Changes to MT 50' PS-1

[nkalanaga]

This probably isn't new, but I haven't seen it mentioned, and haven't bought any MT boxcars in quite a while.  I ordered one of their current CG cars.

See-through roofwalks - nice. 

See-through (metal?) brake platform - surprising, as it required changing the body tooling.

Body-mounted couplers - very nice, although I'm going to see if I can use a 1015 instead of the 1016, as it seems to stick out too far.  I could live with the spacing, but the longer exposed shank looks funny on a plain boxcar.

Correct (or close) ride height - big surprise, as they had to make major changes to the floor casting AND the center sill/ brake casting.  I was preparing to file the bolsters down, but this car doesn't need it.

Yes, the body still has the errors in the side details, but in a train, the new version is a big improvement.  Does anyone remember when they actually made these changes, or is this the first car with them?

[Mark5]

This was announced in January 2017: https://www.micro-trains.com/publicfiles/monthly/MTLPG2017.pdf

I don't think the upgrades were rolled out until late that year or maybe early 2018.

Mark

[reinhardtjh]

This was announced in January 2017: https://www.micro-trains.com/publicfiles/monthly/MTLPG2017.pdf

I don't think the upgrades were rolled out until late that year or maybe early 2018.

Mark

Wow.  Same announcement also had the True Scale Couplers and the single window coach!  My how time flies!

[nkalanaga]

Mark:  So it isn't new at all.  Shows how much attention I pay to MT's announcements!  Nothing against them, but I have more cars than I need, and most of my money goes for body styles that haven't been made before, that my customers need.

Thank you!

[Ngineer]

This probably isn't new, but I haven't seen it mentioned, and haven't bought any MT boxcars in quite a while.  I ordered one of their current CG cars.

See-through roofwalks - nice. 

I would like to re-equip my older models with them. Are they available seperately?

How can I be sure that my online dealer doesn't send me the old ones? (I am asking because a few weeks ago I got MT trucks with Pizza cutters. Yikes. I thought they had been retired.)

   Javier

[thomasjmdavis]

I would like to re-equip my older models with them. Are they available seperately?

How can I be sure that my online dealer doesn't send me the old ones? (I am asking because a few weeks ago I got MT trucks with Pizza cutters. Yikes. I thought they had been retired.)

   Javier

Best advice is to order by MT stock numbers rather than "arch bar" or "roller bearing". 

At this point, we have original pizza cutters, then some not quite so pizza cutter, then low profile pizza cutter (the first low profile wheels were sharp edged and IIRC split switches with regularity), then low profile and nowadays, something with a bit more flange than low profile, but not so much as modified pizza cutter.  At least that's what I seem to encounter as I go through my 40+ year collection.  Although I can't say for certain that the various cars purchased second hand even have MT wheels.

[peteski]

I would like to re-equip my older models with them. Are they available seperately?

How can I be sure that my online dealer doesn't send me the old ones? (I am asking because a few weeks ago I got MT trucks with Pizza cutters. Yikes. I thought they had been retired.)

Must have been old stock as pizza cutter wheels  have been gone for probably over a decade.  Or did your trucks came directly from Micro Trains?!?!   I would doubt that.

But I don't know if the part number on the trucks has changed throughout the various iteration of the wheelsets used in them.  If you were to order directly from MTL website, you will most certainly get the latest production run (with the current wheelsets).  MTL does have online store, but you will pay full price.

[thomasjmdavis]

Must have been old stock as pizza cutter wheels  have been gone for probably over a decade.  Or did your trucks came directly from Micro Trains?!?!   I would doubt that.

But I don't know if the part number on the trucks has changed throughout the various iteration of the wheelsets used in them.  If you were to order directly from MTL website, you will most certainly get the latest production run (with the current wheelsets).  MTL does have online store, but you will pay full price.

For example, while the standard Bettendorf truck is still a "1000",  older packaging had no stock # on the front, but on the back it is stamped "060392-3z" (wondering if 060392 is a date of revision?).  The new packaging has "003 02 021 (1000)"  on the front of the package, and the number is also the last digits of the bar code on the back.

Looking at a random selection of old and new packages of various styles, I think the existence of a bar code is a good indication of current, or at least recent, production.  I have some 1017s that are marked as revised in 2002 with no bar code, but all my recent purchases do have it, along with a revised package shape.

[bbussey]

... Body-mounted couplers - very nice, although I'm going to see if I can use a 1015 instead of the 1016, as it seems to stick out too far.  I could live with the spacing, but the longer exposed shank looks funny on a plain boxcar...

I believe they use the 1016 to simulate the extended draft gear of a cushioned underframe.

[Mark5]

I believe they use the 1016 to simulate the extended draft gear of a cushioned underframe.

I wish MTL would make a serious attempt at an extended draft gear solution. I know it won't look as good as proto but there has to be a better way than long shanks.

I picked up some 1017s to try using them to better simulate extended draft gear but I haven't gotten around to trying it.

I am aware of the Shapeways solution (https://www.shapeways.com/product/5ZPBHDG6K/extended-cushion-draft-gear-box-n-1-160-20x) but I am not sold on having to use bestine when there is a company with the know-how now (hint: MTL) that could easily produce these injection molded. 

If the drought in extended draft gear persists until I am an active modeler again I'll probably look again at using brass tubing as illustrated by GaryHinshaw here:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=21980.0

Mark

[nkalanaga]

Bryan:  That is one possibility, but this car, as far as I know, didn't have any cushioning, just a plain PS-1.

Mark:  I agree.  I have Wuttermelon's extended draft gear, and they work fine.  It would be nice if MT made some, though, and it wouldn't be at all hard.  I'd suggest using the 1025 rather than the 1025, though. because the end of the box looks better on the 1025.  The 1015 has the sides open, for more coupler swing, where the 1025, and the prototype, has closed sides.

Incidentally, the Wuttermelon boxes I soaked in isopropyl alcohol straightened out fine, seem to have been cleaned well, and are working fine.  So I did the rest of the 40-pack the same way, and they all came out good.  The Sea-Land container, on the other hand, never straightened out.  I did manage to glue the floor in, and straighten everything at the same time, by clamping it together and running superglue into the seam. 

[nkalanaga]

I put 1015s on mine today, a very easy replacement, except for one minor issue.  The 1016 is attached with a plastic push-pin, which is a little hard to get of of the hole.  Not a "bad" thing, as we don't want it falling out, but even knocking it out from inside was a little difficult.  I might just cut future ones off, as I didn't reuse it, not wanting to try to get it back in the hole.

I tapped the hole for a 00-90 flathead screw, and screwed the 1015 in place, where it fit perfectly.

Putting the body back on, I found the only problem.  If the trip pin sticks up above the knuckle even the tiniest bit, it rubs on the bottom of the car end.  I finally filed a small notch in the end, having given up in adjusting the pins, and they now work fine.  It doesn't take much of a notch, and isn't readily visible.

The coupling distance looks much better, and there's no long visible shank sticking out.  I'll save the 1016s in case I ever need them.  Passenger cars, maybe?

[bbussey]

... I am aware of the Shapeways solution (https://www.shapeways.com/product/5ZPBHDG6K/extended-cushion-draft-gear-box-n-1-160-20x) but I am not sold on having to use bestine when there is a company with the know-how now (hint: MTL) that could easily produce these injection molded...

Looks like a copy of the X58 extended coupler pocket, but with a resin lid instead of an etched one. 

[nkalanaga]

Basically Wuttermelon's is a copy of the MT 1025 box top and bottom internally, with solid sides, designed to reuse the truck-mounted coupler and spring.  Unlike your X58 box, which uses a 1015, and the MT 1025 box, it has a solid top, with just an internal recess for the top alignment pin on the coupler.  There's no visible hole in the top of the box to paint around.

[JoeD]

I have been lobbying for a cushioned under frame option going forward.  we just need time and tooling capacity to do it.  keep your fingers crossed.

Joe

I wish MTL would make a serious attempt at an extended draft gear solution. I know it won't look as good as proto but there has to be a better way than long shanks.

I picked up some 1017s to try using them to better simulate extended draft gear but I haven't gotten around to trying it.

I am aware of the Shapeways solution (https://www.shapeways.com/product/5ZPBHDG6K/extended-cushion-draft-gear-box-n-1-160-20x) but I am not sold on having to use bestine when there is a company with the know-how now (hint: MTL) that could easily produce these injection molded. 

If the drought in extended draft gear persists until I am an active modeler again I'll probably look again at using brass tubing as illustrated by GaryHinshaw here:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=21980.0

Mark