I know this was done before, but searches here and over at Atlas did not give me what I was looking for. As a result I'll start this new thread. My question is how do the two compare? Would they look OK or not OK running together. I have a small collection of MT racks and plan to build a larger inventory. The RC racks look nice though and I would not want to discount using them if they will look OK running with MT's. I do remember there were some differences, I just can't rememeber what they were.
Are you willing to do modifications/kitbashes? Most equipment can be made to look and run better which could make them acceptable for your operation.
The only mods I like to do are body mount couplers on everything. Otherwise, it's pretty much take it out of the box and run it. I have a number of Con Cor racks that I picked up really cheap. I had been thinking about getting a few kits to convert these over to see-thru screens, but decided that wasn't my cup of tea. I've got a couple I'm going to keep, but the rest are gettting ebayed, as I continue on my quest for MT racks. This actually looks to be the most cost effective way to build a rack train also. For the price of the CC racks and the screeen kits, I can buy a MT rack and pretty much be in the ball park on cost, with out having to do all the labor.
I have both brands and will be running them together. Look at a real autorack train as it goes by and you will see that not all the cars look 'exactly' alike. Both MT and RC autoracks are very nicely done, but I would give the edge to the RC cars. Thats only because of slight differences like the free standing handrails. I am also going to have Atlas articulated autoracks running with these cars too.
I have paid close attention to rack trains recently and have noticed considerable differences among cars, including length and height. Just did not want anything that looked too crazy as far as differences go. I do also plan to have both the Atlas and Athearn articulated cars running. I currently have one of each, and like both of them. Plan to add more as I can. The Con Cor cars are nice for the price, but when you put one next to a MT and the wife says "that one looks plasticy", while pointing at the CC car, I think even the three foot rule gets thrown out the window.
I have both The MT autoracks and the RC ones and have found that the RC racks, for me at least, tend to track better. Also, they don't seem to sway as much when going over switches etc. While the MT racks are certainly nice, I only buy the RC ones now. The MT racks are not see through like the RC's are. Also, RC has been delivering them like crazy, the MT releases are much more infrequent depending on how fast you want to put your train together.
nnsteam, Do you run with the truck mounted couplers or do you body mount? If you body mount, how easy is it? If you don't, do you think it is doable?
I'll stick with the Con-Cor's if I can get three of them for the price of one RC or MTL, thank you very much! A longer plastic train's better in my book than a shorter but shinier one - that's the student modeler perspective anyway
I like the MTL racks myself, they track and run great. The RC are also nice but the Con-cor's are horrible--there's a reason they are cheap. Dave
If only the Red Caboose autoracks had smaller stirrups and came with low-profile wheels, they 'd be perfect.
Ottergoose, I agree with you on having a long train which is why I first went with the CC racks. But I now find myself at the age and in the financial position to enjoy some of the finer things in life. Suddenly, "plasticy" just doesn't do it for me. Thanks for all the replys so far. I am planning on picking up a RC rack car in the near future to give it a closer look.
On the issue of body-mounted couplers. What kind of track curves (radius) are we talking about? What else do you plan on coupling to these cars? I would imagine that body-mounted couplers on an 89' rack could cause lots of problems when coupled to locos or other (shorter) cars on tighter radius curves, crossovers, etc. there's quite a bit of overhang/swing on these cars. Russ
Curve radius min is 19". I'm using Unitrack. I have already converted some cars and test run through 19" rad. curves as well as cross-overs using #6 turnouts. Everything goes through with out a problem.
Everyone has preferences. Some are dictated by authenticity, others by price, others by coin flip, others by ???. I have had ConCor racks since they first came out. Then they were the only game in town in my era. Now there are superior models available. I choose the RC's because I liked the see-through panels. And since I can't prototypically run a complete rack train I can afford the few I have acquired. If you shop around you will find attractive discount pricing on the RC's,
That's the least of its problems! The Con-Cor autoracks have a too-low roof, yet the car floor rides too high above the tracks; the trucks are located a scale 2+ feet too close to the ends, the width of the car is a tad too narrow and the stirrups look like they belong on an HO scale car. I don't think Dullcote could fix any of that.
