Latest Athearn 57' reefers - cushion underframe?

[sirenwerks]

Will get several of these just ordered an FGE from mbk from first release looking forward to the EL and ATSFs for sure maybe even the Soo but it looks like the proto was ribbed not smooth side http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/soo/soo10032aga.jpg

???  The Athearn Soo Line model featured on its site is ribbed just like the car in your photo link, not smooth sided.  Granted, it has too many ribs but...  You do realize that the mechanical cars with product numbers 17XXX, like the SOO car, are the old MDC castings, not the new one that Mark has posted pictures of, right?

[unittrain]

???  The Athearn Soo Line model featured on its site is ribbed just like the car in your photo link, not smooth sided.  Granted, it has too many ribs but...  You do realize that the mechanical cars with product numbers 17XXX, like the SOO car, are the old MDC castings, not the new one that Mark has posted pictures of, right?

Oh ok I see I forgot I had a few of the MDC's they do have the ribs 

[nkalanaga]

Sirenwerks:  "mechanical cars with product numbers 17XXX, like the SOO car, are the old MDC castings"

Thank you!  That's what I wanted when I ordered them.  The new version posted above looks nice, but nothing like the WFEX/BNFE cars I have pictures of.  The MDC version is almost perfect for them, and not that hard to add extended couplers to.  Get a piece of brass strip, 0.01 or 0.015 inch, mount a 1025 on it, and fasten the strip to the underframe.  Most MDC floors need a shim anyway, and this makes a good strong mounting. 

[Robbman]

A few quick pix:

Paint is on the thick side, nice lettering.

Please tell me those aren't two raised lines molded down the side representing the signature FGE double rivet pattern...

[bbussey]

Athearn tooled two versions of the body. The Solid Cold version has the double rivets and a different lower sill profile. The roof and underbody apoear to be the same on both versions. The stirrups apoear to be stainless steel. They are pretty sturdy even though they are extremely fine.

[Mark5]

Please tell me those aren't two raised lines molded down the side representing the signature FGE double rivet pattern...

I wish I could, but those are two "ridges" running vertically up and down the side.

[Robbman]

This calls for more research! 

[DatsunChris]

New guy here but, what is a cushion underframe?

[sizemore]

Anyone play with the sound unit yet? I ordered one on a whim to see what the sound car fuss is about. I mean I know its just going to go whrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr-putta-putta-whrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. 

The S.

[Mark5]

New guy here but, what is a cushion underframe?

Some explanation here:

http://www.carrtracks.com/sphc03.htm

Mark

[bbussey]

My three with-sound arrived yesterday, one FGE Solid Cold and two FGE 1970 As-Builts.

The sound is different between the As-Built model and the modern model to represent different generators, which is explained in the included instructions.  Both versions sound very good, and they simulate the equipment turning on, running for a while and then shutting down.  The volume is way too high, but there is a potentiometer embedded in the floor between the two fuel tanks that can be adjusted with a jewelers screwdriver.  I turned down all three so that you can hear them only if you are right next to them at eye-level.  They start working as soon as there is power to the track, in both DC and DCC mode, but they probably will be more consistent running on DCC.

The only design problems I noticed is that only four of the eight wheels collect current, and that the sound card is very sensitive to dirty track.  It starts cackling if the power is intermittent, which resets the sequence.  A capacitor probably would help in that regard, and I'm surprised they didn't include one in the circuitry.  The various electronics gurus here on Railwire probably could fix them within minutes.

Access is through the roof, which of course is glued on.  It may separate with careful prying.

I'll have to decide what to do sound-wise with mine.  They are impressive, as long as they are either standing still or your track is squeaky clean.

[bbussey]

Also, there are three new body variations, not just two.  Athearn also released the modern open-end version.

[ai5629]

How is the ride height on these cars?  Can the McHenry's be swapped out with Accumates and maybe MT 1015's?  I am planning on pulling the trigger on four non-sound FGE Solid Cold cars.  I  recall seeing the Solid Cold cars in Conrail mixed freight trains running on the Conemaugh Line at Blawnox, PA during the mid 80's.  Thanks.

Jeff

[nkalanaga]

As far as I know McHenry's and Accumates are interchangeable.  1015s would depend on whether they included the holes for the guide pins.  Mark's pictures don't show them, but they could be cast into the inside and not show outside.  I don't have any of these, so can't look at mine.

[wcfn100]

Please tell me those aren't two raised lines molded down the side representing the signature FGE double rivet pattern...

Maybe it's patterned after these cars. 

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/misc-frt/fgmr12192jpa.jpg

http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2990719

This is all post '68 so I don't know anything about them.


Jason