Besides Alan's spine cars (I need some of those) What intermodal rolling stock do you all like? I want to use microtrains trucks and couplers at the very least on the ends. I like the looks of the Walthers five unit well cars but I have read some nasty stuff about them on this forum. Also, what about ConCor's husky stacks? I just do not want to start investing in garbage. I do own Walther's five unit well car set (APL) but I have not converted it to Micotrains yet....still has the nasy rapido (Universal according to Waltehrs) couplers. Again, thanks for the brain dump all.
Another good thing to have of course, would be Alan Curtis Models 89ft Flatcars Sorry . . . couldn't resist! Here are 12 cars, built as a special order, parked in Andersley yard for inspection prior to delivery [ 12 April 2001: Message edited by: Alan ]
I have no hesitation in recommending Alans products, I am a proud owner of 2 sets of spine cars and some chassis. I have a dozen MDC husky stacks only problem is they are so light, i have been trying to sell them but have not had much success, they lookgreat but need weighted containers to use them
Alan, Are you going to offer the flats painted, (like your spine cars)? My 12 hour, 6 day weeks have been keeping me from doing any serious modeling lately. I would be one to take advantage of this service! 2slim (aka: slave driven slob )
I did the ones shown as a special for a customer, (I don't usually do them RTR). But all my stuff will be available ready-to-run soon, as special runs by Curtis Hobbies (guess who!). Not made to order, but built in batches, and posted on the website, this way they can be built when time permits, and not delay introduction of new models. I will still be doing the spine cars rtr.
Alan, are they your 60' bulkheaded with laser cut decks sitting to the left of the 89 footers? Mark, I have a set of Alan's spines and 2 sets of 89' flats, as well as the MDC Huskies, two sets of Interrail's 40' Thrall Double Stacks (out of production but can still be found) plus a set of deLuxe Innovation's bulkhead double stacks. The Huskies (and similar) have been done by MDC (all plastic), Con-Cor and Walthers (metal), and Fine N Scale (metal kit). The MDC cars are better looking though suffer a weight problem (see below). The other 2 are die cast and rather crude in their appearance, but run better for the weight. As with most things, changing the truck to low-profile MTL's will make them run better again. The Fine N Scale kit makes for a nice stand-alone unit with etched details but requires a bit of work to complete. BTW, I did an article for N Scale magazine back in 97 detailing how I converted the MDC cars to MTL using the 1019 couplers (for 89' cars). Same problem as Paul suggested regarding the lack of weight in these cars. The DI car came MTL equipped and the Interrail cars were a quick convert as they were set up tp take 1023/25's - just drill and tap. The Walthers cars I've had little to do with. I don't have much time for anything from Walthers and Con-Cor has kind of put me off with their less than ideal models. Their spines were attrocious (personal opinion) and I just found them again a few days ago. Obviously I never hid them well enough... hehe. The Walthers cars should be a simple drill and tap to mount MTL body-mounts. Gary.
What no one has mentioned in this thread (and I really hoped that someone would ) is the deLuxe Innovations 5 unit articulated cars. I have 2 of these on their way to me, and I am hoping that they were the right choice. Has anybody had any experience running the di cars? Bill
I actually have a set of these, two sets of the 5-unit Walthers cars, and a set of Alan's spine cars. The Walthers cars and Alan's cars run very well (MT trucks on all) but I haven't had a chance to assemble and run the DI kit. The cars seem weighted well enough, and with MT trucks they should hold up well.
Drill and Tap????? Explain please. What has to be drilled? and what do you mean by tap? I am lost on this (no real feat) Haron, did you convert your Walthers cars to MT? How do they run? Thanks
Wow! I just checked out Alan Curtis's web page, and found the 28' pup brass master page. Alan that looks incredible!!!!! I'm curious is that a solid piece? If so it must weigh a ton! I'm glad that I finally am going to have some decient pups to put all the Microscale decals I've been hording on!!! I can't wait to see the ribbed side version and the parcel trailers!!! Yipeee!!! 2slim
I have 3 sets of Alans spinecars,a pair of the 89' flats,and 3 of the 60' flats.They are all great models and track very well.Speaking of wells we need to encourage the man to do some wellcars. I also have 36 of the Roundhouse wellcars. They look great but don't track for squat.I have 3 sets of the Walthers wellcars and have had no problems with them.I had 2 of the Deluxe Innovations articulated cars and sold both.They look fabulous and track great but are a real pain to put on the rails and take up to much room to transport.(rabid NTRAKer here) <marquee>North American Rail Alliance</marquee>
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gats: Alan, are they your 60' bulkheaded with laser cut decks sitting to the left of the 89 footers? Gary.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> YUP
Hey Alan, what about well cars from you in the future? What do you think? I know if they were RTR (not a whole ton of time) I would buy a few sets. Just putting the carrot in front of you
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by mtaylor: Drill and Tap????? Explain please. What has to be drilled? and what do you mean by tap? Thanks<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Mark, MTL have a drill and tap set containing a no.56 and 62 drill bit and a 00-90 tap to cut a thread into the no.62 hole. A tap is a tapered pin with cutting threads and flutes (to clear cut material) made of hardened steel (usually). You twist in a turn or so then back 1/4 turn then repeat. The further you go the deeper the thread is cut in the hole. The no.56 is a clearance drill to clear the threads of the 00-90 screws used to secure the body-mounted couplers. If you have done any conversions using 1015's, you would have noticed the 4 small 00-90 screws supplied. Hope this helps, Gary.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Alan: YUP <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I don't need anymore bulkhead flats, I don't need anymore bulkhead flats, I don't need anymore bulkhead flats, I don't need anymore.... Gary.
Matt The interail sets are very good, I do not know how available they now are. I also have the standard fleet of Con Cor Autoracks and the Deluxe Husky Stacks, light as they maybe, they look good and if you run cast containers in them to add some low weight, they are fine. I would follow Garys leed with the M/T couplers. The Walthers stacks are very chunky, but a few years ago Nscale ran an article on how to super detail them with a fine etched Brass Kit. The end result was outstanding. I have yet to Purchase any AC models equipment, I hope Gatts brings them to exhibition with him, I am looking forwarf to seeing them, and Alan, like Gary I do not need any Bulk Head Flats I do not need any Bulk Head Flats, I do not need any Bulk Head Flats!!!
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Alan: [QB] But all my stuff will be available ready-to-run soon, as special runs by Curtis Hobbies (guess who!). QB]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> <font color="336633">Me </font>
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Chesapeakenscaler: What no one has mentioned in this thread (and I really hoped that someone would ) is the deLuxe Innovations 5 unit articulated cars. I have 2 of these on their way to me, and I am hoping that they were the right choice. Has anybody had any experience running the di cars? Bill<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I have a set in TTX and they run great if you put MT trucks and couplers on them. Put MT wheels and trucks on everything. Don't bother messing around with anything else because everything else is crap. However, if you can afford NWSL wheelsets use them.
