Question About MTL Depressed Center Flats.

[Kisatchie]

Do the Micro-Trains depressed center flat cars have removable loads. And if so, does the deck have any obvious mounting holes when the load is removed?


How many holes does
Kiz have in his head...?

[PGE-N°2]

The one I have definitely does. The load is just loose and not mounted to the car at all. I'm actually surprised it stays on at all.

The deck just has regular detailing: no mount holes or anything.

[Kisatchie]

That's good to know. Thanks!


Hmm... let's see how well
the load stays on when
Kiz runs it at 400 scale
miles per hour...

[AVR Mark]

The first 2 or 3 of the depressed center flats didn't come with loads. All the later ones that I know of did. The ones that I have that didn't come with loads have (had) a dimple at the center of the car which is a little bigger than all the other dimples. (I'm not sure if these dimples are actually holes on the prototype cars) The cars that I have that came with loads have the larger dimple drilled out and a screw is used to hold the load in place. On the bottom of the car(s) the attachment hole is countersunk so that the screw head doesn't project lower than the bottom of the car.

Mark

[bbussey]

Both the holes and the slots should go entirely through the frame.  If you turn the car over, you will see the depressions on the underside match those on the top side.  I drilled the holes through on two models I kitbashed from the MTL model, which impoves the look.

[PGE-N°2]

I just looked at mine again. I have the one with a dragline bucket load, and the deck is full of dimples, but there is one in the exact center that is larger than the rest. I assume it could be drilled out for mounting purposes, or if a small enough piece of styrene rod was glued to the bottom of the load, it could be set into the hole.