MLE Collapsible Intermodal Hitch Kit Now Available!

tehachapifan Dec 20, 2005

  1. tehachapifan

    tehachapifan TrainBoard Member

    1,859
    859
    46
    OK, 5 packs are back in stock at FRT. :D

    Russ
     
  2. JASON

    JASON TrainBoard Supporter

    1,876
    8
    38
    Russ,
    No probs mate,just wondering.Than you for that info,I'll re-email now,I just didnt want to miss out on these puppies :D
     
  3. Kez

    Kez TrainBoard Member

    755
    665
    32
    Craig and Russ,

    Is there ANY chance we might see this product made for Alan's spines and flats in Z scale? These are awesome, and would really put the finishing touch on Alan's great cars.

    I know it's asking a lot, but if I didn't ask, I wouldn't know for sure....... :D
     
  4. tehachapifan

    tehachapifan TrainBoard Member

    1,859
    859
    46
    Hmmm...... [​IMG] .... [​IMG] ..... My first inclination is to say no. At least not this particular design, which was quite a feat to develop just in N scale! A Z scale hitch would need to be simplified considerably to make it possible and I can't invision how that would go right now, if it could at all. Interesting idea, however! ;)

    Russ
     
  5. tehachapifan

    tehachapifan TrainBoard Member

    1,859
    859
    46
    I should also mention that the hitch locks very securely (and easily) in both of the upright positions. As long as the locking components do not become damaged and are engaged correctly, the hitch will not collapse unexpectedly. The finished hitch is also quite strong and should not have any problems supporting a trailer.

    Russ
     
  6. Kez

    Kez TrainBoard Member

    755
    665
    32
    Russ,

    Thanks for the reply. At least I tried. ;)

    I know Craig is testing the Z waters, so I figured if anyone would be willing, it might be him.

    At least I've planted the seed of the idea. We'll see if anything sprouts over time. :D
     
  7. tehachapifan

    tehachapifan TrainBoard Member

    1,859
    859
    46
    All of the pics of the hitch so far have been in the semi-reclined configuration for spine cars.

    Here's a shot of a hitch in the full-upright position for TOFC service, with another hitch collapsed....

    [​IMG]
    (N Scale MLE hitches mounted on an AC models "Triple-57" flat)

    Russ

    [ March 31, 2006, 02:47 PM: Message edited by: tehachapifan ]
     
  8. James Costello

    James Costello TrainBoard Member

    611
    16
    28
    After having these babies sitting on my workbench for a few months, I finally got around to assembling a couple of hitches over the weekend.

    WOW!!! What a great kit Russ! These look amazing!

    I'm just wondering now what the best way to paint them is? Do people prime them prior to assembly when they're still on the sprue? Or when they've assembled them? If you paint them after they've been assembled - how do you account for the cover plate being in different positions and covering parts visible in a different position? Do you paint them in the "upright" position (the most exposed) to allow for this?

    Thanks for the all help guys and congrats again on a great kit Russ!
     
  9. OC Engineer JD

    OC Engineer JD Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    12,782
    1,109
    152
    I'm intersested in the best way to paint them also. :)
     
  10. tehachapifan

    tehachapifan TrainBoard Member

    1,859
    859
    46
    Thanks, James! I'm really glad to hear you like the hitches! Yeah, painting the hitches can be a little tricky.

    What I do is paint after the hitches have been assembled. The way I do this is place some double-sided tape on some kind of repositionable hand-held object that I can twist and turn any which way, then put the base of the hitches down on the tape. I then reposition the hitches themselves in a few different ways to try to get complete coverage with an airbrush, using gravity to help hold some of the various positions. I would say the primary painting position is the full-upright one, but I also like to get coverage inside the rear covered area and the inside aspect of the supports. To do the inside of the supports, I position them like they would be when they're collapsed but keep them above the rear cover plate and allow them to fall forward by gravity so they're at a 90 degree angle to the baseplate (you know what I mean?).

    Sometimes the airflow from the airbrush makes it difficult to maintain some positions, but you get the hang of it after a while. Incidentally, I like to use PollyScale water-based paints on these in multiple, very light coats, which I then help cure with a blow-dryer after the final coat. For orange hitches, I like PollyScale's "CP Red", which is a nice, deep orange that I think looks pretty close to the color of hitches on TTX spine cars.

    I find the above technique to be the best approach for painting. Trying to paint while parts are still on the etching frame/sprue will likely lead to the paint being marred when folded and/or assembled, as might also be the case with painting them after they're folded but before they're completely assembled (although I think the latter would be the next best choice after what I've recommended).

    I hope all this helps! let me know if there's anything else I can help with or if you find a better way to tackle painting. And please post pictures if you could! I have not seen any of my hitches mounted on anything other than my own cars.

    Thanks!

    Russ
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 4, 2006
  11. tehachapifan

    tehachapifan TrainBoard Member

    1,859
    859
    46
    Oh, and one final comment about using double-sided tape to aid in painting. There's a lot of different brands out there and some have their drawbacks, so it helps to identify them prior to using them as I've described. Some stick so well that it's possible to end up bending something when you try to lift the baseplate back off the tape. Others leave a very sticky film of goop behind that is really difficult to take off, especially given that you would have just applied fresh paint very nearby on the vertical portions of the baseplate. I have not found the perfect tape to recommend, so it helps to identify the characteristics of whatever tape you're using in advance and what can be done to reduce problems (such as reducing size of tape strip or removing some of the stickiness).

    Russ
     
  12. chessie

    chessie TrainBoard Supporter

    6,183
    6
    79
    Scotch brand makes a nice, thin double sided tape that is very thin like their regular line of tapes that has reasonably good holding power and is not overpowering.

    Harold
     
  13. tehachapifan

    tehachapifan TrainBoard Member

    1,859
    859
    46
    Has anyone installed any of these on any of their rolling stock yet? I'm really looking forward to seeing some in service on something other than my own stuff. :D

    Russ
     
  14. James Costello

    James Costello TrainBoard Member

    611
    16
    28
    Getting closer Russ!

    Gave them a coat of prime last weekend and they came up looking great. Stuck 7 on some double sided tape on some cardboard and gave them a spray with them in an "open" position. Then gave them a second light coat in an "assembled" position to coat the other sides and any gaps.

    I'll be moving onto the orange coats next week. Unfortunately they've had to take a back seat to a loco project....

    I'm looking forward to seeing them in action though!
     
  15. tehachapifan

    tehachapifan TrainBoard Member

    1,859
    859
    46
    Sounds great, James!

    Can't wait to see 'em! :D

    Russ

    Russ
     
  16. tehachapifan

    tehachapifan TrainBoard Member

    1,859
    859
    46
    Any more progress to report James? :D

    Russ
     
  17. jaythespoon

    jaythespoon Permanently dispatched

    44
    1
    12
    It is nice to see that the manufacturer at least chose to model the Nordyke hitch as opposed to the Oberndorf one. It is obvious from the Dec '05 photo that these are either Mark I or Mark II models but can someone shed some enlightenment as to which one. I can use them if they are Mark IIs (53 5/8 inches tall) as opposed to the Mark Is (53 1/2 inches tall).
     
  18. James Costello

    James Costello TrainBoard Member

    611
    16
    28
    'Fraid not Russ. Work has had me flat out recently and I haven't been able to devote any decent time to modelling. Definately something I'll be trying to rectify over the Christmas holidays though and some AC spines and 89'ers are high up on the to-do list.

    James.
     
  19. tehachapifan

    tehachapifan TrainBoard Member

    1,859
    859
    46
    Sorry to disappoint, but this hitch measures a scale 48" when set straight upright for TOFC cars and 45" when set in the semi-reclined position for spine cars. Way off of your 1/8" perameters. Nonetheless, your ability to identify hitch types and manufacturers is quite keen! ;) :D

    No problem, James. Just thought I would check-in and see if there was any progress. Enjoy the holidays! ;)

    Russ
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 13, 2006
  20. SknarfWl

    SknarfWl TrainBoard Member

    149
    4
    24
    Russ,

    Here is a quick mock up I did while at work yesterday, I am going to take some trailers in with me tomorrow and see how the spacing works out. I built 4 of the hitches, the first took about an hour and the 4th took me less than 15 minutes. I used a pair of wide mouth mini pliers that were smooth and it sped up my assembly time. I plan to build my final 6 tomorrow, then I need to pick up a lot more of these.
     

    Attached Files:

Share This Page