N Scale Ideas

[JoeD]

The x58, NE Caboose and carbon black cars have been on my short list for some time.  Great stuff here as expected.  I have some research projects to work on today.  We are also doing more heavyweights...for sure one of the next ones needs to be an observation/business car.  Hopefully I can get some pics of the finished units on line here soon.  I have built a few of them and the 10-1-2 is looking pretty good in SP livery  ;D

Thanks!

Joe
MTL

[Ian MacMillan]

X58 but at the right height Joe!

Oh and I fixed this sentence for you...I noticed you accidentally wrote heavyweights

I have some research projects to work on today.  We are also doing Horizon and Comet commuter cars.

[asarge]

Carbon Black would do well too. I forgot about that one.

[SirTainly]

another vote for a Jordan Spreader, although you'd probably be better off doing a modular approach to this one so it might not easily fit in with the sort of thing you were after.

As an aside is there a good reference work on Spreaders?

[Mark5]

We are also doing more heavyweights...for sure one of the next ones needs to be an observation/business car.  Hopefully I can get some pics of the finished units on line here soon.

This could be interesting. Many business cars were reworked to appear "smooth side" and "round roofed" by the 1950s or so. I'm guessing you'll do one mold to cover observation and business use?

Mark

[ljudice]

You guys...  be careful what you ask for, because you may get it...

First of all, MTL's tooling and printing are the best in the industry IMHO...

There is the issue with ride height and availability - ie. the tendancy to do one or two roadnames and then hold the tooling for years before doing another.  Given these issues, and the fact that most of the MTL market are MTL fans who will buy EVERYTHING they make - why would you want MTL to do ordinary cars like the X58, which is required in large numbers??  Wouldn't it make more sense for them to do the out of the ordinary you need one or two of.  Because they will probably only make one or two of them anyway???

For example, the MTL 90T Hopper is exquisite. It's so much nicer than the old Atlas Trainman car. But it's almost never offered - and only in 1-2 cars - not 24 or 48 roadnumbers.  I don't think it's even been done in CSX, which I believe is actually 100% accurate for the car.

It's too bad there is this love hate relationship between diehard fans and MTL and certain other manufacturers. Ask these guys for the stuff that fits our needs - and is in their business model, not for stuff you will be crying is too high or not offered frequently!

[SkipGear]

As for the Heavyweights, a coach is very much needed. Not everybody want's to do cross country trains. Most local's were a couple baggage/mail cars, a coach or two and maybe a parlor or lunch car.

The carbon black car is also a very good idea.

[wm3798]

Lou makes a powerful point.  One that MTL should heed as well as us...

[Mark5]

As for the Heavyweights, a coach is very much needed.

According to Joe, chair cars on the short list:

The next series will be released one after another...not in this order but a pair of sleepers and a Chair/Coach.  I'm researching observation cars, diners and others now.  These should be released in the Spring, I have first shots of some of the cars and am trying to get permission to show them here.  I suspect folks going to Chicago this month will see them in person.

Cheers

Joe
MTL

Mark

[Mark5]

You guys...  be careful what you ask for, because you may get it...

For example, the MTL 90T Hopper is exquisite. It's so much nicer than the old Atlas Trainman car. But it's almost never offered - and only in 1-2 cars - not 24 or 48 roadnumbers.  I don't think it's even been done in CSX, which I believe is actually 100% accurate for the car.

I never understood why these are referred to as "90 ton" cars.*  : The MT 100T triple actually appears to be based on the N&W H11a-e series (same prototype as the Atlas "90 ton").

I have both of the 100 tonners that MT did in N&W (I give them a "B" on the lettering). Of course I need a couple dozen, thats what the decals I'm working on will be for.

But you have a good point. And I am hesitant to ask for something I need in numbers from MT. New tooling seems to come out, a few roads are released, then the tooling is seemingly "benched" for years. (still patiently waiting for the car in my sig)

Mark

[Mark5]

One thing I would like to see from MT is a little effort directed at getting closer coupling on some of their loco conversions. For example, the KATO SD40-2 - using the Kato couplers the units couple nearly half a centimeter closer than the MT "close" conversion. :

Also, a short couple solution form MT for IM F units would seem like a good thing.

Mark

[Denver Road Doug]

Joe, you have my list of suggestions and I don't think it has really changed much.

You guys...  be careful what you ask for, because you may get it...

There is the issue with ride height and availability - ie. the tendancy to do one or two roadnames and then hold the tooling for years before doing another.  Given these issues, and the fact that most of the MTL market are MTL fans who will buy EVERYTHING they make - why would you want MTL to do ordinary cars like the X58, which is required in large numbers??  Wouldn't it make more sense for them to do the out of the ordinary you need one or two of.  Because they will probably only make one or two of them anyway???

That is why the carbon black car would be a good idea from that perspective.  But, I think the hold up has been the "available in any color as long as it's black" issue.  The prototype I'm attempting to model runs through the heart of carbon black country, so I may be the only one that would buy this car in fairly large numbers.  But I could live with MTL doing them.  They would as nice as any resin kit I could cobble together probably unless I could get something done along the lines of the Kaslo whale belly cement hoppers.  Ride height is fixable and should be a fairly easy renumber.  Now, I would prefer the more modern 4727 cars versus the transition-era cars but I would even take a couple of the latter.

[sirenwerks]

SP F70-6-style (modern riveted) flat car; early long-length intermodal cars (F39, F39c, F85, F85a, Bethlehem-built channel-side & early Z-sill); 'modern' tank cars (just post-transition era - larger capacity cars w/ structural frames, and the first frameless designs); PS4 (welded 50+ foot flat car); PRR X-58; PC&F 50+' flat roof, insulated, plug door box (w/ separate plug door detail, ladders & tack boards); PS4427 hi-hip (w/ separate roofwalk); & ACF cylindrical covered hopper w/ 6 outlets & 5 hatches (beginning of Center Flow designs, built in early 60s).

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I agree with ljudice here.

MTL excels at doing "oddball" stuff. Colorful stuff, eye catching stuff, etc... they're not a "volume" producer.

In that case, I think they'd do well do try some new trailers. I don't think anyone's done non-roadrailer duraplates, right? Some of those schemes are pretty eye catching.

Also, maybe some of those shorty CGTX hoppers? They're silver and yellow and I think would work well. Not too many road names though.

[CSXTer]

I say Dummy Locos. Could help with DCC sound by using the dummy in a lash-up to house the speaker.