Doors on the MTL 40' and 50' Standard Boxes.

[wcfn100]

With the PS-1 being about the most important box car on the CGW, I decided to see exactly what the visual difference is between a MTL box and one modified for a scale size door.  I also want others to be able to see exactly "the lower door track is in the wrong place" looks like.

This is with a corrected lower door track and the stock MTL door.




Jason

[Dave Schneider]

Wow, is that going to let the rain in! Very nice demonstration. Are you etching new doors?

Best wishes, Dave

[wcfn100]

Are you etching new doors?

For the demo, I'll probably try my hand at scratch building them just to see if I can.  With the measurements in hand, a Superior door can be drawn in 3D between dinner and bedtime (okay, so I go to bed at 2 am) and they're size makes them fairly economical.


Jason

[Sokramiketes]

My life was better before this image was posted.  I always "knew" but tried to ignore it.  Now you've provided an image that burned my retinas and caused my brain to leach out through my ear. 

Do you know how many MTL cars I'd have to modify?  I think you just made the case for new PS-1 tooling.

[unittrain]

These MTL revelations are killing me! I got quite a few of these PS-1's along with the vertically compressed 60' boxcars and 50' boxes! These are from the "Cadillac" of N scale days 

[milw156]

My life was better before this image was posted...  Now you've provided an image that burned my retinas and caused my brain to leach out through my ear. 

Do you know how many MTL cars I'd have to modify?  I think you just made the case for new PS-1 tooling.

Mike, you just can't catch a break from Microtrains issues, can you?!!! Two months to Harper!
Rick

[amato1969]

Jason, have you tried using an Intermountain door?   I don't know if these are sized to fit a scale opening or not.

  Frank

[wcfn100]

Jason, have you tried using an Intermountain door?   I don't know if these are sized to fit a scale opening or not.

  Frank

 All the IM cars I had handy were only 10' cars.

Jason

[Sokramiketes]

Did you notice that the plug door boxcar body has the lower door track in the right location?  Might be hard to do  6' door car with it, but an 8' door should cover up the plug door with little extra body work.

[wcfn100]

Did you notice that the plug door boxcar body has the lower door track in the right location?  Might be hard to do  6' door car with it, but an 8' door should cover up the plug door with little extra body work.

I saw that but didn't look at it from an 8' door stand point.

Jason

[Sokramiketes]

Found a use for the short MTL doors:

[Dave Schneider]

Nice Mike!  Did you put roof hatches on the Miller spent grain car? I have a good roof photo if you need one.

Best wishes, Dave

[Sokramiketes]

Nice Mike!  Did you put roof hatches on the Miller spent grain car? I have a good roof photo if you need one.

Best wishes, Dave

Please share!  I couldn't find my package of BLMA resin grain hatches yet so may have to liberate them from a PS-4000.  Roof shot would be great!  Thanks!

[Dave Schneider]

Here you go.



Note the patched side. These repairs were mostly in the 1970s. Not sure at present how the numbers changed over the years, or exactly when the hatches were added. That info is probably in the Color Guide.

Best wishes, Dave

[Sokramiketes]

Here you go.

Note the patched side. These repairs were mostly in the 1970s. Not sure at present how the numbers changed over the years, or exactly when the hatches were added. That info is probably in the Color Guide.

Best wishes, Dave

Perfect, thanks.  Ignore my number since I need to change it from the factory paint job.  All I've done is mill out the existing door and slap on the MTL door.  The Miller logo comes from Streamstyle Graphics in their "Cherry Car" set... I had to remove the Miller lettering from inside the shield.  Anyway, more to come... just wanted to show that the doors fit.