The Best HO Model Locos Ever Made (306)
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- čas přidán 26. 06. 2024
- Over the years I've seen a lot of great HO scale model locos, but these are the ones that I consider the absolute best, both for their performance as well as their prototype integrity. So come on along as I explore what I consider to be the best HO scale model locos ever made.
Chapters
0:00 Intro
1:23 Loco lineup
2:50 Atlas RS3
9:40 Atlas RS11
12:46 Atlas GP7
15:23 Atlas RS1
17:23 Kato RS2
20:48 RS2 road test
24:13 Wrapup - Jak na to + styl
Seeing an Atlas/Kato RS3 (EL, $30) run at my local hobby store in the late 80s, got me back into the hobby. They remain my favorites.
Dear Larry, there's no need to knock on wood for the Kato engines. I've been doing maintenance on locomotives and rolling stock for three decades and Kato engines only need maintenance when an accident happens. I have already successfully recovered several of them and they all started running without major problems, so I agree with you 100%. They are mechanically extremely superior. I followed running tests that lasted more than 24 hours straight without any failure, keeping the motor temperature around 40°C until the end of the test. I've also heard of Kato locomotives that ran for days without any problems. Congratulations for the video.
Some of the best locomotives reliability wise are Tyco from the early days of Tyco until the 1980s although what's hurting the model railroad hobby are the DCC and the level of detail in beginner sets which should be toy grade, relatively cheaply made (definitely not the most detailed)with an Analog controller because toy trains actually started out where even the poorest (economically) families were able to afford to get their kids toy trains from the beginning of the Hobby's existence.
Larry, no surprises here in your choices! When the RS-3 came out, it was a true game changer as far as smooth runners! Atlas did make non dynamic GP-7's, which were a great innovation as back then, all we had that were decent runners were the old Athearn units.
Once again, a great video! I look forward every week to seeing what your topic is going to be!
Atlas are still the best running locomotives in my experience. Kato is also pretty good as well.😁
I have nowhere the skill you possess but over the past 20 years I primarily buy Kato (Atlas & Stewart Hobbies) for HO and N scale. I can add all the fancy details myself but I want a solid runner. Thank you for sharing your experience. You really put out a top quality video.
Good video Larry, I appreciate the detail you provided.
I have a pair of Atlas/Kato RS units, an RS-1 and and RS-3 I run at one of my clubs. Those things have pulled 30+ heavily weighted cars up a 2.5% grade without stalling, they're such fantastic models.
Hi Larry, I absolutely agree with you. These Atlas/Kato's are top quality and reliability and I was very lucky to buy one RS-1 and two RS-3's brand new last year - for peanuts. Although dating back to the nineties. Even on DC they run like Swiss watches. I love them loco's ! I also must say that I have several Roco Diesels ( Made is Austria ) with chunky motors in them that also run superbly - and dating back to the same period of production. You never can go wrong with 'Made In Japan' as opposed to most of chinees junk !
outstanding video! I love the Southern green paint scheme :)
I have all of these. They have twenty five year old decoders in them and pretty much run circles around the new stuff. Visited Kato a few times in my business days. What a place!
Getting the switch installed was a Pita and impossible to film. Plus I broke a wire doing it. I found it is best to install the switch before the hopper-hindsight 20/20.
Great episode!! Your Opening is what made me fall in love with Alco’s. I have several Atlas and Kato/Atlas Rs’s. They are all great for sure. The Kato for sure is super smooth. Only disappointing factor is the handrails are molded in on mine. Still on the hunt for an Rs-11 or two.
Great Video Larry! I love Kato as well! Almost all of my fleet is Kato in N scale! The precision build of those locomotives are just unmatched! If they would detail them like the Rivet Counters, then they would put all the other manufacturers out of business!
Some of the older diesel locos I particularly like are those made by Ajin for Stewart Hobbies. Their Baldwin switchers can run very slowly and pull a surprisingly long train.
I have an Atlas Alco RS1 from that time period and I love it. Never given me a problem.
Totally agree. Some people claim Kato has fallen behind in detail to Genesis, etc. I think the Kato mechanism is the best ever made.
Larry: It is the same thing with early Con-Cor HO MP15 switch engines. They are Kato and run great. Look for the beige box with orange stripe down the front. Also, there is a Con-Cor SW7 by Kato. Same deal. They both have the Kato logo on the bottom of the fuel tank. And they can be bought at very low prices. Thanks for another great video.
I’ve got 5 of these atlas RS-1s which where made from the late 90’s to 2015. They are great preformed!❤️
I remember when Atlas came out with the Kato RS-3. The funny thing was people trying to remove the coupler by unscrewing the Phillips head screw which held the coupler, only to find that Kato used a Phillips head pin (press fit).
I have a ABA set of Kato- Stewart F7's, all powered and ran off 1 decoder. Never a single problem, and they'll pull over 100 cars up a slight grade no problem. I love em. Just bought a RS3 of ebay, living forward to running it!
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Larry, I Enjoyed it. 🐾🚂.
Hi Rick, good to see you back. You been OK?
@@TheDCCGuy Doing fine now had Covid and then a bad cold twice but still kicking. good to be back.
Awesome 👏
I love your comment about 2 engines would pull the paint off the wall =Man that was funny====== also enjoyed your knowledge of the units themselves,had no idea Kato made for Atlas
Larry, that was a nice little trip down memory lane! Kato units are great, I just wish that US H-O scale was more than a niche market for them. Kato made some nice road EMD road power under their own name. The only problem with them is that the handrails are pretty "clunky" compared to other locomotives made in the last 20 years. I have run at display layouts and Kato (or Kato-made) locomotives will run all day, where many brands get hot and need to be "rested". My other problem with the Atlas/Kato units was that my railroads (UP and CB&Q) didn't use many of those types. UP did use the RS2, and I was floored when Kato released not only an ES2 in HO, but also the rare RSC2 as well! It appears that Walthers took a good look at Kato locomotive when developing most of their "Mainline" series of locos. That series neds modeler-applied details, BUT their mechanism appears to be based on Kato designs. They run long and strong and for an experienced modeler, the detailing is actually pretty easy.
Always love your videos! Funny story about the Kato RS11 frame: it will fit an RS3 body. It’s definitely not correct, and I found out only when I mated two broken locomotives together to make one good runner.
Awesome video Larry. I don't own any of the Japanese made atlas but even the newer atlas engines are pretty good. I own a slew of other locomotives from some other manufacturers and I always find myself pulling out the atlas engines always solid performance.
Got two Atlas ho scale locomotives that have Kato motors! Still running great! Bought them in the '80s! Also, 2 Kato rs-2s from early 2000's.
I haven't seen all your videos. But you've shown us most everything about these engines, except for their wheel pickups. Plus how they compare to newer Kato products. Good show! Appreciate your videos. Atlas, a little lite on underbody and trucks detailing.
I think they sacrificed truck details for reliability. It only takes one time with journal boxes falling off your old LifeLike E-unit trucks to appreciate the tradeoff.
Larry, the decoder on your Atlas GP7 is from Soundtraxx, either a Tsunami2 or an Econami. The socket on the circuit board for the Current Keeper gives away the brand.
Larry, I was sure you were going to say that the Athearn Blue Box models were your favorite, but boy I was wrong. I thought the BB units were easy to work on but you showed that the Kato units are really good too. Do you have any favorite newer manufacture engines that come in second place (In your opinion)? Boy you are staying up late to post vids. I did just the same. I'm new to posting vids but we have been working on the layout for a couple years. I just posted a video showing our finished installation of the Walthers new Double Crossover. We watched your vid on wiring it before we did it ourselves. It turned out great. We used Smail switch Machines, powered the frog and installed dwarf signals.
Great Videos Larry, thanks for what you do.!
Cheers,
Earl
For us at the Tennessee Valley Model Railroaders, Inc., the Walthers Proto FP7s have been by far our most reliable locomotives, those things are tanks.
If they ever do Southern’s green paint scheme I’ll order a couple but I have too many in the tuxedo scheme already given I model 1957.
Kato is still in the HO market!
I love mine. great running Engines.
I have a Kato RS-3 and RS-11 and they are unbeatable. I use them to test tracks and turnouts. The RS-11 was destroyed in the 2010 earthquake (it was interesting to see its effects in a 1:87 model) and I was able to repair it
I have at least one of every type (Atlas) Kato engines. I have never had a problem with any of them. After watching your videos I added digitrax dcc and sound in a rsc2.
Another great video, Larry. I also am quite partial to Atlas locomotives, but have the latest ones with factory installed DCC/Sound. The one part I am not as happy with is that Atlas removed weigh to install the speaker; they sound great, but I have to doublehead up my helix. They simply will not pull as much as the Kato ("yellow box"} or [original] Classic ("Red box") locomotives will. Mine is a small regional fictional road - 2 S2s, 2 RS1s and 4 RS3s, plus a recent addition an old MDC AGEIR Boxcab converted to DCC/sound.
I "could" acquire and convert the older, heavier locomotives to Sound, but it was just simpler to opt out for the factory Sound units.
Keep the videos coming!! 👍👍
Also, FWIW, I have multiple S1s, RS1s and RS3 in the Classic series that I am very willing to dispose of ---- trading preferred, but will discuss/consider how to proceed.
I counted yesterday and I have 6 of the yellow box Atlas units and 10 old Stewart F units-also a favorite of mine. I expect to list most of these on eBay.
Great video Larry! I just recently picked up some Bowser RS-3 locos and they run amazingly smooth and quiet. I heard Kato is still good, but the old Kato's were better (better motors for one). ScaleTrains is currently my favorite, they run smooth and quiet and have capacitors already installed (I consider all these things a must in locos). I know some former east bloc countries like East Germany and Yugoslavia made model locos. I wonder how they ran. Not to nitpick but it is pronounced Kah-Toe, not Kay-toe. Regards, NS.
Your idea putting the speaker in the roof of an Alco S2 is excellent but unfortunately couldnt find any of those brackets so i designed and 3Dprinted my own. Works perfecktly
Those were something that Brian Vianco at Streamlined Backshop came up with. He offers a wide range of various 3D printed enclosures for sugar cube speakers.
Larry, I'm 75. Strictly DC (on-off) No complications, shorts don't burn out expensive decoders, and locos do not erequire a second mortgage.
To each their own. Whatever makes a person enjoy the hobby.
Blunami decoders for me, DCC or DC, I can run either way.
hello larry its is randy and i like your is cool video thanks friends randy
I seem to recall that Roco in Austria also made stuff for Atlas - at least I used to have a load of N gauge US boxcars that were marked Roco (or Minitrains?) and made in Austria underneath, but weren't in Roco boxes. 30 years ago now, and I can't remember if they were Atlas or another US "maker."
The interesting thing is how far ahead of the standard of European models the Roco and Kato models were at the time: took many years before we started seeing flywheels as standard in locomotives.
Yes, Roco did make a number of Atlas products. Their Alco S2/4 switchers perform well, especially after they went to a 5 pole skew wound motor. The main drawback was one side of the motor circuit was connected directly to the chassis for power which is not DCC friendly and requires a lot of extra work to convert to DCC.
I just got an Atlas/Kato GP7 recently. Installing a decoder once I figure out how to get the shell off. RS3 coming soon that will be painted in NKP livery and a decoder installed as well.
Good choices.To remove the shell carefully disconnect the handrails from the cab and then gently squeeze the bottom of the cab where I showed the small tabs, while lifting up. Once the front of the shell lifts up the rear clip should come free too.
My personal favorites are the old Atlas/Roco S2's. They ran great, looked decent, and weighed so much you could pull just about anything you could put behind them.
Yes, I have 2-3 of those too.
KATO also made the chassis for Stewart Hobbies F units, which are also amazing runners.
My 2nd choice for best-I have 10 waiting paint jobs.
The Atlas /Kato locomotives are great runners no doubt. The LL P2K clone of the Kato mechanism are also good runners. You can't forget the Athearn super power locos too.
Among the Athearn models their Genesis F-units are my favorites.
I REALLY would love to get back to doing model railroading.. I enjoy making the layout construction / scenery the most.. Back then DCC wasn't a thing, but if it was I would be still enjoy the hobby. But right now my wife won't let me setup a layout in the house.. Soo.. I'm stuck to collecting equipment with no rails to ride on..
Find a club where you can operate your locos. For several years during the 1990s that was all I had until I built a carport and attached train room.
Taking nothing from the Kato models which I also own, the current production HO scale Bowser RS3 is extremely well done in both details and performance. In current production market no one has done a better RS3 in HO scale and no one has ever produced RS3's in accurate railway specific details as did Bowser. Between a mate and myself we have six of them.
I think those are a carryover from the old Stewart RS units. Bowser has made a lot of progress in diesel loco production.
Bowser RS3 is a completely new model and not a carry over from Previously produced Stewart products which have been produced by Bowser such as the C628 ALCO's and certain Baldwin models.
Very informative video. How do the Kato mechanisms compare to Proto 2000?
Proto 2000 are pretty good mechanisms with a strong motor but not the same quality as the Kato motors. They also have issues such as the cracked axle gears and the parts on the E-unit trucks tend to fall off. There also was a batch of Alco PA locos that came with motors that pulled 1-1.5 amps due to being incorrectly wound and I had to remotor the pair I have. Their GP7s are good though.
@@TheDCCGuy thanks for the information.
Larry, I agree with you about the Kato locomotives. Atlas did make a GP7 without dynamic brakes. I have several in IC livery. I looked through my parts after I watched your video this morning and I have an undecorated Atlas GP7 shell without dynamic brakes. Would you like to have it?
Thanks for the offer but I will be numbering it for one of the few dynamic brake GP7s SR did have. I filled out my non-dynamic fleet with some LifeLike Proto units.
Excellent review, I agree with you on the quality of build, and operation of the Kato and Kato/Atlas loco's. I was wondering however, would also talk about the other major supplier for Atlas at that time, Roco. The S-2/S-4, and the SD-24/26, were also very good models by Atlas, and they shouldn't be left out of a discussion of early yellow box Atlas models.
Hi Larry, I enjoyed your video. Can you recommend a HO scale steam engine with good sound? I'm a beginner and want to install a single track around my basement ceiling.
Watch video #308. For ease of use and programming I suggest selecting one that offers a Soundtraxx decoder. However as long as you don’t plan to “customize” the sound settings and advanced functions then just about any of the decoders from BLI, LokSound, Soundtraxx, or TCS are good choices. You just need to find a manufacturer that offers a steam loco for your favorite railroad and hit the buy button. Some may even offer a choice of LokSound or SoundTraxx.
Can you in a future video, go over your decaling techniques?
Nothing special there. I just use MicroScale decals for most and apply as instructed. A final coat of 50:50 Dullcote:Glosscote gives a semigloss finish and hides the edges. Been doing it that way since about 1982.
Kato in diesels goes without saying. Steam with Kato durability, Mehano in the President Choice sets. Just tanks&many convert them to DCC🚂🇨🇦🇺🇲🙋
I have the RS 3 without DCC. It is my best runner.
I have an older Atlas FP7. I don’t know if it has the same drive mechanism as the RS but it’s so growly I won’t need to add a sound decoder to it, even as much as i’d like to.
I have three of these and depending on the age their FP7 came with various motors. Those from the 1970s and 1980s had a clunky, power hungry motor that burned up my first CTC16 receiver. Then they started getting them from Roco which had a motor similar to the Roco Atlas S2 switchers. Two of mine have been remotored using a Sagami and a Mashima can motor and a third is waiting an upgrade which may never come.
@@TheDCCGuy turns out it’s not the same. The trucks have on the bottom “Atlas made in Austria”.
I've got 3 Atlas engines, all in the Central of Georgia livery. I've got 2 GP-7's and 1 RS-3. The RS-3 was made in June of 1999. The 2 GP-7's I got used but hardly ever ran as there's no wear on the wheels. I just looked up the Atlas archives and the Central of Georgia is not listed. The start date was 2001 and goes through 2018. The RS-3 I just got as new old stock. They are all DC engines. Any suggestions? Cheers from eastern TN
I use TCS WOWSound decoders in my RS3s and either those or SoundTraxx in my GPs and F7s. I love the Alco growl you get with WOWSound and did a video on it.
Bottom Line Atlas And Kato are amazing models
Kato still makes HO scale locos and rolling stock. Or did you mean Atlas stopped offering HO scale locos?
No, I was just saying that most folks now mainly think of Kato as an N-scale maker.
kato you know them for great n scale locomotives but they also make the best in HO
Good to hear that. I must admit that I have not bought a new Kato model in years. However I know they do make several EMD based models of N. American prototypes.
What larry, a GP-7 with Horn Hook couplers?!!
Like I said it is an original!
Just given you a hard time Larry!
The newer ATLAS Classic models made in China may be more highly decorated but mechanically do not compare with the KATO models. they run great but are lighter and do not pull as may cars. I have examples of each.
Agreed. I have one of the classics left but will likely sell it soon.
Their saving grace is factory installed ESU Loksound 5 IMO The Atlas Kato stuff can be excellent if you give it a decoder buddy and 21mtc board so it’s up to modern standards.
What about steam ?
Coming!
But bunch a chemicals on it n do a mini derailment to recreate ohio
You're another one that needs to apologize to Mr. Kato. His name is pronounced Cot o.
I actually met him in England at the Warley show last November!
Wow, Larry. That is amazing.@@TheDCCGuy