1. GaryHinshaw

    GaryHinshaw TrainBoard Member

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    Tim, thanks for the behind-the-scenes look. It certainly illustrates the process, especially the full sheet view, showing how well designed they are. Very cool! (But I can imagine that cranking out 20-30 in a week gets pretty old...)

    You're correct that I was referring to the Maxi-I's. I was a bit unclear about the terminology, because I thought these BNSF sets were band new (along with some other roads). In doing a bit more reading I gather that there are two phases: early (~1990) and late (~2007), both with heritage to the Twin-Stacks. Chopping down a Twin-Stack would be a good start, but an etched kit would be awesome. I don't personally know of anyone in the market for these, but I suspect at least a few readers of this thread might step forward... I'd be happy to serve as a beta tester if you decide to start down this path. ;)

    As long as I have an expert on the line: are the prototypes of the N Scale Kits 40' Gunderson all based on chopped-down Maxi-IIIs? Were "native" 40-footers ever in production? Are they called something besides chopped Maxi-IIIs? Was there ever a Maxi-II? Inquiring minds want to know.

    Thanks, Gary

    P.S. Piston_8: I was waiting for someone to post a steam-powered stacker! Now how about putting that Goose into DPU service? :cool:
     
  2. James Costello

    James Costello TrainBoard Member

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    I'd give a brass (or other) kit a go, but I'm willing to bet we see one RTR announced fairly soon. I'd even suggest maybe at the either the NSC or NMRA conventions. The who should be easy. There were enough "early" purchasers for this car to be a success, let alone new BNSF and TTX paint schemes on the "late" cars.

    "Short Stacks" seems to be pretty common for the chopped down cars. For Gunderson, the native 40ers were the Twinstacks/Maxi-I's....so, the short stacks all have the distinctive Maxi-III body style.

    There was a Maxi-II from memory, but I'll have to have a read to refresh how they were different.
     
  3. jagged ben

    jagged ben TrainBoard Member

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    I have a Maxi-I kitbash in progress that I never finished, not least because of the lack of etched details for the walkways and ladders. I would definitely be in market for a Gunderson walkway and ladder set, especially if it were as finely done as the Gold Medal Models details. If done right, it could also be used to upgrade other cars like the Maxi-III and Kato's Maxi-IV. I might also buy an etched kit for the whole car.

    I've been of a mind to learn to do the etching myself (there's a shop in my area where you can get a 'membership'), but if someone else did it, I'd likely buy the result.

    The Maersk cars were Maxi-I, btw. Reason enough to produce a model. IMO it is the biggest gap in N scale stack-cars, if only because the prototype is so common.

    I believe the container guides and articulated joints look different on the newer Maxi-Is, for the rivet counters.

    --

    The Maxi-II looks like the Maxi-III except that the two end wells are only forty feet. It would be an easy kitbash of N scale Kits wells.

    TTX has 40, they are DTTX 73045-73084
    DTTX 73066

    SP had 20, SP 513370-513389
    Pictures of SP 513380

    I've also seen BNSF 240200-240299 (used to be SFLC 254200-254299) referred to as Maxi-II, although all their wells are 48'. Some of the grabs look like the Maxi-II instead of III.

    There are some great lists of intermodal equipment on this page.
    Although I can't vouch for their total accuracy, I've learned a ton from them.
     
  4. completely nuts

    completely nuts TrainBoard Member

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    Testing clearance under the concrete bridge.
    Suits me.

    Paul
     

    Attached Files:

  5. HoboTim

    HoboTim TrainBoard Supporter

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    Maxi-Stacks/Maxi I's

    A suggestion has been made that a certain company is about to release the Maxi-Stacks/Maxi I's to the public masses. I am guessing this company has the initials of D.I. but I could be wrong. The suggestion was to wait and see what the 2008 NTS produces in terms of new/upcoming releases.

    Me, I was suppose to attend the NTS but due to the uncertainty of Turn-Around/Shut-down construction, I will not be able to attend this year. I hope someone reading this posting will attend and not only take in the sights but please report any Intermodal info that was given or prodded from those N scale manufacturers!!!! Please take photos and gather brochures!! Being stuck here 30 miles southwest of New Orleans is not going to be fun. 10+ weeks of Ugh!!!

    Let's see what the NTS tells us in terms of what might be being worked on and if no sign of any Maxi-Stacks/Maxi I's are displayed, then we can see about drawing up the artwork for some etched Maxi-Stacks/Maxi I's!!!

    How does this sound?

    --------------------------------------------------------

    Now, back to this intended threads Topic!!! Stacks!!! Let's see your Stacks in action! Parked in a yard! Running the rails on high! or Terminating on a waterfront!

    Have a great week!!!

    Hobo Tim
     
  6. GaryHinshaw

    GaryHinshaw TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for all the info gents - very helpful. So an order of Maxi-I's all around (for whomever produces them).

    Cheers, Gary

    P.S. Plenty of clearance there C.N.
     
  7. jsoflo

    jsoflo TrainBoard Member

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    Here I go away for 5 days and look at all the awesome stuff here to check out now that I'm back, there is some great modeling going on in the intermodal world, keep em' coming!

    my best,
    Jan
     
  8. HoboTim

    HoboTim TrainBoard Supporter

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    Dyna Stack

    This photo came about near a year ago but I have never seen any other photos. Apparantly a company is making a skeletal well car calling it a Dyna Stack. What do you know about it??? Post more photos if you have them!!!

    [​IMG]

    Hobo Tim
     
  9. Greenlightintermodal

    Greenlightintermodal TrainBoard Member

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    Athearn well car !

    It is expected that Athearn will announce an improved veriosn of the MDC well car this summer.
     
  10. James Costello

    James Costello TrainBoard Member

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    mmm....considering Athearn's marketing strategy, that probably means they'll be including a new container model too.

    The MDC Husky Stack is pretty decent, I don't know how much they could do to improve it...but thanks for the heads up Steven.
     
  11. DarylK

    DarylK TrainBoard Member

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  12. Triplex

    Triplex TrainBoard Member

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    I remember that photo, and I've never seen another. It's an interesting-looking car.
     
  13. jsoflo

    jsoflo TrainBoard Member

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    Daryl,
    Nice shots, thanks for sharing!

    Steven, good news about Athearn, just hope they find a way to get some weight in that car, maybe they'll follow Deluxe and Kato and Nscalekits with metal in the frame someplace? That'd make those MDC wells a big hit,

    my best,
    Jan
     
  14. Bob Horn

    Bob Horn TrainBoard Member

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    Hey Gary, did you try to work with the Scotchlite I sent you? It really makes a model stand out and really is not that hard to apply. Bob.
     
  15. ATSFCLIFF

    ATSFCLIFF TrainBoard Member

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  16. GaryHinshaw

    GaryHinshaw TrainBoard Member

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    Daryl - great sequence! I had the pleasure of spending a few hours in Rochelle last week and saw quite a parade of trains, including several stacks. I can now appreciate even more how nicely you have captured the feeling of the town.

    Cliff - do you have a larger version of the pic you posted? It looks neat, but it's tiny.

    Bob - (been away for a few days, sorry for the delay) I did try out the Scotchlite on the BRAN stacks I posted, but I felt that it was slightly too thick for that application. It looked *great* from head on, but a little conspicuous from an angle. So I have plans to use it on a loco detailing project I'm starting. I think it will look great when it's placed between handrail stanchions (like your FEC units), where its thickness will be much less of an issue. Thanks again for the sample!

    Cheers, Gary
     
  17. ATSFCLIFF

    ATSFCLIFF TrainBoard Member

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    Sorry about the lousy photo, I couldn't resize it. Here's a couple.
    Cheers,
     

    Attached Files:

  18. James Costello

    James Costello TrainBoard Member

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    Gary,

    The door hardware is all by hand - although I use a variety of pens rather than paint to achieve the results. I use a black nikko (a fine-line sharpie for you yanks) with a clear set-square for the door seals - one about the same width as the door seal on the model - just one or two passes along the length. Sit the front of the container on your workbench, set your set-square flush on the end and draw. The door latches should sit the set-square slightly higher than the seal, so the ink doesn't bleed.

    The latch bars and hinges are done similarly, but with silver gel pens or paint pens....but without the set-square. I hold the container fairly deeply into my fingers on my left hand and use the front of the fingers to support the right hand as I pass over the latches - I'll have to get a photo to illustrate it better. You only want a light touch for some of the pens, as the ink can be fairly runny. It can be scraped off with a knife though. I use the same technique for container/tailer side sills and other details.

    This technique works best when models are dullcoated etc first, as some inks can run...or use your finishing spray lightly on the ends.

    DeLuxe 20'ers and 48'ers are great to practice on, as the details are nice and deep...they're a bit shallower on the 40' HiCubes which require a bit of care.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    My approach to weather containers is a shot of Testors Dullcoat (spray can) at the very least as a base. I've been experimenting with fading by using light coats of a white wash (a mix of reefer white and flat finish) to achieve the fade - the Pacer cans were my first attempt and I've moved onto some other ISO's since....but they proved hard to photograph well yesterday.

    I also gave this treatment to the MSC cans, as well as a Dust wash and also straight dust...I think the white wash worked best. It appears the subtlety doesn't photograph well...

    [​IMG]

    Anyway, hope this helps....more/better shots soon.
     
  19. DarylK

    DarylK TrainBoard Member

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    Next time you plan to be in Rochelle, send me an email in advance and, if you are interested, I'll try to make time for a tour.

    Daryl
     
  20. BNSFtheLeader

    BNSFtheLeader E-Mail Bounces

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    Sweet, That's a nice looking yard. Are the FEC Trailers S&R customs or did you do them yourself?

    Do you live close to the tracks to see them in person?
     

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