M-T Gunderson Well Cars!

[chessie]

I don't model Z scale, but checked the M-T website for "coming soon" items, and they are listing Gunderson well cars for an estimated June release! More details here: http://www.micro-trains.com/gunderson%20well%20car.htm

Harold

[bobcat]

I would really like to see MT do these in N scale.

Bob

[William Cowie]

The MDC cars are very well molded. I know, I know, there IS the small issue of the couplers :D , but other than that, they're great. And, most important, Deluxe Innovations announced they'll be releasing the Maxi III 5-unit this Spring...

[chessie]

I have a confession,,,,, I do own quite a lot of the MDC (N Scale) cars.. they run well, even with the standard Rapido couplers, and are extremely well detailed, especially when you use quality (weighted) containers..... From my experience, do NOT use their "Mighty Darn compatible" coupler, as it causes problems....

Harold

[William Cowie]

I agree with you that they're well-detailed, Harold. I've converted all mine to body-mount MT1015 couplers and I'm quite happy.

[HemiAdda2d]

I had about 25 of those, before they went to ebay...
Sure wish I kept the BN ones.
Anyways, a stack car in Z!!
Come June, my wife who's into Z, will love a string of those!

[chessie]

Maybe I can hook you up with some BNSF cars (N scale), as I have a few left. Private message me if you need 'em smile.gif

Harold

[HemiAdda2d]

Thanks, Harold, but I model BN in '89, and I am seriously considering backdating to 1965 and GN..... No such thing as doublestacks, and TOFC was still in its infancy!

[chessie]

No problem..... just a stab in the dark.... I actually like the cars and may keep them ;)

Harold

[pray59]

The other rumor in Z is that MT is working on a GP to go with the well cars. Rogue made some GP-38's in Z, but are out of business, and very few were made. I bet that's what MT has on tap. :D

[BrianS]

Aren't we overlooking something? Don't we need Z scale containers for Z scale well cars?

[chessie]

Originally posted by BrianS:
Aren't we overlooking something? Don't we need Z scale containers for Z scale well cars? Good point! I guess they will be in a future release (?)

Harold

[pray59]

I think MT plans on releasing the containers too, however FR sells them for their etched brass well cars. :D

[JoeS]

I believe that you can get containers from the marklin co. They sell a set of 6 with 3 trailors. Personally, I'd love to see micro trains come out with a Gp 38. Their f-7's are very nice and I love the mogul they came out with a few years ago. If they can make an affordable gp, in the 100 dollar or so price range. I might give up N scale completely and focus all my energy on Z.

[HemiAdda2d]

That's sweet! Dangit, my wallet is tapped out from the N Tunnel motors in DRGW....

[pray59]

Wait till you see the price for the Z Scale tunnel motors... $570 ea!

They are high, but run like a dream. I have the SD-45's with the same mechanism, after a guy on The Guage posted how happy he was with his. The AZL locomotives run great! :D

Here is the page with what's available in Z from AZL:

http://www.ztrack.com/mrtsbcatpgs/amerzlines.html

[chessie]

Originally posted by pray59:
I think MT plans on releasing the containers too, however FR sells them for their etched brass well cars. :D The "new releases" for June shows a car with containers...

Harold

[pray59]

I have 6 on order, and have not received mine from Chuck FRTS (http://www.featherrivertrains.com) yet, but I suspect the containers come with no lettering like in the picture.

Fortunately I have an ALPS, so I plan on making some custom decals. graemlins/wink.gif

[chessie]

Originally posted by pray59:
I have 6 on order, and have not received mine from Chuck FRTS (http://www.featherrivertrains.com) yet, but I suspect the containers come with no lettering like in the picture.

Fortunately I have an ALPS, so I plan on making some custom decals. graemlins/wink.gif Yes, I am guessing that any containers would be unlettered... but it looks like you have the fix! smile.gif

Harold

[pray59]

I have been building some Z Scale cars in my spare time, and decal sets for them. Here are some projects I did this weekend.


Microtrains 38' Z flat to 40' bulkhead with deck:
http://raybob.boche.net/projects/images/bulkhead1.jpg

http://raybob.boche.net/projects/images/bulkhead2.jpg

UP 60' Truss Rod Centerbeam flat:
http://raybob.boche.net/projects/images/uptruss3.jpg

BN and BNSF 60' Opera Window Centerbeam Flats:
http://raybob.boche.net/projects/images/bnopera4.jpg
http://raybob.boche.net/projects/images/bnsfopera5.jpg

-Robert

[JoeS]

Robert, I have always admired your work. Keep posting pictures! You mentioned you've been bit by the bug. Well, I have been an Nscaler but over the last 4-5 months the z bug has bit me. It really is a fasinating scale. If micro-trains does what I expect and hope in the next year or so, I can see z becoming a major scale quickly!

[pray59]

Yeah, I got it bad. I have been working on weathering and modifying all of my Z collection lately. I have accumulated a lot of stuff off eBay over the last year, as well a scratch building all kinds of stuff in Z.

There are lots of N Scalers that have a roving eye towards Z Scale, but the lack of available North Americian prototype and high prices have scared many to the wait and see mode.

I am trying to do my part and make a few craftsman kits available. I want to do some more modern era stuff to help drive locomotive manufacturers into releasing more modern deisels. With all the new Victoria Models flats, Suzee Line Covered Hoppers, Microtrains Wells, and now my Centerbeam kits, a lot of the modelers on the Yahoo Z group are crying for more modern Diesel. Every little bit helps. :D

-Robert

[JoeS]

Robert, I couldn't agree more with your point. The lack of Noth American products in general in Z-scale is the biggest problem with growth. Many people think z didn't grow for all sorts of silly reasons. But the main reason in my opinion is people want to be able to purchase North American products. For years all Z had was F-7's...Now that is nice and I will say mine run very well, however, varitey is needed. How fast would N scale have grown if for 20 years or so the only viable choice was an F-7? I am so very temped by the AZL products, they look so awsome, but the $500 price tag makes a person wait. I managed to snag a micro-trains mogul which was very pricey, but boy, it sure is sweet looking, and runs much better than I would have ever thought. The valve gear is really the only thing that might need slight improving, but it is by far the best looking North American steam loco out on the market. I know Marklin has a pacific and and a mikado, but the detail is not quite there. I guess in short I guess I fall into that category of dabling with a small Z layout just waiting for the new stuff. Again, if Micro-trains can produce another diesel in that 100-150 price range, I think many more N-scalers will be really pulled in.

[HemiAdda2d]

I'll second that, Joe. I started in Z a year ago, for my wife. I started with a MT F7, 4 cars, and a caboose. Dropped over 250 bucks on just that, and some flex track. I almost wet myself when I saw the AZL SD45, in BN as well...... Until I saw the price.
I have and will continue to collect Z freight cars, and if MT is working on a new Z engine, I'll be all over thta like a fat kid on a cupcake! :eek: graemlins/222.gif graemlins/wink.gif :D

[JoeS]

Without a doubt I will jump on it also. I don't think many people realize that the micro-trains f-7 can pull 50 cars. They have a fantasic gear ratio and weight working for them. Now just imagine if they come out with a different diesel that has the same characteristics. You could run 100 car trains with only a couple engines! How is that for realism!

[pray59]

I wonder if I grind down the sides of the F7, and re-motor with a narrower motor, if I could make a GP-7 out of one? I know there are guy's like Reynard Wellman of Micron Art or Lajos Thek of ZThek, that can lay out a etched brass shell kit easy enough. The only ptoblem is getting the engine narrower.

I wonder how much of the motor frame itself can be ground off and have it still work. :D

[JoeS]

Well, if anybody could do it, you probably could...but I would say just looking at mine, that the space used in the frame to hold the trucks in place has very little left over on the sides. I don't know if there would be enough room to make it prototypically narrow. I am guessing that is perhaps one reason why only f-7's were produced for so long was that exact problem, how to narrow the frame, but still keep a housing big enough for the motor, drive gear and trucks.

[eagleman]

Originally posted by pray59:
The other rumor in Z is that MT is working on a GP to go with the well cars. Rogue made some GP-38's in Z, but are out of business, and very few were made. I bet that's what MT has on tap. :D They are working on a hood unit but it is not a GP

[umtrr-author]

I had a chance to see the Z Gundersons in person over the weekend, and they are very nice looking indeed. Hard to believe they're 1:220th...

I can't say that I will ever get into Z in a big way (if you'll pardon the expression) but I do have some ambition for it. You see, the Land of Make Believe in Upper Jay had a train that ran around the park, and...

[HemiAdda2d]

Paul, How do you know this? Not a GP, that could only mean one thing: SD! What model, however... SD40-2? It would be the best seller, as modern a layout as it can prototypically be run. From 1972 to 2004 and beyond!

[eagleman]

I should not have said that graemlins/226.gif
Some people are on the inner loop in N scale me well its Z. The club I am in is very close to the Z community as in manufacturers and thats how I found out.

[JoeS]

Dang...he dangles a carrot in the face and pulls it back! ;)

[r_i_straw]

Originally posted by umtrr-author:
I had a chance to see the Z Gundersons in person over the weekend, and they are very nice looking indeed. Hard to believe they're 1:220th...
Yeah, I saw some also last weeked at the GATS in Houston. My friend Bill bought one and even owned it for 15 minutes till another guy bought it from him to put in his own train. They sure looked good snaking out behind some SDs. My interest in Z is moslty track and locomotive mechanizms for my Nn3 layout. However I do get to run my N scale trains on a ZBend track layout every now and then. :D :D

[JoeS]

Well Russ, I've always admired your work in N. It would be nice to see more modelers of your quality in z! Besides, I am still trying to figure out how to get power from the tender wheels in Z for my steam. I figure if you were in z, you'd have figured some ingeneous way to do it. I know in N it is easy scince all you need is the isolated wheels and a kato tender truck frame and whola, whith a wire or pickup strip you have it. Heck, I don't even know if they make the isolated wheels in Z, let alone a truck frame anything similar to the kato.

[r_i_straw]

Originally posted by JoeS:
I figure if you were in z, you'd have figured some ingeneous way to do it. I know in N it is easy scince all you need is the isolated wheels and a kato tender truck frame and whola, whith a wire or pickup strip you have it. Well, I have done this for Nn3 so it is basically the same in Z. I have used both wipers on Marklin metal wheels sets that give you pick-up on two wheels of each truck or have made brass side frame inserts and isolated axles to give pick-up on all four wheels of each truck. I will have to get some photos together and post them. There is a bit in the new Nn3 handbook on how I did it but I can maybe cover it a little better here. Stay tuned.

[ 20. June 2004, 18:24: Message edited by: r_i_straw ]