Who can picture a modern consist of military vehicles on proto flat cars? How would two M1A2 Abram Tanks look chained to this proto 68' DODX flat car? Etched brass deck with details and brake bar. Etched brass buckeye 3 axle trucks with 3 layers of detail. main underframe is white cast metal with AZL couplers. Not for tight radius runners. Need to mix the right color before I airbrush this baby. Hobo Tim p.s. 60' HTTX, OTTX, TTHX coming soon.
Is MTL making tanks still? I just got the M-48s from Z-Panzer and they are great. They are not really in the time frame of your car though.Maybe Andy would make some M-1's? Bradly's would not be bad either. Tim, do you have the Barracks from MTL? Right now I am waiting for some goodies to be produced in Germany that would go with those barracks and any motor pool like peas and carrots. I can't say what but, as soon as they are finished, they will sell like hotcakes. Any week now...
Great job, nice details, like especially the trucks! Can you show more details? With the colour I would go for Floquil BN green wit a touch of white.
let me know about production and I'll see if we can re-issue our M1's. They are just waiting on my desk. Cheers Joe MTL
Tim, make sure you give me a call if you plan on making these. I would love to make an entire trainset. Fantastic work btw!
more detail!!! Here is the truck close-up! from this If you study the flat brass you will see detail is reversed. The newer etchings are correct. I used Fox Valley wheels. Wish I had a clearer close-up, but am at work. The above photos of the 3 axle Buckeye are over a year old. If you take anything away from that you should come to the assumption that HoboTim has some long range plans coming to fruition. This 68' DODX flat planning started near 2 years ago. Best thing going for it is MTL has loads for it. The 68' DODX flats are used to haul the heavier main battle tank M1A1's/M1A2's and in some instances, the heavy recovery vehicle M88's. This flat will carry 2 tanks. HTTX 60' Flats are used to move M2/M3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles and other medium tracked vehicles. Humvee's, trailers, trucks, construction equipment and the small 10' x 10' containers can also be seen on the HTTX 60' Flats in military consists. Hobo Tim
Lookin' good Tim. :thumbs_up: And just a FYI armor and heavy vehicles aren't the only things they move these days. They also are used to move something right up your alley.
Extreme Overkill Good photo! Looks like they are taking advantage of the flat car. A bit overkill, but works!!!! This is a good photo showing the side markings. If I am correct in my assumption, I've noticed that when one tank rides it is centered on the center white mark. When 2 tanks ride, they are centered on the white marks near the bolster centers. Extreme balance of weight. Somewhere in my data base I have a word/xcel file showing the correct loading specs for most all military equipment onto this and other similar DODX flat cars. The diagrams in the procedure are crude, but get the point across. Wish I knew where it was for I'd find a way to post it here. Hobo Tim
Tim maybe these will help you with your loading. Sorry on tandem loads. lead unit Center-line markings
Etched Chain/Tie-downs I have the etched 72 link chain that TrainCAT sells and also the 40+ link chain he sells. I found chain a bit smaller but is tremendously priced. OUT FREAKIN RAGEOUS!!! One day. One day while fart'n around with some wire, I used my dremel to spin two strands tightly. WOW!!! It looks more like chain, and the appropriate size, than does the 40+ link chain and especially the 72 link etched chain. I tried to manually put twists in the 72 link stuff and I was dis-heartening to see it not cooperate and looked terrible. Was meant to never be twisted. Anyways, I will look more into the tight twisted wire. Need to see what it looks like with paint. The red shiny on it may have been playing optical illusions on my eyes. Paint will determine the true effects. More to come!!!! Hobo Tim
At work Being at work I am limited to what/where I can go on the web comfortably without getting in trouble. I wanted to go find photos like these, but couldn't. Thanks for showing them. Shows I was assuming wrong about the white side stripes. Hobo Tim
During Desert Storm, We would only take one of these in the C-5.... Of course the floor of the aircraft was covered with plywood 2 or 3 layers thick. Those were the days......
Hey Tim, Do you think there would be a market for all types of army vehicles? Wouldn't it be cool if there was a whole series produced........
Tim, I got my 42 lpi links here Model Expo - CHAIN,COPPER 42 LINKS PER INCH 10 FT and in real it is better than the stock photo which I think is a different scale Kim
No Alex, no announcement, just wishful thinking. Since there seems to be an interest in military theme I was just forward thinking. Doesn't hurt to dream......