Beautiful. Just beautiful. 

Just love the headlights.

Ron

Thanks!

DCC...

Amen....beautiful

Detailing issues?  What, the toilet doesn't have a flush lever?   Just kidding.  Spectacular Santiago, just spectacular!

Absolutely stunning Santiago!

Your kind words are appreciated!

Key Model Imports. Photo by Erik Lindgren

Hi Santiago and All.  
We have a few questions regarding the Key Model Imports Rock Island E-6s.  As you can see from the photos below, we have an A/A set (# 630 and # 631) that are not “as delivered” but rather representative of locomotives somewhat later in service.  For example, notice the conduit running the length of the roof and the center side windows are not divided but are one piece.  I have seen photos on the Key website of the Rock Island E-6 locomotive in “as delivered “ configuration but not these more modernized versions.  And what is really strange is that the labels on the boxes do not describe anything other than a “stock” Rock Island E-6, which would suggest the as delivered version.

One additional question.  Shouldn’t the E-6 lower maroon band be more rounded on the nose, similar to the photos showing our E-6 compared to a Key Model Imports Rock Island E-7?

Please advise your thoughts regarding the above.  Thanks much.

Frank McCabe

On a related subject, does anyone have any idea of how many models Key Model Imports produced of the “Gold Nose” Rock Island E-6 # 630?  The Rockford O Scalers recently picked one up and are curious.  Please advise.  Thanks.

Dear Frank, I have one to they told me there are 3 made I don't know if that is.

You can see more pictures on my forum, o scale.

Best regards, Edwin

Frank, you're right. The lower maroon band should be rounder. My model is a one off, so trade offs are unavoidable. It's a pity, but I still love it. I don't like late era modifications, usually butchered and degraded the styling vision. Just my preference, he'll I don't even like the dual headlight TA! At any rate, KEY IS STILL THE BEST OUT THERE! thanks for sharing your models!

Thanks everyone for your comments.  

The details of Key Model Imports production runs , detailing, versions produced, etc. are pretty difficult to determine.  

They are beautiful but, unfortunately, a number of our models have had operational problems apparently caused by certain components in the lighting circuit, which is very disappointing.  It’s not a problem if your models are only displayed, but for Operators, like the Rockford O Scalers, it is a major bummer when it happens!

Santiago:  So apparently this one isn’t your favorite!  😆

Hehe not really, Frank! It’s a great model tho!

Quick note, the crew started painting the trucks silver to better identify new cracks in the castings 😊

I can believe that!  The Rock Island certainly had their issues in later years!

Frank McCabe posted:

On a related subject, does anyone have any idea of how many models Key Model Imports produced of the “Gold Nose” Rock Island E-6 # 630?  The Rockford O Scalers recently picked one up and are curious.  Please advise.  Thanks.

I find this thread interesting, great images and information. Not to take this in a different direction, but I can write, this is the first time I have seen a coupler painted something other than Silver. We all know Santa Fe painted their couplers and pilots silver on some passenger trains, as well as a few others railroads, but mostly Santa Fe.

However, the red coupler on the unit posted above is a first for me.

Any other colors, and for that matter the railroads, that had painted couplers?

Charlie

Always look forward to your posts and photos Santiago, great as usual, and this certainly developed into an interesting thread on these E's.

Thanks, Jim. I'll make a video of her running pulling heavies and my Rckets soon. Working on the layout these days...

Rocky Mountain Rocket...

Fantastic ❤️ 👏👏👍

I promised some heavies…

Rocket budds