N Scale Kits kits

[sirenwerks]

Does anyone have any comments on or photos to share of the NSK channel and Z-sill 89' flats? Since Atlas & Athearn are dragging their feet, and these two cars fit my era, I'm growing more and more tempted to buy these cars. Is anyone body mounting couplers on these?

I was also looking at their Clejan spine car, though I need to do more research to see if these would be running on the WP in 1971.

[bbussey]

I don't have them built, but I do have both the Z-sill and Clejan in kit form.  The Clejan is especially impressive but both are well done.  The only deviation I planning to do from the standard Z-sill assembly is to substitute in the MLE etched hitches for the pewter ones.  I don't see anything on the Clejan that I will deviate from.

[jsoflo]

I have built many many NSK kits, including the channel side 89' flat. They are all excellent kits and not complicated but here are comments specific to the channel side:

This was an exceptionally easy kit to build since the entire deck and body are pre-formed. Its more or less attach stirrups and hitches and paint and decal. Excellent weight so it runs well, and I body mounted the couplers and they have been problem free. I used the kit hitches for this one, although I used MLE hitches on a flush deck and they are excellent looking models. Very easy model to make.

here is a link to a very old (and poor quality photo):
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/76750/ppuser/8292

and here is an overhead shot- its the 2nd flat behind the engines (with NSK 48' spines behind that)
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/67717/ppuser/8292

I am a big supporter of NSK and Peter, the owner, he is a great guy and actively seeks to add models that customers request to his line. He's working on a model of the FEC 53' AP Gunderson wellcars we at the FEC group have been requesting.

my best,
Jan

[jsoflo]

I just found another shot of the channel side from above that is a bit newer:

obviously the flat with the UPS trailer:
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/95655/ppuser/8292

and here is a shot of the flush deck NSK kit but with MLE hitches and body mountred couplers:
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/96935/ppuser/8292

Jan

[GaryHinshaw]

Being an intermodal junkie like Jan, I too am a big fan of NSK.  Here are a few shots of one of my channel-sides (clickable for a larger view).  I have not seen the Z-channel kits at all.







Some quick comments:
* The molded-on corner grabs are pretty crude, but easy to replace if you're so inclined.
* There is a slight mold-parting seam in the side channel that yields to a bit of light sanding.
* You must use MLE hitches.
* Body mounts should be fine.

I think I'm going to make my next one into a PTTX with a massive pipe load.

Cheers,
Gary

[sirenwerks]

Gary,

Is there an optical illusion in that photo? The car seems to warp in the middle, but I can't tell conclusively whether the trackline does or doesn't.

Have you or anyone else had warping problems with these cars?

[GaryHinshaw]

Bryan:

You're probably seeing a fisheye effect in my cheap camera lens. The car itself has no warp that I can discern.  I did have one flush-side flat that had a minor warp, but it was easily straightened with light pressure since the pewter is fairly soft.  It holds up fine to normal handling though.

Go ahead, buy a few.  
Gary