While we're fixing Micro Train Cars

[Brakie]

 I didn't want to highjack the other thread but,wanted to discuss the door problem on MT cars.

As many of you know there is a noticeable gap between the top of the door and the door guide on many of Micro Train's 40 and 50 foot  boxcars.

I wonder if there is a easy fix for this problem?

My first thoughts would be to use a thin strip of flat Evergreen plastic and extend the door but,there would be issues of matching the car's paint.

Any solutions?

BTW-I'm thinking of backdating to 1958 and want to use MT 40' boxcars since they come in several of my favorite road names like Monon and West Indian Fruit & Steamship-I like the steamship herald.

[hpwrick]

I have noticed the gap and was thinking a strip of styrene painted black to be placed in and behind the door.   Otherwise, I'm thinking I need to lock the doors, by gluing them in place.

[bbussey]

None of the PS-1 doors are the correct width anyway, so it's academic.  I'm not sure about the doors on the 50' automobile boxcar, 40' appliance car or 50' round roof boxcar.

Regarding PS-1 boxcars in a 1958 venue, you would be better served by waiting for the Atlas model, and it's subsequent variations.

[ljudice]

I like the Atlas/Intermountain system of having doors separate, but non operating.

[Brakie]

Regarding PS-1 boxcars in a 1958 venue, you would be better served by waiting for the Atlas model, and it's subsequent variations.
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Reasonable enough..

There is a minor snag..

How long will it be between production runs and knowing Atlas there will be limited runs in limited road names which means a lot of "sold out" notices next to or below the car...

As I mention else where I could paint and decal the cars-if I can find the decals in the road names I want.

Of course there is the Trainman PS1 but,I wanted several road names that MT's PS1 comes lettered in and nobody else as release those road names.

[bbussey]

You'll see more Atlas PS-1 releases over the course of a year than you would MTL PS-1 releases; the Atlas runs are larger than the MTL runs; and Atlas undecs will be available.  So where is the snag?

You should also check all those MTL PS-1 releases to see how many of them are prototypically correct.  MTL uses the PS-1 body for a number of schemes that never appeared on real PS-1 cars.  Even out of the original nine Kadee cars released back in 1972, only a third of them are close to prototypically correct. 

Here's an example:  of all the New Haven PS-1 40-foot cars Kadee/MTL has done over the decades, none of them are correct.  All of the script herald cars they've done are the lower height model.  The only ones close to accurate are the three special-run DF cars for BLW.  All of the red cars and black cars, along with the boxcar red block herald repaints of the 1960s, were AAR 1937 cars (the InterMountain model).  The plug door cars should be PC&F XIH boxcars (the ESM model).  So having a ton of paint schemes to choose from for someone trying to put together a prototypically-correct roster doesn't help if the schemes are not prototypically correct.
   
The Atlas schemes will be correct.

[CoalPorter]

I know the PS1 from MT is good for many Western Pacific cars.
Now if MT would only do some of them! There are some great
PS1 paint shcemes that MT has never done for some reason, but
yet continues to put fake-o paint on their model.

I think one time we did a topic on PS1 paint jobs that have never
been done by MT.

[BN1970]

I've been reading the various pros and cons about Micro Trains venerable PS1.

My solution has been to sell them off at swap meets.  Bryan is correct, most of the Micro Trains paint schemes on their PS1 never happened on a real PS1.  I model BN and the Hill Lines basically had zilch in the way of PS1's.  Which is why I have been changing out my home road fleet as better models came along.  My X58s arrived, they replaced a like number of those fictional PS1's, which will be sold off.

I also looked up Western Pacific, partly because I have an Atlas WP PS1 on pre-order.  828 had seven foot doors while 349 had six foot doors.  Going forward if I buy a PS1 its going to be the Atlas model. --Brian

[Brakie]

I've been reading the various pros and cons about Micro Trains venerable PS1.

My solution has been to sell them off at swap meets.  Bryan is correct, most of the Micro Trains paint schemes on their PS1 never happened on a real PS1.  I model BN and the Hill Lines basically had zilch in the way of PS1's.  Which is why I have been changing out my home road fleet as better models came along.  My X58s arrived, they replaced a like number of those fictional PS1's, which will be sold off.

I also looked up Western Pacific, partly because I have an Atlas WP PS1 on pre-order.  828 had seven foot doors while 349 had six foot doors.  Going forward if I buy a PS1 its going to be the Atlas model. --Brian

I not a freight car guru nor I have ever concern myself with correct or incorrect freight cars..I buy what pleases me for operational enjoyment.

Of course  a CSX,BNSF or NS 40' boxcar with roof walk is way over my line..

[BN1970]

The fun thing about model railroading is everyone of us can and will pick our shade of grey to follow.  There is no doubt in its day the Micro Trains PS1 was a fantastic car.  But time has moved on and we have better information than we did fifteen or twenty years ago.  Plus a lot more quality N-Scale manufactures who keep moving the bar.  In the end the market is going to decide what really happens. --Brian