Alan Curtis has just released these new products. They look excellent and would look great on any layout. Well i couldn't resist I have bought two sets of these. I have decided to paint them montana Rail Link blue. Does anybody know what colour i need for this? [ 04. February 2003, 09:36: Message edited by: Colonel ]
Paul, Since the blue changes over time through weather and fading, several choices are available. Some say C&O Enchantment Blue, some say ATSF Blue. Have a look at what looks best to your eye. Go for a water-based paint like Model-Flex/Accu-Flex or Polly S. These should be available frm Gary at The Model Railroad Craftsman in Blacktown - 9622 9996. They are open Thursday afternoon/evening till 8pm and on Saturdays till around 4pm. Tom's at West Ryde stocks Polly S also. Not sure what Punchbowl has in stock.
Do any real railroad use those for carrying logs??? Looks very good you guys at Alan Curtis keep the good work up! [ 05. February 2003, 02:45: Message edited by: MagicMan_841 ]
No these are not prototypical although I'm sure a few railroads might like the idea. Maybe Alan could go into prototype manufacturing
Wow! For an unprototypical car, those are sure believable! I thought I just never happened to see this type of car before. The design is SOOOO practical that I also think this could turn into a case of life imitating art should the railroad industry see these! Russ
Weight could be a factor here, as loaded log cars usually weigh over 100 tons per car. An articulated car would have to share the weight of over 200 tons on one set of trucks. Recently the BNSF and UP have been running unit log trains from the salvage effort in Arizona where the fires of last summer happened. These cars are traveling in 60 car unit trains, with each train weighing around 8,000 to 9,000 tons. Many of the log cars are just like the AC models one, except they are not articulated, just single unit spine cars. Also they are using bulkhead flats with log bunks, similar to the AC models one, and gondolas with stakes as well. The BNSF log trains are going to a saw mill located on the Sierra Railroad, being interchanged with the Sierra at Oakdale, CA. If one of those articulated cars made it to Sierra rails it would probably make quick work of the 90 pound rail with rotted ties and minimal ballast. I wish I could catch one of these trains going over the Tehachapi's. I guess I will have to settle for the Sierra RR instead. Brian
Brian, I think you would find the weight shared across all trucks ie. 50 at the ends and 100 in the middle. From memory, current articulated intermodal run 125 ton trucks at the joints and 100 ton (or 75) at the ends. Gary.
Colonel, The MRL has 37 Skeleton (spine) Log flats. Single cars in the 60021-60058 number series. They are painted white with black lettering. Some of the cars in the number series were standard 50' flats and those have been retired. Just thought you'd like to know. [ 08. February 2003, 17:38: Message edited by: LarryMacWI ]
Larry, do you know of a source of photographs of the MRL log spines on the internet? They sound interesting
http://www.kasloshops.com/nscaleproducts.htm I love that. [ 25. February 2003, 02:35: Message edited by: MagicMan_841 ]
Yesterday I completed asembling the log cars, they are very easy to build and for anybody who has never tried one of Alan's kits I recommend this to start with. Alan not being a great painter how do you recommend I paint these? Which order do you paint the bottom forst then the sides then front to back? All I need to do is purchase the paint next week then I will give it a go.
Paul, I turn them upside down and spray the underside first. When finished and dry, do the upper parts and sides. I then spay clear gloss ready for decals. After decals are applied, I spray flat varnish. (BTW, cut off the shaft of the brake wheel protruding through the brake stand)
I have purchased to acrylic paint for the log cars and hope to paint them over the weekend. Don't worry Alan I always inteded on cutting back the brake stand
Here are the units painted in MRL blue as for decals I'm not sure but will have a look next time I go to the hobby shop. I would have finished the models today except I have the wrong truck, I bought 1035 trucks but didnt realise I needed extended couplers. Oh well off to the hobby shop next week. Alan, I was wondering how to the cars track when loaded? I guess I will need to try and balance the logs otheriwse the cars will run lopsided? [ 01. March 2003, 00:36: Message edited by: Colonel ]
Paul, you need 1037 trucks for the ends, they have medium extended couplers. The cars should ride well when loaded, as the load should be fairly well balanced, and the weight should hold them down
