Tangent Scale Models enters N Scale

cfritschle Aug 13, 2018

  1. cfritschle

    cfritschle TrainBoard Member

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    Tangent announced at the National Train Show that they would be bringing their Union Pacific quad hoppers to N scale.

    https://www.tangentscalemodels.com/n-scale-bethlehem-steel-3600-cubic-foot-quad-hopper/

    The suggested minimum radius has been a concern for some modelers, but that appears to be rather easily fixed if you are willing to remove the air hoses and a little bit of the coupler box.

    I have been needing these hoppers to complete my sugar beet trains, so I am definitely pleased that Tangent has decided to make them in N scale.

    Carter
     
  2. jpwisc

    jpwisc TrainBoard Member

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    I’m glad they are entering the N Scale market and I’m glad to see they weren’t willing to sacrifice on accuracy. I hope this trend continues and we see more offerings from them in the future.
     
  3. cfritschle

    cfritschle TrainBoard Member

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    Here is Tangent's Reply on The Railwire forum concerning the suggested minimum radius:

    "Hello Everyone. First off, I wanted to say thanks for all of the great comments on our new Bethlehem Quad Hopper. The last few days at the National Train Show have been incredibly busy. We really enjoy getting to talk to everyone on the show floor, including meeting many of you from this forum.

    Our minimum radius is not a typo. We calculated the 18.75" by running the car on curves until we did not "feel" any rubbing of the wheels against the air hose and draft gear key details -- some of the same details that make the car a Tangent quality product that sits at the right height (yet work with the larger than scale coupler box required for MT-compatible couplers).

    Can you run the car on smaller radius curves? Yes, with adjustment of the model.

    Examples:
    1. If you remove the 2 rubber air hoses from the model (Needle nose pliers pull them right off from their 2-pin mounts), then the car will FREELY roll on a 15" radius curve.

    2. If you further "modify" the car by taking a #11 X-acto blade and slicing off the "nub" face of the draft key detail molded onto the side of the draft gear box (about 20 seconds of work), then the car will FREELY roll on a 12.5" radius curve.

    Further reduction in minimum radius is possible, but results in increasing degrees of "rubbing" and that is up to the pain threshold of the modeler.

    We want our official documentation to reflect the out-of-the-box radius, hence the 18.75" on the website and announcement text.

    A few other comments:
    1. The wheels do not rub against the bays.
    2. The wheels are .062" in width (just a hair narrower than what we see on an Atlas Trinity 5660 for example).

    We appreciate the dialogue about our first N scale product. Our Bethlehem Quad Hoppers will ship beginning September 17. We look forward to your consideration and prospective business with Tangent Scale Models!

    Best wishes,

    David Lehlbach
    Tangent Scale Models"
     
  4. VinceP

    VinceP TrainBoard Member

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    What's the pricing in these cars.
     
  5. JoeTodd

    JoeTodd TrainBoard Member

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    32.95 each
     
  6. VinceP

    VinceP TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks JT
     
  7. cfritschle

    cfritschle TrainBoard Member

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    They do have quantity discounts.

    6 to 11 cars = 11% discount
    12 to 23 cars = 17% discount
    24 or more cars = 20.5% discount

    Carter
     
  8. VinceP

    VinceP TrainBoard Member

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    Barely afford one on disability income.
     

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