Another note to push Mike into Z scale. I just ran my MT F7 for the first time and my first thought was...Holly crap it runs better than some N scale locomotives! Nice and slow. I think it has to do with that big wormgear/spurgear in the trucks. Mike, I'm sure you've seen Z scale at the shows, but it will hit you when the models are in your hands. This stuff is small and fun.
Wait till you run a GP35. I timed one to take 14 seconds to go the length of the engine plus it is QUIET.
What is the minimum radius that this car will take? By lowering the body you have severely limited the truck swing. The need for Z scale cars to traverse super small radius curves causes almost all Z scale equipment to appear similar to "high water pants".
Bill, I don't have any sort of flex track to see just how small a radius they will go. I do have the starter loop of new MT track and they go around that just fine. The starter loop is a hair under 8" radius. Even after being lowered the trucks will still swing all the way until the wheels hit the coupler box. The coupler box needs to be at the same height as the trucks, so I would imagine the car runs exactly the same as before, just less wasted space under it ; ) I should note that this car had body mounted couplers from the factory and that itself may limit the car on tight radius's.
Here's another, MT 40' gondola. Seems to be the same 8 panel gondola that Atlas uses in N scale. It was lowered in pretty much the same way the PRR gon was.
Hi Bill! Welcome to Trainboard! I do something similar to what Chris did, but cutting out an area for the wheels to fit while swiveling, so I can get a lower riding car in some of my kits. -Robert
This mod really improves the look of these cars dramatically! I'm going to have to do this to all of my gondolas. Thanks for starting this topic and showing how you did it. - Phil
Chris, I have finally found my way into trainboard and only to see what you did the the poor little gondola I sold you. WOW!!! That is some amazing change. I look at my gondola and I feel .... I feel I need to do this to mine. What a transformation. The boxcars are a big change too but not as dramatic as the gondola.
Anthony, Thanks for the comments and thanks for the fast service! That gondola was at my door the day after I ordered it!
