OK, I'm up to something and I would like to know what, of all the Modern Tankcars from any manf, is the most prevalent MODERN Tankcar found in your inventory and/or on your rails?
Right around 50 Atlas 23,500 gallon tankers, and at a very close 2nd is the Atlas 17,360 gallon tankers. Bob are you making something that will go along with your storage tanks and walkways? If so, I'm in! :tb-biggrin: I don't want to use the Walthers kit for my future refinery. -Mike
The most prevelant that I see in the real world is this: http://www.trinityrail.com/railcars/tank/pdfs/tank_20413.pdf Unfortunately, it doesn't exist in the model world so I use the Athearn ethanol tanks as stand ins.
Wow, I just realized how few tank cars I actually have! My fleet consists of two beercans, a kaolin, a 23,500gal, and a 33,000 gal- all Atlas.
I know that I don't have any other brand of tank car in significant quantity so: Atlas somethings - probably equal numbers of the 17,000 and 23,000 cars. That said I don't do super detailing so I'm probably not a valid source of data.
Lots of MDC 50' tank cars with the GMM detail kits. Good sampling of the Atlas tank cars mentioned above as well. Nothing over 50'. Have your tank car loading platforms and other stuff on "Santa's list", so am also interested in anything that will go with these. NCDaveD
I've probably got eight of the Roundhouse 'modern' tanks, and one each of all the current Atlas releases (by car type), and one each of the MT releases (by car type). I added the employee barrier rails and end rails to the MDC/Roundhouse tanks, but the rest of the ladder and platform details look pretty chunky, just in case you're thinking of anything cool. They are all painted and custom decalled, so they are sticking around for a while.
Well... 3 corn syrup, 3ea 33,000, 12ea 17,360, 12ea 23,500, 4 ea MT tanks. 5ea MDC tanks., 1ea beer can, 3ea ethanol. Which comes to 43 total. I would LOVE to get more trinity's and make them into Molten Sulfur cars... I could use about 10-15 of those. Adios Wyatt
I've acquired a number of the MDC cars that came out ten years or so ago. Agree with earlier comment regarding the clunkiness of the ladders. Guess that's why the detail kits were made. Shame MDC couldn't have gone a little more into the detail and had the manufacturer take the time on the ladder to make it a little better. I've seen comments to the effect N'ers don't support manufacturers with their dollars. I say, if one comes out with something fairly priced, N'ers will jump all over it. Look at the Bowser cabins and Atlas fish bellies.
And Athearn had the chance to "go etched" when they bought the MDC line and didn't do it. Of course, the cars are foobies so I guess that's the "lipstick on a pig" dilemna, but I still think it would be worthwhile for another $2 or so. As it is, the price increase for zero improvement of 30 year old tooling on those old MDC cars is a little hard to take. (OK, I guess paint and lettering is somewhat improved, and Accumate couplers, but still) Regarding supporting the manufacturers, I must admit I'm a little shocked at the rosters that many have reported. You guys really don't buy many tank cars! I'd say outside of unit grain and coal cars, tank cars make up about 25% of my roster. And that's about the only thing I'll buy anymore...I got plenty of boxcars, and I mostly have all the grain cars I need. Flats, gons, and tankers are what I need. I'm excited about the argon car that is coming.
Thanks for all of your inputs. I am asking this question to help in defining the industries that are required to support the Tankcars. Ex:The Tankcar Loading platform was specifically designed for the 8K tankers. A lot of you said 17,600 Gallon Corn Syrup cars, so I will be looking for industries in the near future to accomodate you.
I have always admired your products. Got to admit I like your thought process / marketing technique too.
