Tangent Scale Models: Bethlehem Quad Hoppers in N Scale

[Cajonpassfan]

Well, I got to see the new hopper in person today, and got to talk with the Tangent guys at length. Nice guys, a truly beautiful model. The trucks and wheels are also state of the art. They obviously want to enter the N scale market with a cutting edge product, and I can't but wish them lots of success (so that we can get more cars from them). They do make some great stuff in HO (like tank cars)

Having said that, the minimum radius is 18" plus, that's not a typo. I am told they didn't want to compromise by raising the body or doing talgoes, and this was a conscious decision. They also want to be transparent about it, hence the note In the announcement. Looking at it, the truck swivel is limited by the width of the MT clone coupler box, and the air hose on its side. In my personal opinion, this will limit their sales, but as I said before , this was a conscious business decision, and I'm not going to second guess that, it's not my money, and I'm thrilled to see them enter the N scale market.
Otto K.

PS: I'm told the wheelsets (and they are beautiful) will be available separately in the not too distant future. Of course, these are 36" wheels, per this prototype.

[jagged ben]

I just don't see what makes it so different from many BLMA, Exactrail or Trainworx offerings.  Wheel flanges rubbing the bottom of the outside hopper bays?

[JanesCustomTrain]

The man's in the middle of a train show - we're lucky we've got photos on the website and now even the ability to order them. Give the guy a break - I'm sure Dave will correct the record as soon as he can. Probably doesn't even know there another railwire dust storm brewing here...

Oh I am so sorry, did I say something wrong ? Yeah we are very lucky we got photos, after all he's trying to sell something to us. Go the All Blacks !  But all good now, it wasn't a typo and the minimum radius is 18" plus. Fine with me, I like these hoppers and wish them luck in N scale, bring em on.

Jane 

[GaryHinshaw]

It sounds like Otto thinks the air hose is limiting the truck swing.   If so, I imagine it is easy to remove it, if your curves demand it. 

I'm planning on swapping Bowser couplers in, so I don't think that aspect will affect me.  But if the hopper bays are the limiting factor, that's a different kettle of fish.  I hope Tangent will clarify this in their advertising so they don't needlessly curtail sales.

[Ike the BN Freak]

I think it's definitely the coupler box in conjunction with the hose pipe.

Bryan here hits it.

Dan and I took the car and went over to the TTrak layouts to test it on the curves. The cars can negotiate the curves, however there is rubbing.

When you remove the rubber air hose and line, the car has minor rubbing on the 310mm outer track. However it is the back of the wheel rubbing the draft gear key.  If you take an exacto and trim the key down or remove it, it will handle much tighter curves that the 18.75" they recommend.  It will probably do less than that, however they were using Atlas code 55 sectional to see what it can without any rubbing or interference, and that was the "tightest" it will do.

I honestly didn't even see the coupler box details until Dan pointed it out to me, but it is all true to scale.

[Ike the BN Freak]

While I have no want/interest in the quads, as BN had triples, but I hope this is a successful product and they bring out the PS 4750s to N.  While the IM is nice, IM has done 1 body style while there are many that are available they can do.

[cjm413]

While I have no want/interest in the quads, as BN had triples, but I hope this is a successful product and they bring out the PS 4750s to N.  While the IM is nice, IM has done 1 body style while there are many that are available they can do.

IMRC 4750 doesnt have a surface to mount a coupler box

[jagged ben]

So they've produced a model that probably has a bigger minimum radius, in scale, than the prototype.   Makes me wonder if that's happened before.

[Ike the BN Freak]

IMRC 4750 doesnt have a surface to mount a coupler box

There is also that

[squirrelhunter]

Ike, thank you for testing out the cars on the T Trak layout. So in short, if you remove the rubber air hose and sand/file down the sides of the coupler box then the backs of the wheels won't rub on the outside radius curve?

[nkalanaga]

Jagged Ben:  Probably not, but it's not surprising, if they make everything to scale, EXCEPT the over-width draft gear box.  Good thing I don't need these.

[Ike the BN Freak]

Ike, thank you for testing out the cars on the T Trak layout. So in short, if you remove the rubber air hose and sand/file down the sides of the coupler box then the backs of the wheels won't rub on the outside radius curve?

Pretty much, the detail, which I can't get photos of as all I got is my phone, is the key that would hold the proto coupler shank into the coupler pocket. You can probably just trim it down with an exacto knife.  The wheels were barely rubbing, or that is how it felt going around the outside radius curves.

[Smike]

I don’t mind paying a premium for high scale fidelity, but in this case it comes with required modifications out of the box to run on the layout. I’ll pass, but wish them luck in the market. Good to see another player.

[squirrelhunter]

Ike, when you refer to the key that holds the proto coupler shank in the pocket, are you saying that it is an extra part designed to allow use of the MT true scale couplers?

[jagged ben]

Jagged Ben:  Probably not, but it's not surprising, if they make everything to scale, EXCEPT the over-width draft gear box.  Good thing I don't need these.

Not sure why you're disputing me.  Check out https://www.gbrx.com/manufacturing/north-america-rail/automotive/.  Many similar cars have smaller curve negotiability radii.  Not sure what car is the best comparison but the quad hopper is a shorter car with the trucks near the ends so it should be on the lower end of the range.

Note the wheel treads are also over width on the model and this is also part of the problem.