MODEL PHOTOS BY ANNA OLSON
Modelers and railfans unfamiliar with some of the repowering proj- ects of the 1950’s and 1960’s may well do a double-take when look- ing at this model of Rock Island No. 453 (above). Built from a combi- nation of parts including the short hood, cab and frame of a Kato RS-2 and the long hood of an Atlas GP9, this model is based a on re-
powering done by EMD in 1957. EMD replaced the original Alco en- gine with its 567C engine and in the rebuilding added an EMD long hood to house the new prime mover (page 51, bottom). The locomo- tive kept the distinctive rounded short hood of the Alco switcher, as well as the trucks, frame and underbody details (page 51, top).
Kitbashing a Rock Island hybrid in N scale
These rebuilt diesels were part Alco RS-2 and part EMD Geep/Alvin Ho T
he Rock Island had five RS-2’s (Nos. 450-454) built by Alco from September to October, 1948, and
all were sent to EMD for replacement of their Alco 244B prime movers with the EMD 567C during March of 1957 (EMD Order 8523). Although the 567C was capable of producing 1,750 horse- power, it was rated at 1,500 in this ap- plication, likely because of the re-use of the GE Model 752 traction motors. They also retained their long hood for- ward configuration but received either a GP7 or GP9 long hood depending on what the Rock Island supplied. All five units received some sort of spark ar- restor and larger number boards re- cessed into the short hood. The 453 was the only one of the five
to have both rebuilt engineer and fire- man’s windows and have its original round headlight on the short hood re- placed with an early Pyle type head- light. The stacked “Rock Island” letter- ing style was also specific to only two of the five, and both had different letter spacing than the others. This project began when I noticed an
50
undecorated Atlas GP9 shell and a Kato RS-2 lying on my workbench. I had come across a picture of the proto- type in service and that was the end of the story: I had to have one. When it
RMC/Dremel Kitbashing Award........
came to picking a specific prototype in the series of five engines, I went for the oddball of the lot as a challenge, the one with flared spark arrestors (in- stead of the more common round type found on many other Rock Island road switchers), rebuilt engineer and fire- man’s windows, and a rebuilt headlight on the short hood. The model began with a Kato RS-2
A minimum of $100 and a Dremel Rotary Tool Kit with a variable-speed Multi-Pro rotary tool, flex shaft attach- ment and accessories are awarded to the monthly win- ners of the RMC/DREMEL KITBASHING AWARD. Entries must consist of at least two photos (5″×7″ or 8″×10″ prints or two color slides; more may be included) and a short text. Models must use at least 50% commercial components; unused entries may be held for BOOMER TRAIL.
mechanism, RS-2 short hood and cab, and a GP9 long hood from Atlas. Ex- tensive filing and grinding with a mill file and a Dremel motor tool both on the inside of the GP9 long hood and on the RS-2 mechanism were required for a flat and snug fit. I removed the upper cab windows originally on the long hood side of the cab, and two of the original curved windows were also filled in with styrene and re-cut to match the appropriate square and rec- tangle rebuilt windows. The original exhaust stacks were
shaved down to keep the bolt detail, yet fit the flared spark arrestors on top. I chiseled off all the molded-on lift rings and grab irons and used a No. 80
MARCH 2012
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