Red Caboose Center Beams

[ljudice]

Who owns this tooling?

It would seem to be massively popular with a bit of lowering, etc.....

[Missaberoad]

Fox valley models I think...
They are definitely in demand, going for 60 to 100$+ on eBay these days.

[ednadolski]

Is it just me or are the side sills too thick on these?  (Presumably to accommodate the floor weights)

Ed

[ljudice]

Is it just me or are the side sills too thick on these?  (Presumably to accommodate the floor weights)

good question - I always thought they were too tall but assumed it was truck/bolster issues...

[MetroRedLine]

I'd like to see another company take a stab at these with their own design. ScaleTrains? Atlas Master? MicroTrains? Tangent? Anyone?

The problem with the RC centerbeams (other than that they made too few of these in TTX yellow, what's up with that?) is that they're made for truck-mounted couplers and therefore their bodies have to ride high to accommodate. ScaleTrains did things right in their new autorack car by building the coupler pocket into the center support of the car (like the prototype is designed), rather than having it hang down from the bottom (thus needing an underslung coupler).

[ljudice]

I'd like to see another company take a stab at these with their own design. ScaleTrains? Atlas Master? MicroTrains? Tangent? Anyone?

Amen!

[GaryHinshaw]

Paging @Atlas Paul: wouldn't this car make an excellent addition to the N Master line?   

[ednadolski]

Paging @Atlas Paul: wouldn't this car make an excellent addition to the N Master line?   

Paging @ Dr. 3D Printer....

Ed

[RockGp40]

Paging @Atlas Paul: wouldn't this car make an excellent addition to the N Master line?   

Paul hasn't checked in since February.

[sundowner]

RC made the four type 73’ of centerbeams.
The main issue is the underfloor and in that it was made for MT long coupler truck so the wheel base is short for the 110t cars like the one that atlas made in ho.
The wheel base is correct for the opera and type 2 with the pinned cross brazes  centerbeam.
Also the floor needs to be modified so that it can be lower since the rear wheels rub on the floor.

[GaryHinshaw]

Paul hasn't checked in since February.

I know.  I do hold out hope, but I don't hold my breath.

Paging @ Dr. 3D Printer....

Not sure if that's aimed at me, but I have been thinking about ways to improve the RC cars with some printed parts, to address some of the issues sundowner notes.  But it might be easier to just design a whole new car with parts that could go around a lead or titanium floor weight.  (That's the other problem with the RC cars.)

It sure would be easier if Atlas would just cooperate though. 

[peteski]

. . .
 But it might be easier to just design a whole new car with parts that could go around a lead or titanium floor weight.  (That's the other problem with the RC cars.)

I wonder if you meant  tungsten, not titanium (which is fairly light metal)?

[ednadolski]

Not sure if that's aimed at me, but I have been thinking about ways to improve the RC cars with some printed parts, to address some of the issues sundowner notes.  But it might be easier to just design a whole new car with parts that could go around a lead or titanium floor weight.  (That's the other problem with the RC cars.)

Of course it is aimed.... I can't think of anyone else I would rather see doing this sort of thing

Agree about the weight problem tho.... plus with 3D resins there is always the concern about excess warping.  Perhaps a solid brass center sill would help on both counts (or tungsten?  not sure what that would cost?).   The other thought I've had was doing a photo-etch kit, but (a) it would likely be somewhat complex; and (2) it still would not have a lot of weight.

Ed

[Mark5]

I'm with Gary on this one, looks like a job for the "Master" (Atlas) 

3d has come a long way (Gary and Chris being "poster children"  ), but still has some serious limitations as well as being a very small "niche" in terms of modelers that actually use it.

Mark

[davefoxx]

Of course it is aimed.... I can't think of anyone else I would rather see doing this sort of thing

DFF