1st look: MTL 50' Plug Door boxcar (new mould)

here is the first photo of the shell courtesy of MTL

 

i'm hoping for a modern tank car and a modern ACF centerflow hopper (in different lengths)

or maybe a thrall lo-pak?

but that is my modern-era bias talking ... hi-cube boxcars could be cool to have as well ...

 

If I was a betting man!

If I was a betting man, and these three items came up for discussion, I'd bet on the tank car and the Centerflow car. The Intermodal Husky's just haven't been selling very well these past few months. The Lo-pak might be a later job.

But..................who knows for sure. To add to my guessing would have to be rollingstock that can readily be pulled by the era of the GP35. MTL seems to be following that as a guideline. The only time they took a leap of faith was with the Gunderson Husky's. I'm crossing my fingers anyways.

Of course, a Lo-pak would thwart my efforts in making them first. For I have a brass master half machined for a Thrall Lo-pak single well car. Just need to define the bottom and top and it will be ready for spin casting! :teeth:

This plugdoor 50' boxcar looks to be all one piece! I thought MTL made the moveable door so they could change/mix-n-match doors. I guess I was wrong!

Hobo Tim

 

I'm waiting for the Trinity (Thrall) Tri Level Auto Racks from AZL!

 

who knows what MTL will build next (besides joe d'amato) -- but what they SHOULD build is a new caboose (extended vision), a variety of ACF hoppers, and coil (covered) flats.

i wonder if MTL looks at what has been made available and says "that's been done" or if they look at what will give them a long term return and make it anyway. FR makes nice cars (like the subscription car -- milwaukee road hopper referenced elsewhere), but the cars are so expensive that i would think MTL could still make them and sell the lot based on their more affordable pricing and the unending variety of roadnames that used them.

but we all need another caboose and an EV would fit so many railroads!
dave f.

 

John, because this is a plug door that is recessed in to the car body you couldn't really have it as a separate piece very easily. The way these work on the real thing is with latches that basically seal the door tight and in the process pull the door back in flush with the car sides.

Randy

 

Ya, I'm with David F.!! Some type of western caboose, standard or wide vision, atleast I can use it!!:teeth:

 

This may be a Perfactory prototype shell, and not actually a part out of an injection mold. The door may still be separate when they actually go to tool it.

 

I have never seen an operating plug door boxcar in any scale. They are never designed to open

 

Tim to my knowledge no company has made any removable plug door for any car
Al Borg
Mohican

 

I have never seen a model of a plug-door boxcar that has working plug doors.

The locking mechanisim of a plug door boxcar works like airplane doors ... once the door is in place and the locking mechanism is turned, the door expands into place plugging the doorway and creating a tight seal.

What you see in the photo is what will be released.

 

Ditto....

Dominique

 

I think a new bulkhead flat car is coming soon. And perhaps a modern flat car to accompany it.

But you didn't hear it from me.

 

well, if that turns out to be true, then centerbeam flats and wood chip cars will probably be released after that!

Robert Ray used to market his PS-2 hoppers which are now MTLs offering. Robert also did bulkhead flats and modern flats, which now MTL may choose to produce. so it looks like all we have to do is inventory Robert's offerings and see the future of Z scale from Micro-Trains! so ... when is the new caboose coming?
he he he
dave f.

p.s. Robert are you planning any other car kits? can we suggest some? he he he

 

Yeah, I could suggest a whole bunch of cars. Of course I already sent my list to Joe D. about six months ago.

Weren't Robert's covered hoppers, not PS-2 but something similar? A little too similar I guess, but not actually PS-2's.

Randy

 

i defer to those who know (and can tell the difference!).
dave f.

 

they are not PS2s ... they are brand-x 70-ton 2bay hoppers

and they intermix perfectly with MTL's PS2s as well as FR's 4740cuft PS2s