Just wondering what tank car to use when making BN fuel tenders?I have heard people using the Kato Japan tank,Is there another one out there closer to prototype?If not where can I find them. Thanks
I have seen several made out of the MDC 50' Modern Tanker. I have one that we received in an estate purchase, somewhere. It's believable enough for me.
The Kato tank car (also imported by Con-Cor) is pretty much a dead ringer for the "shorter" BN fuel tenders. (see http://www.mtnwestrail.com/wyoming/bnfts.htm#bnft3 ) I'm not sure about the longer ones (see http://www.mtnwestrail.com/wyoming/bnfts.htm#bnft7 ) ...I've seen people use the MDC's or the M-T 56-footers effectively, but I haven't researched what the best starting point would be. I would probably use the M-T if I were going to make a fuel tender simply because it's longer and I'm not aware of a "closer" model at this time. I have a Con-Cor/Kato that I'm gonna paint up into the "current" scheme for the shorter fuel tenders that have been put back into MOW service. It's basically the old green/black scheme with a new (six digit) road number (see http://archive.trainpix.com/BN/RAILCARS/WORK/973532.HTM ) so I could use it for a fuel tender if I wanted to have a "retro" operating session one night. Good luck, they are neat pieces of rolling stock. [ 16. February 2005, 16:12: Message edited by: Doug A. ]
I have two pictures of Japanese tankcars: Tomix #2776 MicroAce # A3187 A good source (at least in Europe) for Japanese Models is JapanModelRailways, a store based in Germany. Link http://www.japanmodelrailways.com Cheers Dirk
Dirk, That Tomix 2776 looks like a good candidate for the longer fuel tenders. I haven't seen that one before, although I wish that Atlas or somebody else would release some of the longer tank cars in this style. (as opposed to the Propane cars they have, etc.) Anyway, thanks for the info.
Ed, Here is the Kato car. It is a pretty good match for the 19,000 gal tender. The MT car is a good match for the 23,000 gal tender. The Kato cars ends should be rounded off. Additionally, the dome is a hair small. Believe if you want to fix this you can use the intermountain 8,000 gal tank car as a dome. I would also recommend body mounted couplers as the tank car receives a lot of stress sandwiched between two locomotives and truck tends to derail rather easily with truck mounted couplers.
Ed, there is a BN Fuel Tender on eBay made from a MT tank car. I have one that was made from a MDC tank car (I think) somewhere. If I can find it or have the time to look for it.
