Atlas 60' passenger cars shipping!

[CBQ Fan]

Up the thread a bit, I have a post where I compared measurements to a MT RPO, and they are VERY close.  But as they say, a picture is worth....(quick pic on yard module I am working on- sorry, best I can do on short notice)

Thanks for the pic.  The RPO looks pretty decent compared to MT. It is the coach and combine that look off. I should have been more specific. It also looks like the atlas cars are very shinny or glossy?  Is that the case?  I may have to pick up an undec RPO and letter it for CB&Q.

[thomasjmdavis]

Brian, I think the "glossy" that you are seeing is poor lighting in the room I took the shot in combined with it being a phone-camera. Also, the MT car in the shot got a coat of flat finish over it after lettering, so may be a bit more matte than a MT car out of the box.

The level of sheen is approximately the same as a MT "painted unlettered" car (to my eye, not necessarily definitive). 

And I think you are right about the cars with 6 wheel trucks looking better overall than the 4 wheel trucks.  The 4 wheel are clearly too far inboard (as noted by Bryan Bussey and others). 

[CBQ Fan]

Brian, I think the "glossy" that you are seeing is poor lighting in the room I took the shot in combined with it being a phone-camera. Also, the MT car in the shot got a coat of flat finish over it after lettering, so may be a bit more matte than a MT car out of the box.

The level of sheen is approximately the same as a MT "painted unlettered" car (to my eye, not necessarily definitive). 

And I think you are right about the cars with 6 wheel trucks looking better overall than the 4 wheel trucks.  The 4 wheel are clearly too far inboard (as noted by Bryan Bussey and others).

That all makes perfect sense.  This one of the times I wish I had a local hobby shop that stocked n scale.

[Mark5]

I really don't understand why they didn't put the bolsters more toward the ends of the cars and simply put the bolster holes on the outward end of the six wheel trucks - this would give better operational "geometry" as well as improving the appearance (MTL did the same confounding thing as well on some of their heavyweights).

One of the great mysteries of life I guess! Still liking the cars though.

Mark

[thomasjmdavis]

I really don't understand why they didn't put the bolsters more toward the ends of the cars and simply put the bolster holes on the outward end of the six wheel trucks - this would give better operational "geometry" as well as improving the appearance (MTL did the same confounding thing as well on some of their heavyweights).

One of the great mysteries of life I guess! Still liking the cars though.

Mark

Same thing that convinced them to glue windows into an undecorated car, I suppose.

[Mark5]

Same thing that convinced them to glue windows into an undecorated car, I suppose.

At least the windows are an easy fix if you damage them - just get some of the plastic from a new "dress" shirt and voila!  Worst case get some clear plastic sheet.

[bbussey]

... Prototype photos show the trucks within a foot or two of the steps.

I reworked the placement of the trucks so that they are a scale foot away from the stirrups. Looks much better.

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I really like these Trainman models. They blend in well with the higher-market cars.

[Mark5]

Here's what my "stock" plastic wheels looked like - these ride "rough" and slower than the nice smooth FVM wheels.

Kinda weird as I don't remember older Atlas plastic wheelsets being this crude.

Mark

[peteski]

Here's what my "stock" plastic wheels looked like - these ride "rough" and slower than the nice smooth FVM wheels.

Kinda weird as I don't remember older Atlas plastic wheelsets being this crude.

Mark

I see what you mean.  Didn't the older Atlas plastic wheels have flat backs?  These seem to have a slightly flared out profile (at the center).

[Cajonpassfan]

Bryan,
that does look much better. Did you move the bolster or drill a new pivot hole in the truck? (Mine are not yet here).
But boy, those mail catchers look really fat, especially with a contrasting color on the door. I wonder whether the KATO mail catcher would work here...?
Otto K.

[narrowminded]

Those wheelsets are pretty crude.  Surprising.

[Joetrain59]

Wow, those wheels are cruddy. That explains the gritty feel I felt when rolling cars on flex track. FVM's are on the way!
 Joe D

[bbussey]

Bryan,
that does look much better. Did you move the bolster or drill a new pivot hole in the truck? (Mine are not yet here).
But boy, those mail catchers look really fat, especially with a contrasting color on the door. I wonder whether the KATO mail catcher would work here...?
Otto K.

I drilled new bolster holes just beyond the mold-in bolster plates (which accommodates centered bolster pin four-wheel trucks) and added styrene to build it up to the same height as the bolster.  I also swapped in WOT trucks, as I didn't have extra Atlas four-wheel trucks to swap in.

[Cajonpassfan]

I drilled new bolster holes just beyond the mold-in bolster plates (which accommodates centered bolster pin four-wheel trucks) and added styrene to build it up to the same height as the bolster.  I also swapped in WOT trucks, as I didn't have extra Atlas four-wheel trucks to swap in.

Thanks, Bryan!
Otto

[draskouasshat]

Otto, if you want to add the channel for a Santa fe rpo, just add styrene to the car "floor" using the liquid styrene melting junk. My cars channel actually comes off with the bottom of the car abd isn't affixed to the car body.
A good paint match is the Tamiya olive green. Not olive drab though.

Drasko