Bowser has just announced they will produce their "Executive Line" VO-1000 in the Orange/White paint scheme for delivery in the Winter 2015 time period. Pre-Orders are due by 06/25/15. Ready to Run, accurate painting and lettering, can motor with flywheels, RP25 flanges, deck mounted or body mounted side handrails, super detailed, numbered, Analog (DC) or with LokSound Select decoder (DCC and sound). MSRP $199.95 withSound $299.95 St. Louis San Francisco Orange #24224 Cab #209 #24225 Cab #214 #24226 Cab #209 w/Sound #24227 Cab #214 w/Sound
Hmmm. I wish they would have done this with new numbers in b/y. VO-1000's in o/w just don't seem to do it for me. I'm wondering - how many of the un-EMD repowered VO-1000's were actually repainted in o/w? Anybody know? Bowser usually does their homework, so I assume 209 and 214 were in o/w. I'll take a look through my pics when I have a chance. Ken
I love that there are so many orange and white Frisco models available these days, when I was growing up I loved the Frisco, but models were almost impossible to find. I wanted a Frisco ho diesel so much but they were not to be found. Finally I learned how to paint with an airbrush and started painting blue box Athearn diesels in my early teens.
There are several on ebay now, including several with no number but painted for Frisco. They may not be the quality of the new ones, but the chance to model one of these engines in what ever number is desired is certainly something to think about. Terry
The kits you see on eBay are the same basic model as the new Bowser release in o/w, only in kit form. It is a very good model, smooth runner, but is a bit light and needs weight to be able to pull much. I have the VO-1000 (two) and the VO-660 and DS-44-1000, all in SLSF b/y. I don't like their lettering/numbering font - letters are too thick, so I re-letter them with MicroScale decals. Makes them look much better. From the looks of the picture, the font used on the o/w "Executive" RTR units has been improved. Hope so. They also have added road specific details, so it is indeed a better model than the earlier kits. I looked through my pics, and found the following units, that were not repowered with EMD 567's, did appear in o/w garb: 207, 213, 214, 222, 225, 226, 232. There may have been more, I don't claim my pics are all-inclusive. Note I did not list 209 as I don't have an o/w pic. I sure Bowser has evidence it was in o/w colors as they usually do pretty good research. One detail Bowser has always missed is the radiator cap located up on the headlight faring. Ken
I have a Bowser "Executive Line" Chicago Great Western DS4-4-1000 for my KC Lines theme. The LokSound is excellent: Superb slow speed, immersive sound. The detail on the unit is also excellent. I expect the "Executive Line" O&W Frisco VO1000's will be of the same caliber. As for O&W: I have mixed feelings about it. Many of my personal experiences and memories have a lot of O&W in it, so yes, I certainly appreciate that era. However, the RAILROADING is much better in the pure B&Y era. So, for now, my KC Lines is set in the "Early 1960s". Later on, I may consider a dual era approach for the layout and also indulge in the "Late 1960s" or something like that, but not now. Ken: What did you use to remove the lettering on your factory-lettered Bowser/Stewart B&Y Baldwins?
I took the easy way out - a failing that is happening more and more in my senior years! I rubbed the Bowser lettering down as best I could with a Magic Rub eraser. I then covered over the remaining image and rub marks with Scalecoat 2 loco black. Then I applied the new decals with the MicroScale 87-85 decal set, using MicroSet and MicroSol (the "blue and red" MicroScale method). Then a coating of Testor's Dull Cote, and a bit of grime weathering here and there. I also repainted the Bowser handrails and grabs with FloQuil reefer yellow, to tone them down a bit. Pics of SLSF 213 right out of the shop attached. I've added a few more details and accents since. I have no pics of the others. I also have the gray TRRA VO-660 and DS-44-1000, and they turned out even better as I did not need to decal them. In my early days, I weathered locos heavily, often way too much. Now, I barely weather them. As you can see, SLSF 213 is pretty clean. Ken
Ken and all--Re clean engines and weathering: The VO's that switched the Springfied passenger depot were always kept pretty clean. Tom G.
