For those of us who sought to replace the inaccurate 57' 6" converted TOFC flatcar that is packaged with the BNSF Fuselage Train Sets, Micro-Trains has obliged us by releasing separate component box castings. Announced with the April 2018 releases, the stock number 499 43 939 Fuselage Storage Unit has an MSRP of $6.95. Facilitating their use in other forms (e.g., cut up into separate sections, lengthened, and/or off-loaded onto rubber tired ground transport carriages), really hope Micro-Trains elects to market their 737 fuselages as separate items. Neville Trains N Scale™
"Facilitating their use in other forms (e.g., cut up into separate sections, lengthened, and/or off-loaded onto rubber tired ground transport carriages), really hope Micro-Trains elects to market their 737 fuselages as separate items. Neville" I'm curious, what would you make from a cut up 737? What kind of rubber tired "carriage" would transport a 737 fuselage part? and why?
What is the correct flatcar? I am having trouble finding one? I havent had any luck with google. (Due to my lack of research skills.)
Although the Boeing 737 "Classic" fuselages were shipped by rail in sections, beginning with the "Next-Generation" models (i.e., -600, -700, -800, and -900), one piece fuselage shipments were consummated in 1996. Unless Micro-Trains were to offer the additional model variants (which is highly unlikely), separately marketed fuselages would provide modelers an opportunity to model the different rail transported pre-737 MAX models (i.e., -600, which are 88' 8" long, -700, which are 96' 6" long, -800, which are 115' 8" long, and -900, which are 124' 4 long). Used to move the fuselages once they have been lifted off of the flatcars, rubber tired carriers such as the one pictured below are seen throughout Boeing's facilities. Neville Trains N Scale™
With its low-mount brake wheel, rather than using the supplied 57' 6" converted TOFC flatcar, really think the currently out of production, Intermountain Railway 66409 BNSF 60' Wood Deck Flatcar should be substituted for the Micro-Trains Line model. As the prototype flatcars with the aircraft components boxes had gray, anti-slip painted, plated decks, the decks of Intermountain models will need to be sheathed with a very thin piece of styrene that is appropriately decorated. Anticipating the arrival of the second run of the Micro-Trains Line BNSF Fuselage Train sets, I commissioned a German outfit to produce a complete set of decals for the fuselage carrying flat and the component box and box-less idler flatcars. With a whole bunch of extra lettering and markings, two styles of BNSF, and the earlier TTMX text, the set was designed to letter at least four pairs of (i.e., eight) cars. Along with several sizes of the yellow safety rectangles, circular "EXCEEDS PLATE F", square "PLATE G", and the brush guard placard markings, all of the component box lettering and some odd colored deck markings were also included on the sheet. As comprehensive a set as I could come up with (i.e., excluding the now ubiquitous graffiti), most, if not all of the common BNSF and TTMX fuselage car lettering configurations could now be modeled. Neville Trains N Scale™
Used to move the fuselages once they have been lifted off of the flatcars, rubber tired carriers such as the one pictured below are seen throughout Boeing's facilities. Interesting. We who live where the fuselages are manufactured don't see this. In the little we can see from roads, it appears that the flatcars are loaded directly from the assembly jigs. As demand for newer 737's increases, they are shipping almost a train every day. It's fun to watch.
Presumably taken at Boeing's Everett, Washington assembly facilities, here is another photo of a different style of fuselage carrier and a rubber tired aircraft stabilizer cart. Neville Trains N Scale™
Scheduled to arrive in March 2019, Micro-Trains Line is taking pre-orders through October 31 for a completely new fuselage train car set. https://www.micro-trains.com/ttx-fuselage-2pk-2-rd-978781-978696-coming-03-19-99301782?search=TTX Fuselage Transportation 2pk https://www.micro-trains.com/ttx-fuselage-2pk-1-rd-981218-978674-coming-03-19-99301781?search=TTX Fuselage Transportation 2pk Micro-Trains Line Boeing Fuselage Train Car Sets Pre-Production Artwork A first and second production run model is depicted at the top of the image. Depicting a different prototype that is hauling a larger fuselage load, the pair of 89 foot flatcars in these sets will have newly designed deck details, MTTX markings, and no component box mounted on the idler cars. As opposed to the 737-600 fuselages that were included in the five previously released BNSF car sets, a new 737-700 fuselage and a revised decal sheet with additional markings will be included with this upcoming production run. Wonder if previous purchasers of the first two runs of car sets will be offered an opportunity to purchase some of the new decal sets in order to upgrade their existing models? Neville Trains N Scale™
Just to correct where this is going. No new fuselage at this time. The older artwork was done by a different artist for representative purposes only. The new art is correct. This will have a new decal sheet with more "stuff" on it I believe. Marketing will be the ones to decide if we are going to have decals sold separate.
FYI all 737 are built at the Renton Wa plant not Everett. 747/767/777/787 are Everett aircraft. Boeing field seattle is building the new AWACS aircraft.
Vince P, Thanks for the information. Given that several individuals previously mentioned that BNSF fuselage trains regularly pass through the center of Renton, you have confirmed the final assembly location for me. Neville Trains N Scale™
After reviewing the prototype dimensions of several Boeing 737 models, I have some concerns about the use of the new decal sheet with the existing Micro-Trains fuselage. Illustrations obtained from the Internet seemed to indicate that neither decal sheet run accurately depicts the proper window arrangement for a standard production Boeing 737-500, 737-600, or 737-700. Although I have seen a few variations in various prototype images, most 737-500 and 737-600 aircraft appear to have a space and eight windows behind the forward doors, five windows directly in front of the wing doors, and seventeen windows directly behind them. Most 737-700 aircraft appear to have a space and eleven windows behind the forward doors, five windows directly in front of the wing doors, and eighteen windows directly behind them. Working your way from the windshield windows back to the aft end of the fuselage, the window arrangement depicted in the first and second run decal sheets is a forward door, a space, eight windows directly behind it, a space, five windows directly in front of the wing door, sixteen windows directly after it, a space, and then the aft door, while the new decal sheet has a forward door, twelve windows directly behind it, a space, five windows directly in front of the wing door, twenty windows directly behind it, a space, and then the aft door. As it appears that Boeing has offered its customers a choice of custom window arrangements at one time or another, the Micro-Trains decal sets might depict a not so common, specially ordered configuration. Under the assumption that it is a standard configuration 737-500 or a 737-600 that is being modeled, the first and second run decals are missing a window behind the wing doors, while under the assumption that it is a standard configuration 737-700 that is now being modeled, the new decal sets appear to have an extra window behind the forward door and two extra windows behind the wing doors. As of yet, I have not come across any prototype photos of aircraft bearing the exact door and window configurations that Micro-Trains has depicted in their decals. While this may or may not present a problem if the depicted configurations were actually produced by Boeing, taking the elimination of the space between the forward door and the first window into account, with eight additional windows added (i.e., four behind the forward doors and four behind the wing doors), at the very least, the artist preparing the new artwork would have had to compress the length of the entire strip of doors and windows in order to accommodate the existing Micro-Trains fuselage, which likely depicts a 737-600. Although the new artwork may indeed prove to be accurate, given that the Boeing 737-700 is longer than both the 737-500 and the 737-600, it was the door and window arrangement that was selected for the new run of decals that led me to believe a new fuselage was also being tooled up. With all of this being said, given the plethora of additional fuselage markings included on the new set, should they be made available separately, I would be in for 20 - 24 sheets of the updated decals. Neville Trains N Scale™
Your welcome. My grandfather, dad, 2 brothers, and myself except me worked at all 3 locations, I was Everett only.
The fuselage in all of the production runs (which is using the same tooling as the first two runs) closely depicts a 737-700, or the military 737-700C fuselage, at 110 feet in length (measured after nose cone and tail cones are added during Boeing assembly). It is not a 737-500, 600 or any other variant. Additionally, the window placement/configuration has not changed from earlier runs (the initial rendering shown above was for representation only and does not accurately depict the final production shape or configuration of decals). No artwork has been compressed or stretched to make it fit. The window configuration depicted is an average of several prototype photos of 737-700 assemblies, and if a particular configuration is desired, that is up to the modeler. In this latest pre-order, additional decals added include more yellow tape striping for customization, black protective covers for tail mount components, nose gear door cover, two blacked out cockpit windows, fuselage sub assembly numbers, and clearance device/icebreaker markings. It should also be noted that all of the released pre-order renderings are for representation only, and final artwork may differ, especially on the decal sheet. Joe
Thanks for taking the time to clarify which Boeing 737 fuselage has been depicted by Micro-Trains and that the preproduction decal artwork does not accurately depict the final production product. Despite my criticism of the depicted window configuration, the decal renderings are very impressive and appear to encompass everything that is required to completely dress a 737 fuselage that is traveling by rail. The blacked out cockpit windows, black stabilizer and tail cone mount coverings, hull numbers, nose gear covering, and the brush guard lettering are welcome additions to the door, window, nose cone mount, and wing root mount coverings. Still in for 20 - 24 of the new sets if they should be made available separately. Neville Trains N Scale™
Joe.. who do I need to email to ask for decal sheets to be made available for purchase separately? Thanks
