Searail engine shells

minzemaennchen Apr 1, 2009

  1. david f.

    david f. TrainBoard Supporter

    1,266
    28
    30
    by a fortunate turn of circumstance i have a couple of Rio Grande decals that will work for this RS3. this is the old "tiger stripe" scheme of a black loco with several yellow stripes down the length of the sides.

    send me a PM or email if this applies to you.
    dave f.
     
  2. Fred Ladd

    Fred Ladd TrainBoard Member

    301
    14
    15
    I just recieved Searails RS3 shell today. Let me preface by saying I'm just a modeler and not a rivit counter. I have spent a good hour+ cleaning up the residue left on the shell from the manufacturing process. Washing- then dental pick, etc.. I am impressed by the detail of the shell. The head and tail lights actually are bored all the way thru the shell. a thin wire pushed in the holes will clear out the release agent. Front and back windows above the hood were also pluged. I like the plows on both ends. The detail level seems very well done. The manufacturing process does leave a slight irregular surface- especially on the curved sections. Possibly a light sanding, or the painting process might smooth it out. I'll let the guys in the know like Joe address this. I don't have a chassis to check fit. I am pleased with the shell. I have examined it under a magnifying glass, and found additional details not readily decernable. Some such as the breakwheel could have been made more pronounced- though I suspect with the attention to detail, these are correct. My GP-38 shells have holes drilled to recieve the handrails. I find no such holes on this shell. Maybe others can tell us how to mount the handrails. Overall, I am very satisfied and encouraged with this model and hope there are many more Z items to come. Searails and I have had our discussions in the past but this is definitly a quality item. The material also seems to be more rugged.
    Anxious to hear others opinion.
    Fred
     
  3. jlundy46

    jlundy46 TrainBoard Supporter

    617
    422
    28
    Fred,
    thanks for sharing your impressions with us. I ordered one and look forward even more to seeing it. The RS fills a much needed niche in Z and I hope that SeaRails comes out with more shells not available from other manufacturers.

    John
     
  4. david f.

    david f. TrainBoard Supporter

    1,266
    28
    30
    fred,
    i haven't received mine yet, but i think the hand rails will be like the GP35 and GP9 from MTL so that etched railing will be a solid piece to cover the edge of the walk and under the cab. i wouldn't have expected holes in which to set the stanchions. but that's my thoughts.

    so glad to hear they are decent. i wish now i had ordered two, but like you i had some "issues" with previous car offerings and took a risk. this will be a good thing for them and for us. thanks for posting.
    dave

    p.s. i'm out of state, so i won't see mine for another week, even if it's in my mailbox now!! ugh.
     
  5. jlundy46

    jlundy46 TrainBoard Supporter

    617
    422
    28
    I went ahead and ordered a second shell this morning. Both GN and SP&S had RS3s so this way I can have one of each. I emailed Jim and suggested ALCO FA/FB shells as a possible future offering.

    John
     
  6. craz3474

    craz3474 TrainBoard Member

    156
    1
    17
    I received my shell yesterday and I echo Fred's comments, I am not a rivet counter either. First impression is this will be a great addition. I will inspect further and update.
     
  7. rray

    rray Staff Member

    8,277
    9,277
    133
    Can one, or both of you guys take some extremely clear, large photos of them, and post for us to examine? :D We want to see before and after cleanup pictures!
     
  8. Alaska Railroader

    Alaska Railroader TrainBoard Supporter

    285
    6
    14
    I guess the true test will come down to 3 things now that the shell has been approved by those who have gotten theirs so far. 1-how will it look after painting (how well will it take the paint). 2-how well will the brass handrails and accessories fit, especially if the holes are not pre-drilled. And 3-probably the host important test... how well will it fit onto the GP chassis? Will it take a lot of filing and grinding on the underside of the shell to allow enough room for the motorized unit and also how well will it vent heat when running. Someone let us know when you've gone through all the rest of these tests.
     
  9. craz3474

    craz3474 TrainBoard Member

    156
    1
    17
    Robert I'll have to leave that to Fred's capable hands as I don't have a decent camera (next thing on my list to buy) to take photos.
     
  10. david f.

    david f. TrainBoard Supporter

    1,266
    28
    30
    i fully expected to have to reduce the mechanism to fit the shell (cutting off the lugs that hold the board and then maybe hard wiring the motor to the frame). if less than that is required it will be a good surprise.
    dave f.
     
  11. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

    9,813
    14,199
    147
    Oooooh! Good call on the FA/FB shells!:teeth:
     
  12. DPSTRIPE

    DPSTRIPE TrainBoard Supporter

    794
    2
    18
    RS Shells

    I received my shells today. I got the Baldwin A-B set as well as the RS. I think they look pretty nice. These have not been cleaned, yet. The pictures attatched are the RS, I will attach photos of the Baldwins next.

    Dan S.
     

    Attached Files:

  13. DPSTRIPE

    DPSTRIPE TrainBoard Supporter

    794
    2
    18
    Baldwin Pics

    Here are the sharknose picks.
    Also, I will confirm Davids suspicion (for the RS Shells, anyway), that the lugs and lighting board do have to be removed. This didn't really surprise me, either, given the hood height of the RS.

    Dan S.
     

    Attached Files:

  14. david f.

    david f. TrainBoard Supporter

    1,266
    28
    30
    well, it's hard to argue with that! these turned out very well, i think.
    dave f.
     
  15. DPSTRIPE

    DPSTRIPE TrainBoard Supporter

    794
    2
    18
    This is true for the Baldwins, too. But, it shouldn't be a big problem to machine out a bit of space for an LED and resistor.
    Dan S.

     
  16. Cleantex

    Cleantex TrainBoard Member

    468
    3
    18
    Hi guys,

    I am for the moment more interested by his logging equipement and wait for the rest.
    But I think that the cleaning will be difficult for this small parts with teethbrush.

    So, what you think about ultrasound cleaning ?
    I have a semi-professional device for this and use it on regular base.
    With low temperature could be an alternate, I think.
    Also necessary to know of what matirial is this surface contamination...
     
  17. minzemaennchen

    minzemaennchen TrainBoard Member

    1,491
    443
    33
    The shells look good, did you guys receive relings too? O.K., a GP35 chassis should be utilized, what are you guys doing in regards to the trucks?
     
  18. DPSTRIPE

    DPSTRIPE TrainBoard Supporter

    794
    2
    18
    This is after a light cleaning. I still need to go after some of the heavier wax in some of the crevicesm and then another surface cleaning. There is actually some rivet detail, but with the translucent shells, I can't catch it in pictures.
    Dan S.
     

    Attached Files:

  19. HOexplorer

    HOexplorer TrainBoard Supporter

    2,267
    3,219
    70
    Well, This looks like it is coming around nicely. If it was my era I would buy one. Cheers, Jim CCRR
     
  20. DPSTRIPE

    DPSTRIPE TrainBoard Supporter

    794
    2
    18
    The railings aren't available, yet. Searails is in the process of making them, I think they are going to combine them with some other etching they are having done to keep the cost down.

    As for trucks, I'm going to try filing the details off of the MT sideframes. Then I'm going to apply some ALCO-ish sideframes made from cutting down sideframes from the Hallmark Veranda. I might just make a few castings since I am going to need 16 of them (the baldwin trucks look close enough to the Alcos for my taste).

    The pictures show the filed down MT sideframe, the original Hallmark Alco truck frame, and the one that I cut down and shortened in length and height. I don't know if it will work, but it's worth a try.
    Dan S.
     

    Attached Files:

Share This Page