MT Updated the photo of the Tri-Level auto rack to be released next month to show it painted brown with the Santa Fe and Q-Santa Fe logos. See link below or see "Coming Soon" on the MT website: http://www.micro-trains.com/close%20auto%20rack.htm I would love to know how much these will cost with releases typically costing $20-25 each, retail.
These do look great, especially in person. Saw them in Seattle and I was impressed. One thing I would like to mention, they say with the proven 89' weight and performance. I never really thought their 89' flats performed exceptionally well, not as well as Alan's that's for sure. Just my opinion. I am sure these will be expensive but I will probably have to get some as they come out. I hope MT releases many different versions to match the many different schemes on the prototypes. Bryan
I like it! I may have to get a few more for my V-train. Even though they don't fit my era, I like the open racks as well. On a side track, this is post #1776 for me.
With an 89' TOFC car w/o trailer going for $22 MSRP, I would imagine that these will be double that at least. Bob
Of those that have seen this model "up-close & personal"... are there 3 auto decks behind the translucent covers? i seem to think it is hollow behind those covers... which could reduce the overall price. I hope though that MT did not omit any of the decks... I'd remove the covers for my use.
Oh man, that looks sweet! Looks like MT will be getting a bigger share of my train money than they have recently! Dave
Hopefully... someone at the Chantilly show will get a better look at these enclosed autoracks... I really want to know if they have all three interior decks behind the "translucent" covers. It might make a difference for me to buy or not to buy... although its almost certain I'll buy at least one regardless.
I wonder if Micro-trains is considering a "load" for the open autoracks. It sure would be nice to get a 6 pack of good quality n-scale cars to go on those racks.... other than just the Kato Toyotas, Atlas Taurus'. I think that a multi-pack of cars would be an instant success for MT... actually it would be a success for any manufacturer.
I may pass on these. I have used altered Alan Curtis kits on all my Con-Cor racks, which with the alterations has lowered the racks to an almost prototypical height. This Micro-Trains car looks like all their's in that the body is way too high. It would look strange and stick out badly running with the rest of my racks. If it looks lowerable, I may buy one though...
Calzephyr, I held the MT autorack in my hands at the NMRA show. MT told me that the car is made truely from a piece of clear plastic, painted, and the etched panels added on the outside. The car is relatively heavy. There are no "decks" on the inside although you would have to be pretty close to see that it was a "empty" especially if in a moving train. Peter
This is an interesting approach. However, after doing a heavy modification of a Con-Cor autorack to achieve a see-thru effect, I'm not so sure that MTL's approach is such a bad idea. Here's an autorack I did where I removed the Con-Cor side panels, cut away the plastic behind them and added JnJ etched side panels (beautiful panels, I might add!). I also repainted/relettered it for a bi-level car (I know, most of these are mineral red...oops!)... Anyway, I added a second deck and 6 Kato vehicles to the interior. It is quite hard to make out anything clearly and the best view of the interior is with fairly extreme back lighting. Here's a silhouette shot with extreme back lighting. Even here, the vehicles don't show real clearly, although the effect is admittedly rather cool... It's unlikely I'll ever have an extreme backlighting situation like this on my layout. Even so, there are some instances where you can catch a brief glimpse of a little the interior from time to time. However, it's not so prominent that it would be sorely missed if the deck and cars were not in there. Russ
Thanks Peter for your "up-close" review of the enclosed autorack. Well... I guess I'll stick to the open racks. [ 03. August 2004, 00:11: Message edited by: Calzephyr ]
Has red caboose said anything further on their auto racks. I would think they would be cheaper than MT.
I wonder which style autorack they will produce. Maybe something a bit earlier than the 85-89' autoracks would be nice to see.. early 1960's flatcars converted to autocarriers sure would be nice. Was there a prototype 73' autorack that Red Caboose can make using their existing 73' centerbeam as a starting point?
From the Red Caboose Website: "Bilevel enclosed autoracks are in progress and promise to be one of the finest and most detailed N scale cars ever produced in plastic. These will be well worth the wait. Expected delivery for the CSX, Southern Pacific and Union Pacific is late summer." http://www.red-caboose.com/cgi-bin/e_catalog/catalog.cgi
Maybe a prototype will be available for inspection at the Chantilly show. If so... I hope someone takes good pix of it.
I'd like to see some racks produced that reflect the transition from open to enclosed, i.e. bi-levels with side panels, but no roof. Also, it would be cool to see some racks made with solid side panels, painted solid colors, i.e. U.P.'s yellow cars, and Santa Fe's red cars. Lastly, how about some of Santa Fe's Auto-Veyors? Thanks!
