...I decided to work on mine. The MT tankcar just plain old doesn't look right. I sat it next to a MT N scale tankcar and took measurements. They are regularly 39' long like the N scale car, the Z scale car is only about 35' long. Plus the tank sits a little bit high from the frame. The first thing I did was cut the tank from the frame with my Zona saw. Then file the bottom of the tank until I had a flat spot about 1/8" wide along the whole tank. I also filed the top of the frame flat. Next I rounded the ends of the tank, another weak point of the stock model, started with a file and finished with sandpaper. Before I glued the tank back to the frame I carved out the plastic behind the ladders. I also cut off the air tank for the brakes and replaced it with a short dowel with thread tied around the center. I mounted it down further like how a real one would be. Nothing scentific, just tried to make it "look right" I could go further and replace the ladder altogether, but I think it looks fine. Also the handrail could be replace with fine wire, but that is a pain even in N scale so I skipped it. When I first got this car in the mail I thought I would never buy another tankcar because it looked so wrong, turns out it was easy to fix all that. Plus you modern guys are hogging up all the new models
Very nice looking Chris! I have to say I always thought it looked a bit off. Now I can see the difference. You have a real talant for eyeballing and seeing just what is wrong. Nice car.
