I'm thinking about getting into N-Scale intermodal. I'd like to run modern double stack trains and switch them out at an intermodal yard. I like the 5 packs and 3 packs, especially the articulated varieties. I've only been able to find cars from Athearn, Deluxe, Kato and Walthers. I like the Kato cars that come with containers. But, I wanted to get some advice from current users before I just go hog wild and start buying anything. I'm curious as to what other people run. What do you like and why? Whats the highest quality? Anything you would just avoid? I see the Walthers cars are die-cast metal. Are any other cars like that? I see that Kato uses magnets to attach containers, is this pretty common? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks, Greg
Athearn's are incredibly light.. unless you have weighted containers count on those derailing quite a bit.. The most I have right now are walthers upgraded to MTL trucks.. They are already plenty weighted and run well with new trucks/couplers. I also have a few older concor well cars.. similar issue as athearns.. as for DI and Kato.. Dont have any but probably will get some later this year.
Greg, Since I am modeling current era and wanted only TTX rolling stock I chose the Kato Maxi-IV's. They have performed flawlessly and look great; however you need to use care when assembling / disassembling the three units. Kato has also offered BNSF and Pacer in the Maxi-IV's. Kato now offers Maxi-I's of like quality. I have purchased all the container offerings by Kato and like the magnetic feature.:thumbs_up: For what it's worth that is my limited experience. Jerry
I have the Kato Maxi IV's. They run really well. Wish they used Microtrains couplers though. These are readily available. Have a look at the BLMA models 53 foot 5 unit and 3 unit spine cars. These are coming out soon. Nice video on the BLMA web site. These models really look fantastic. If you are looking for an excellent source for ordering these cars, I order from George at Wig-Wag, a TrainBoard sponsor. I'm looking forward to the arrival of the BLMA cars. Regards, Keith.
I'm just getting into intermodal myself right now, so far I only have 1 Athearn well car, and they are a tad light if you don't add weight to the lower container, but the detail isn't bad. I'm looking at getting some of the Walthers 5-unit metal ones, I assume the extra weight will help, that and they're on sale right now. =)
In my experience the Kato Maxi-IVs are awesome, I have 3 sets of them. They look good and are flawless runners. I used to have a few of the DeLuxe sets years ago and they were ok. I think Kato's are the only ones that come with containers.
In addition to what others have mentioned... N Scale Kits! If you are willing to put in the time to assemble, paint, and decal, there are a whole bunch of models not otherwise available. In fact, to this date these are the only source for several spine cars. (Pending BLMA delivery, if that happens...) -Interail kits - Thrall Lopac These are a very good model if you can find them and are willing to put the kit together. Deluxe produced a version of these but a nicely assembled Interail kit is better. As far as weight, here is how I run mine (on a club layout with sharp curves on grades): Kato Maxi IV - one weight in middle well Walthers and N scale Kits - no weights necessary Interrail or Deluxe Lopac - 3 weights, in end and middle well Deluxe Twinstack, MDC/Athearn Husky stack - weight in every well The weight always goes in the bottom container. - Concor AP husky stack The only thing to recommend this model is that the prototype hasn't been modeled by anyone else. It requires weighted containers to stay on the track. -Gold Medal Models Details The walkway upgrades for the Walthers cars are almost mandatory. Such a better looking model when you add the GMM details. Details are also available for the Athearn/MDC model and the Con-Cor model.
Greg, There are a lot of good comments here already. I would like to add that the DeLxue Maxi-III also has die-cast metal wells with plastic and etched metal details. They are right at the NMRA spec weight empty and track very well. Our metal-bodied Maxi-IV should be hitting store shelves soon, they are due in July. We suggest you do not add any weight to containers in a metal-bodied car as it actually raises the center of gravity. Our Twinstack cars are pretty light (and hard to find until the next batch comes out later this year) and they should be run with weights in the lower container. Never weight the upper containers as that raises the center of gravity, use twice as much weight in the lower containers if need be. This is especially important with an Athearn car which actually weighs less empty than one of our containers. Adding metal wheels also helps them as it lowers the center of gravity and increases total empty weight by about 35%. DeLuxe offers an "Intermodal Starter Set" (items 921001 & 2) that includes an SP Maxi-III with containers. The containers are connected with Container Glue (item 990101) which is reusable and works on any containers. FYI, only Kato uses magnets but there is a magnet kit available. We have tested magnets but ran into mass-production problems and compatibility issues. I hope this helps. Dave
I have the deluxe Maxi-stacks and twin-stacks and like them both. I have had problems with the maxi-statcks breaking apart but that is fixable. The walthers sets are nice but lack the detail of the other guys stuff. They are cheaper though and with a detail set and new trucks they loook great. Kevin
Does anyone know of a tutorial to upgrade the Walters cars with Microtrains couplers? Also, is there a guide for which trucks to use to upgrade the wheels?
The simplest way would be Microtrains 1030 trucks with couplers. More ambitious would be Microtrains 1036 trucks without couplers, and 1023 or 1025 body mounted couplers. To do the couplers you need a #62 drill and a 00-90 tap. (Microtrains sells these in a set, or you can obtain them separately.) If you do this to the unmodified car, you have to be okay with seeing the screw hole in the end platform. If you modify the car with GMM walkways, the screw can be hidden underneath the walkway. On the articulated cars, still more ambitious would be to replace the trucks on articulated joints with Kato 125 ton trucks. That is a real project though. Hope that helps.
New Kato Maxi I I found something I want: Kato Gundersone Maxi I Comes with APL containers. I'd rather have something like China Shipping, OOCL, Hanjin or NYK or a good mix.
I STRONGLY recommend using the BLMA 100-ton trucks. Aside from the quality of the wheels, the BLMA trucks are designed in a way as to lower the car height, and the Walthers cars are notorious for riding extremely high. Like if you were an N-scale person and sat between the tracks, these things can run over you and you won't even get hurt
We recently bought 3 of the Kato Maxi IV sets (9 cars). As mentioned previously, these come with double stacked containers with magnets. These run very nicely. We saw one of the Deluxe 5-car sets in the local hobby store. It also looked very nice. It is true that the containers do not come packaged with the Deluxe cars, but there was a wide variety of separately sold containers available right next to it (by Deluxe, so you should be confident they would fit properly) which had the names of many different shipping companies on them. So from what I saw in the LHS you get a wider variety of containers (shipping companies) to choose from with the Deluxe product. We ended up getting the Kato set simply because the 3-car Kato set had a lower entry price than the 5-car Deluxe set (we bought 1 set first and took it home and tried it, and later bought more), and because my son thought the particular set of containers that was offered in the Kato set (Pacer blue) looked really cool.
