Micro Trains PRR coach... Possibility?

[Dave V]

I posted this to the N scale PRR Yahoo group...

I'm glad to see more PRR heavyweight cars from MTL, and I'm about to pull the trigger on buying the paired-window coach.  As far as I can tell, it's a B&O prototype.  The window count works for a P70, but it's about 2 scale feet short if I'm not mistaken.  The obvious issue are the trucks, but I can replace those with 2D-P5s.

I did once upgrade the Lima car and paint it including those horrible post-war belt and letterboard stripes.  It later got damaged beyond salvage due to a workbench chemical spill.  I have another that's been given correct trucks and plated-over end windows, but still needs a ton of work.  The Lima model looks good for pre-war, but I model 1956, so it needs smaller vestibule door windows, removal of the vestibule ducts, steps, removal of the diamond pattern on the clearstory, diaphragms, and those dreaded stripes.  And if I wanted to get fancy, proper ice bunkers and a water tank.

The MTL car, though not based on the P70, comes with a phenomenal paint job and plenty of detail.  It needs new trucks and the roof could use re-contouring over the vestibules and to lose the wacky vents along the clearstory.  I think I could remove those and patch with putty.  But it has proper window sizes over the vestibules, plated ends, diaphragms, steps, and much finer rivet detail.


What are your thoughts? I'm only a part-time purist. It will ride behind a brass K4 with a B60b at the head end, but will also share a consist with a complete fantasy MTL PRR 60' RPO.

Thanks!

[Mark5]

If it were me I would use the Lima (but not the MP/China) P70:

http://www.prr-parts.com/Page3.html

Modernized P70:

http://www.prr-parts.com/Page6.html

Mark

[Dave V]

Right, I've been all over that site and more than once begun filling a virtual cart...

I prefer MTL's Tuscan to the Floquil rattle can I have; anyone know a good match?

[Dave V]

So right after the game I went and sorted through my workbench and found TWO Lima coach bodies...  I think I may just do the Lima conversions.  It may be more work, but it will use what's on hand.

Move along, nothing to see here!

[bbussey]

The Lima coach is the correct prototype and it doesn't take much effort to modernize it, especially with the PRR-Parts enhancements.  Much less effort than it would take to kitbash one from the MTL B&O-prototype coach.

[Bob Bufkin]

Well at least I know who weathersix is now.

[Dave V]

Yeah, after some soul and workbench searching, I'm gonna roll with the Lima bodies I have.

[Bob Bufkin]

I've got 3 sets to update the roofs and underbodies of those coaches but my problem is I can't find any.  John gave me a combine I can use but still need 2 coaches. 

[John]

Yeah, after some soul and workbench searching, I'm gonna roll with the Lima bodies I have.

I think I have some undecs in the junk box ..

[JoeD]

Contact me at work via email, I can send you some touch up paint for your project.

Cheers

Joe
MTL
joe at micro-trains.com

Right, I've been all over that site and more than once begun filling a virtual cart...

I prefer MTL's Tuscan to the Floquil rattle can I have; anyone know a good match?

[bbussey]

I've got 3 sets to update the roofs and underbodies of those coaches but my problem is I can't find any.  John gave me a combine I can use but still need 2 coaches.

Lima compromised greatly on the combine.  That model would require a lot of work to get it close to the prototype.

One other observation - the MTL heavyweight vestibule steps are more accurate than the Gold Medal etched brass steps.  You can purchase the heavyweight underbody parts directly from MTL.

[Philip H]

And dave, speaking as one whose chosen prototype is "the standard railroad of the world" while I sympathize with your position, I am also jealous.  If you run KCS you either foob regularly, or struggle mightily to make stuff over with paint and details.

[inkaneer]

Is there a possibility of MTL doing another coach?  How many roads had a paired window coach?  If the number was limited then I would think that the possibility of another coach might happen.   I thought of the MTL coach too but I passed as I previously ran into a treasure trove of the old Atlas/Lima/ModelPower PRR coaches at a flea market.  $2.00 a car is hard to pass up. 

[JoeD]

We have a single window coach in the que...need to work out some tooling issues.  All of those windows present some challenges with bananna boating when they come out of the mold.  I think the Diner will come first though.

Joe

[Mark5]

We have a single window coach in the que...need to work out some tooling issues. 

Joe

Ah, so I have some incentive to further procrastinate on some coach projects!