Atlas/BLMA RTTX Hitches

[mcjaco]

Had the same issue in HO years back modeling the ATSF 991/199 trains.  Multiple kingpin types from manufacturers, and hitchsizes.  Then each manufacturer decided to have a different hole and knob (for lack of a better word) for their containers.  I ended up removing most on the containers and adding metal plates and magnets to each.

Frustrating, but not that difficult of a fix.

[GaryHinshaw]

What is the size of the BLMA hitch 'hole' - anyone know ?

In my samples, I can fit a .008" wire through the narrowest end of the hitch hole, but not a .010" wire.  However, if you were to make trailers ( ) I would probably aim for a .010" or .012" kingpin, so it's not quite such a needle.  It would be simple to ream out the BLMA hitch with a #80 bit to accommodate this.

BTW, I just received my latest shipment of JTC containers.  The finish work - especially the doors - is gorgeous.

[jagged ben]

One thought after re-reading this topic:  If you're going to drill the large kingpin to fit over the new, smaller, one, drill it BEFORE cutting it from the trailer.  It's a lot easier to hold a trailer than a tiny piece of plastic, and you're less likely to drill your finger by mistake.

Depends a bit on other aspects of you method. 

If you want your new kingpin to be a press fit, then you probably want to drill a small hole first, then cut it off, then widen the hole so that your new kingpin slips on and off easily.

If you're gluing in the new kingpin on the trailer, it matters less.

Another thought.  If you do a whole bunch of trailers at once, use the cut off kingpins to fill in the hitches on your railcars.  If you do it that way, you could probably drill your new hole afterwards.

[nkalanaga]

It appears that the standard kingpin is a little over 2 inches in diameter at the bottom, with the part that actually fits the fifth wheel 2 inches in diameter.  So, 1/64 inch, or 0.015 inch, would be close to prototype.  Mine are 1/32, because that was the smallest brass wire I could find 45 years ago, and I didn't know the actual size.

[James Costello]

However, if you were to make trailers ( )

Out of curiosity @GaryHinshaw - what would your top 5 requests be?

[GaryHinshaw]

Ah geez, you got me on that one James.  I don't know my trailers 1/10th as well as you do, but I will happily do some research and post a list when I get a chance. 

[nkalanaga]

Jagged Ben:  All of my new kingpins are solidly attached to the trailers, but I see your point.  The hole in the old kingpin would have to be large enough to easily slide over the new kingpin.

All of my trailer hitches have the holes filled, most with styrene rod, so I just cut and toss the old kingpins.  In many cases, they're just a little too small to fill the hitch hole, probably so the trailer can be removed more easily.

[jagged ben]

Out of curiosity @GaryHinshaw - what would your top 5 requests be?

I'm not Gary, but here's my top 5 (7 really), in count-down-to-the-top style.   

5) Cornucopia
4) JB Hunt 48' 
3) IMEX, or AXXA or early 90's clipper scheme, or combos thereof  (see both links in number 2 as well).  Really these are 3,4,5 in any order, but who's really counting? 
2) Tranfax 45' (Bonus for a paint-showing-through version with early Alliance Shippers patch.)
1)  Strick Lease Intermodal 48'

[James Costello]

I'm not Gary, but here's my top 5 (7 really), in count-down-to-the-top style.   

5) Cornucopia
4) JB Hunt 48' 
3) IMEX, or AXXA or early 90's clipper scheme, or combos thereof  (see both links in number 2 as well).  Really these are 3,4,5 in any order, but who's really counting? 
2) Tranfax 45' (Bonus for a paint-showing-through version with early Alliance Shippers patch.)
1)  Strick Lease Intermodal 48'

Thanks for the thoughts @jagged ben - some good ideas. The 48' trailer fleet of JB Hunt is my next research project but like your reefers, photos of intemodal equipment from the late 80s and early 90s is currently criminally underrepresented online...

[daniel_leavitt2000]

The Strick vans were folded into the Xtra pool around 1994 or so. They ended up EVERYWHERE.


This is a good list, and would work on Conrail just as much as the west coast.

[Ike the BN Freak]

On my list is 48' BN America boxes, the 28' boxes and the saddle to sit on top of the 48'

[jagged ben]

Ike, this thread is about trailers!   

Sent you a PM.

[prbharris]

-

5) Cornucopia
4) JB Hunt 48'
3) IMEX, or AXXA or early 90's clipper scheme 
2) Tranfax
1) Strick Lease Intermodal

some good ideas. The 48' trailer fleet of JB Hunt is my next research project but like your reefers, photos of intermodal equipment from the late 80s and early 90s is currently criminally underrepresented online...

I agree - it is hard work getting good pictures of older paint schemes. We have turned some into decals for 48' trailers - with N Scale Laser boxes mounted onto our 48' chassis for the spine cars!

Peter

Peter Harris
N Scale Kits
www.nscalekits.com

[GaryHinshaw]

Out of curiosity @GaryHinshaw - what would your top 5 requests be?

Took me a while to get to this, but here is my trailer wish list.  I'm not at all savvy about the different brands of trailers, so basically I only pay attention to 1) length, 2) dry van or reefer, and 3) smooth side or corrugated (or x-post).  Tops on my list for a new trailer style would be a 53' corrugated side trailer (reefer and/or dry van, though mostly reefer).  Schemes I'd like to see include:

owner/operator (no logo)
Prime Inc
Prime Intermodal
Stevens Transport
KLLM Transport
Werner Enterprises

Admittedly these schemes are somewhat niche (except maybe the owner/operator), but they reflect current trends in TOFC traffic.  Many slightly older schemes would also be suitable on these trailers (CR England, etc.).  Schemes I'd like to see Pat/Trainworx do on the 53' smooth side trailers include:

Marten  (Pat already has the artwork prepared for this scheme)
TYTAN Express (or any of the ex-Schneider trailers)
White Arrow
Go2  Logistics
JKC Trucking

Finally, I'd really like to see a UPS pup with beveled front corners and no drop frame.

Added - forgot to add a 28' ABF pup.  At least this latter model can be respectably reproduced with an Athearn pup and (out of print) Microscale decals.

One of the challenges with contemporary intermodal modelling is that the vehicles and/or schemes have about half the life-span of rolling stock, so this is a swiftly-moving target...

[mu26aeh]

I know I get poo-poo'd on when I mention them, but Digcom Designs has many of the 53' schemes covered in his catalog of papercraft intermodal products.  During my recent open house, someone looked at my Spring Grove scene where I have a mix of Digcom, Deluxe, Trainworx and Atlas trailers for a good 3-4 minutes before picking out which were from Digcom.  Many said that if I had not mentioned them, they never would have known any where printed on photo paper.