleration.

Sunset is in a different league than most 3 railers can run or afford.

SIRT,

You made excellent points!  I was not thinking that a scale RDC would be over 60".  If Scale is over 60", that would be too long for me.  I would have to change my comment and pass.  I already sold my longer passenger cars.  

Yes I concur, most 3-rail modelers can not afford the beautiful Sunset 3rd Rail models.

But it wouldn't hurt to have an 18" or scale 72 ft RDC! We do have passenger cars in O guage in that length.

prrhorseshoecurve posted:

But it wouldn't hurt to have an 18" or scale 72 ft RDC! We do have passenger cars in O guage in that length.

I agree!  They would be great!

In response to Harry's original question, I just wanted to let him know I wouldn't buy one that long.  I wish I had the space to run 72' cars.

I would like to see some RDC's in more modern paint schemes such as:

Via Rail, 

CP Rail

Boston MBTA

Metro North

[1980's rebuilds]

TRE

NYS&Q [Syracuse NY]

Reading and Northern

oh and for some unKnown reason that no mfg wants to release, the Demonstrator scheme!

With a little slicing and dicing, you can pretty much get any of the variants from the Lionel shells IF you are willing to accept the 16" length and the somewhat abstract radiator detailing.  I see the shells quite a bit at train shows, so for the RDC-2 you would need to create a 4' single-window door out of styrene, and also block up some windows.  Same thing for the RDC-3, except for you need a small RPO door as well.  The RDC-4 would seem to be straightforward, since Lionel made it, but by rights it should be only 7/8 the length of the others (74' vs. 85'), so depending on how obsessive you want to get about your 16" cars, you might want to cut the RDC-4 down to 14" or at least make it a little shorter than the others (notice how in this hobby, obsessive is not a dirty word).  For the RDC-9 (B&M and Canadian National) you just need to block off the windows on one end and, I think, one set of radiator fans.  Fill the gaps, paint with Testor's spray silver, and you're pretty much there. Decals are still available, and you can also print off a strip on your inkjet and glue it to the letter board.  BTW, I thought the Budd demonstrator had a white letterboard, not gold.  Maybe it could be either.

For me, the bigger problem with Lionel is not the length, but the locomotive-type trucks.  The sideframes are not right, and the wheels are too big, making the whole car ride high.  I scratchbuilt some sideframes but really need different drive trucks with smaller wheels.

I model the B&M, which had RDC-1s, RDC-2s, RDC-3s, and RDC-9s.  Plus, I  think I read somewhere that there was an RDC-4 on the property that was used for parts, or maybe that was after the MBTA took over.  Lots of these RDCs were used as locomotive-hauled coaches in the early days of the MBTA, and are still being used as such by tourist railroads.

Thanks for getting me to think about RDCs again.  When I was little, I would hear six-car RDC trains go by every night when I was going to bed (Concord NH).

BRUCE

Funny story...An Engineman on one of our  Budd runs was reaching for something out of grip. He fell off the seat and the engine went into emergency and slightly skidded the engine..  He though he'd work the independent (engine brake) to wear off some of the skid marks...However nothing seemed to improve.... Why?? Disc brakes.

The late Jack Whitmeyer took Lionel RDC's and "stretched" them. The Lionel was shortened by removing windows. The correct RDC1 pattern was "six and five" while the Lionel was "five and four" on the sides. He also made an RDC3 and an RDC4.

Mark Boyce posted:

SIRT,

You made excellent points!  I was not thinking that a scale RDC would be over 60".  If Scale is over 60", that would be too long for me.  I would have to change my comment and pass.  I already sold my longer passenger cars.  

Yes I concur, most 3-rail modelers can not afford the beautiful Sunset 3rd Rail models.

Mark, I think they are 72'. I have 2 CNJ's in H.O. and they look quite long. Like the Lionel GG1, the longer  scale ones look funny to me even though they are correct. Some of us, based on the layout, have a cut off point I guess. 

RDC Cars were 85' long with the exception of the RDC-4 which was 73'-10".  The Sunset model is an 85 foot car. 

Athearn's plastic HO RDC from the early 60's with the rubber band drive was approximately 72' feet in length.  I still have a few.  They did make a metal kit prior to that in the 50's that was 85'.  They are not easy to assemble!  The best part of the Athearn RDC was beating everyone at the Allentown train races!  0-200 smph in just a few seconds.

Personally, I really enjoy the prototypical correct length of the Sunset version.  I have a pair of Lionel dummies in a boxed set I've been trying to sell for years.  Since I grew up around real passenger trains and started in HO, the longer version looks right to my eye, but that is why this hobby is so great.  Different options for different interests is a good thing.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Dan Padova posted:

You can get George, at ITTC Sounds to do a custom module for you, at no extra cost.  

I believe those are switch triggered modules, they don't have a command interface.

John, isn't that what Pete is asking for ?   Station sounds would be triggered at the station by an in-track magnet that would trip a reed switch located on the underside of the car.

Dan Padova posted:

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Dan Padova posted:

You can get George, at ITTC Sounds to do a custom module for you, at no extra cost.  

I believe those are switch triggered modules, they don't have a command interface.

John, isn't that what Pete is asking for ?   Station sounds would be triggered at the station by an in-track magnet that would trip a reed switch located on the underside of the car.

Dan, With DCS you can trigger various sounds with the handheld. Thanks to the work of a forum member you can now extract and then insert your own custom sounds into a sound file. Thats what I plan to try at some point.

Pete

Norton posted:

Dan Padova posted:

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Dan Padova posted:

You can get George, at ITTC Sounds to do a custom module for you, at no extra cost.  

I believe those are switch triggered modules, they don't have a command interface.

John, isn't that what Pete is asking for ?   Station sounds would be triggered at the station by an in-track magnet that would trip a reed switch located on the underside of the car.

Dan, With DCS you can trigger various sounds with the handheld. Thanks to the work of a forum member you can now extract and then insert your own custom sounds into a sound file. Thats what I plan to try at some point.

Pete

 

That's great.  Me being a more traditional operator, I'll stick with my system.  It's the KISS system.....LOL

Bruce Clouette posted:

For me, the bigger problem with Lionel is not the length, but the locomotive-type trucks.  The sideframes are not right, and the wheels are too big, making the whole car ride high.  I scratchbuilt some sideframes but really need different drive trucks with smaller wheels.

Bruce, I was very (!) interested to see that you had scratchbuilt some RDC trucks. Would love to see photos, plus any tips you wanted to share re materials and building process. My RDCs are the old AMT version from the 1950s, gathered from eBay. They have great, correct RDC trucks, but I only have two complete cars (both need cleaning/ lubrication, and one needs a wire reconnected), plus several orphan shells. Would love to put some dummy trucks under a couple of those, as not all the cars need to be powered. -- I'm also a B&M fan, so I like the AMTs because of the older-style smooth doors and ends (vs MTH with the New Look fluting). Plus nothing longer than 14" looks good on my O-36 curves. Once I make the time, I want to try bashing both an RDC-2 and RDC-3 (hence my collection of body shells!), so I can better replicate the B&M fleet. Inspiration for that was a full-length AMT RDC-3 some unknown hero spliced together, which was up for sale on eBay a couple of years ago. When I dig up pics I will upload, I know they're on my laptop. -- Anyway, if you get chance, would love to know more about your trucks, I've never tried building a truck. Meanwhile, happy almost New Year!

Oops, looks like I've repeated myself from a post last June -- don't check in here too often. I posted the pic back then too... But --

I don’t care who makes them,  it I’d love some scale PRR, PRR-Reading Seashore Lines and a SP RDC sets. I have a Sunset 3RD Rail Reading powered and dummy pair from the first run. But I got caught in a preorder battle with a few items and missed the second run. 

While they’re at it I’d also like some scale Metroliners!

MTH Premier, full scale, Reading and Northern with good smoke, like the smokers their currently running, for me. Mike had no problem doing the RBRR 425 for us delivered within a year of being requested.