Joe, is dimensional-data-only - like back in the '80s - out of the question? A feeling I get is that custom decals are more readily available so that there might be a much stonger market for dim data. Scott
Joe, I personally would love to see MTL "shrink" the molds for your outstanding line of HOn3 (gondola, flatcar and boxcar) and produce those three cars in a limited box series (one of each car in the set) of fallen flag railroad lines that existed in the 1890s (NYC&HR, PRR, B&O come to mind). I can supply the photos for you to work with to produce the decals/printing on the cars. If not then even producing them in an undecorated format would work. All the best! John
Hello Joe, Heavy weights passenger cars, #1, how about the early TOFC 1950's era?? There is a big hole for transition period early intermodel. Erie stillwell coachs?? Rob
I bet a series of "train car on flat cars" similar to the one above and the tank car Rob posted would sell. Yes, people could make their own but I think most would buy a couple.
Joe- I'd agree with the TrucTrain Flat. The PRR and the CB&Q had them and they were a key part of the initial TTX fleet. The shorter length allows people with smaller layouts to have intermodal cars. Of course you'd have to do some different trailers than Classic Metal Works has out to go with them.....maybe some corrugated round nose trailers???? Now that you have the new small Tank Car underframe from the Three Compartment Car I am sure that you have Two Compartment and Acid Tank cars in mind... Charlie Vlk
I lot of roads had F39s... heck even NS still has them in MofW (both former CR and former N&W)... I have all the plans for one... top bidder gets a parametric model
Hi Ed, Just stumbled back on this thread...amazing how it's still cooking along. Taking lots and lots of notes. South of the boarder stuff is one of my favorites, love NdeM and the transition stuff. I've been able to convince the powers that be we need to do more of this subject. I've been going through our data base and trying to make up lists of good prospects. The Conasupo car was a fair seller and when I explained the nature of the car and the limited interest, some lights went on. General service stuff is a no brainer. I think doing gons with pipe loads as Runner's packs makes sense...and now with KCS a major player in the region, there are a ton of repaints, mark overs and new freight to choose from. Cheers Joe MTL
There are several very nice models of PC&F 57' RPL's available from Red Caboose and Athearn (not to mention Con Cor) Lou
Lou, I was curious about that too. I guess a model doesn't count unless the market is saturated like with the coalporters. Athearn even makes that ARMN scheme, although technically you would have to make the mods for the new wave mechanical reefer per the prototype. (in other words, cut a hole in it)
Make up a John Allen style No Damage switching boxcar. Use the clear 2007 HB clear plastic car as a shell. Perhaps Richmond Controls could devise a Shake Meter to be installed inside the box. The more you shake it, the more it shines.
Glenn, Could you direct me to where I can find pictures of this type of car? I've looked on the internet for any source of images for it, but I've not found anything.
I have a copy of Kalmbach's Model Railroading with John Allen book. On P111, they have a clear picture of 2 cars John had made. There may be other pictures in old issues of MR. The carbody had been removed so you can see the guts. A large ball bearing is mounted in a rail, lengthwise. The bearing is free to move fore & aft with the car. With enough energy,the bearing would fall off the track & into a clip where the ball bearing would complete a circuit & the red light would come on. Move the bearing back to the track, and all is back to normal. In the low tech world of the 1960's, the light & the battery must have been held under the HO carbody. It may be fun to raid a toy store/surplus shop for similar but smaller items that would work for N/Zscales. I have seen some clear prototype carbodies designed to show the load inside. IIRC coupling in yards is supposed to be done at 5mph or less to avoid damage to the contents. Having a similar device on our model railroads would be a check against those jackrabbit hoggers.
Thanks for the information. Sounds like something we should force some of the real railroaders to use.
I am going to put my $0.02 in here. How about a car that alot of roads had. How about a sand car to out in front of our sand towers at the engine facilites. There are none available on the open market to my knowledge.
Joe, Though it is rather late in the game, here are a few suggestions: 40' and 50' steel fishbelly flat cars with end mounted vertical brakewheels (i.e., like the brakewheels that are fitted to MTL's 40' single dome tank cars) 40' steel, 10-panel, fixed end gondola cars with arched ends 100-ton, 4-bay, 14 panel Bethlehem Steel coal hoppers Completely enclosed and unenclosed aluminum sheathed versions of MTL's 89' Bi-Level Auto Racks (an upgrade/variation of the existing MTL model)
I probably have posted here in this thread before, but I've come up with a fresh idea I think. A "Air Force Train" and or cars. Every other branch of military service has been given props except for the Air Force. Pleas here my plea MT. I am a Air Force Veteran and would really like to see these in your offers:thumbs_up:
