Flatcar rant

[JoeD]

I'll get it scheduled...really.  I think the speed lettering is a good idea.

Thanks

Joe

As someone who wants to model a Western road (WP) in the early 70s and needs 30 to 40 flats for his home road alone, and another 20 to 30 for neighboring roads (BN, GN, NP, CB&Q, ATSF), I'm looking at a daunting/depressing situation. I can accept the quarks of the MT cars (which are more noticeable as you try to decal around the weird 5-2-2-5 stake pocket rhythm and the brake wheel mount); conveniently forget that older cars existed and run with the Walthers and Athearn cars; or either figure out a way to retrofit the Atlas cars with new stake pockets (and I'm not thinking just blocks of styrene, but semi-real usable stake pockets) or pay for the therapy to live with them.

Any ideas? Any hope MT will bust out a beautifully cast more normal design in the near future? Or better, that Atlas will upgrade their flat from Trainman quality to that of its newest gondolas?

*using my Jedi mind tricks that were once used to get you to try the IM F-Units...*

I'd match them as close as I could with current production models; then roll my own decals for the inadequacies of the car itself for WP (or any other roadname). That way you're not stuck building 20-40 cars and you still get usable pockets.

Speaking of flats I wish MT would make the speedscript version of the WM fast freight flat they do (I mean come on how many reissues are you going to do of that thing!). Help me out Joe! Yeah I know...roll my own.

The S.

[sizemore]

I'll get it scheduled...really.  I think the speed lettering is a good idea.

Thanks

Joe

As someone who wants to model a Western road (WP) in the early 70s and needs 30 to 40 flats for his home road alone, and another 20 to 30 for neighboring roads (BN, GN, NP, CB&Q, ATSF), I'm looking at a daunting/depressing situation. I can accept the quarks of the MT cars (which are more noticeable as you try to decal around the weird 5-2-2-5 stake pocket rhythm and the brake wheel mount); conveniently forget that older cars existed and run with the Walthers and Athearn cars; or either figure out a way to retrofit the Atlas cars with new stake pockets (and I'm not thinking just blocks of styrene, but semi-real usable stake pockets) or pay for the therapy to live with them.

Any ideas? Any hope MT will bust out a beautifully cast more normal design in the near future? Or better, that Atlas will upgrade their flat from Trainman quality to that of its newest gondolas?

*using my Jedi mind tricks that were once used to get you to try the IM F-Units...*

I'd match them as close as I could with current production models; then roll my own decals for the inadequacies of the car itself for WP (or any other roadname). That way you're not stuck building 20-40 cars and you still get usable pockets.

Speaking of flats I wish MT would make the speedscript version of the WM fast freight flat they do (I mean come on how many reissues are you going to do of that thing!). Help me out Joe! Yeah I know...roll my own.

The S.

WHOA! Joe you're my hero! I'll let Kleins know I'll be taking 12 off their hands!

[sirenwerks]

get an ORER, do your research

Actually,that's what's causing my pain. Like you, I'm trying to reach a certain level of adherence to the prototype.

I'll get it scheduled...really.  I think the speed lettering is a good idea.

Thanks

Joe

No, no, no Joe. Don't get distracted by the shiny object. Look at the new body style's potential. If you throw the speed lettering on your current fishbelly, it's an instant foobie since none of WM's flats (that I am aware of) had side mounted brake wheels. We need a 'standard' 50' riveted fishbelly of fine detail (kinda like this AC&F (?) car - http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=47506). Just take the non-brake mount side your current fishbelly, even out the stake pocket spacing, duplicate that side to both, and mount the brakewheel on the end. Then slap speed lettering on that!

[sirenwerks]

WHOA! Joe you're my hero! I'll let Kleins know I'll be taking 12 off their hands!

Ahhhh!!!! Tim, stop the madness. What are you doing promoting production of a foobie!?

[sizemore]

WHOA! Joe you're my hero! I'll let Kleins know I'll be taking 12 off their hands!

Ahhhh!!!! Tim, stop the madness. What are you doing promoting production of a foobie!?

The WM did have them with the side brakewheel. I'll doublecheck it again tonight.

[sirenwerks]

Tim (and Joe),

Don't get me wrong, I want you to have your speed lettered flat. I'm just trying to point out the need for a basic model. Granted, it's not the sexiest, but just think of the roadnames MT could produce with this new and popular body style! Sales would go through the roof!  ;D ;D ;D Please!

[asciibaron]

i would buy at least 4 of them if they are like the picture El Sireno has linked.  they were everywhere.  i'd love to see some ACF flats too...

[ednadolski]

The trick is to keep 'em moving

That's what pogo couplers are for.

[wm3798]

Joe, can you say "Runner Pack?" 

Lee

[sirenwerks]

Joe, can you say "Runner Pack?" 

Lee

And the first roadname could be the WP!!!

[H Lee]

Tim (and Joe),
.......... but just think of the roadnames MT could produce with this new and popular body style! Sales would go through the roof!  ;D ;D ;D Please!

Are you kidding - 30 years ago when MT was bascially the only game in town flatcars didn't sell and it had nothing to do with 'prototype correctness'. Most modelers don't like flatcars because even in the best of circumstances they have very simple, plain lettering schemes because there isn't room for anything else!!!!

And to be honest on most railroads the flatcar was a very small percentage of the car fleet. and even with all of the TOFC traffic these days the flatcar is still a minority item for most railroad rosters.

[wm3798]

Who needs a flashy paint scheme when you can put rocket launchers and helicopters on the deck? ;D

Lee

[Sokramiketes]

...even out the stake pocket spacing...

Are we sure it's not correct for whatever the prototype is? 

For example, having drawn an AAR 50 ton car, I know that the stake pockets are not evenly spaced.  They are riveted through to the cross members on one side of the pocket... some to the left, some to the right side.  Potentially this is correct on the MTL car.

[sirenwerks]

Most modelers don't like flatcars because even in the best of circumstances they have very simple, plain lettering schemes because there isn't room for anything else!!!!

And to be honest on most railroads the flatcar was a very small percentage of the car fleet. and even with all of the TOFC traffic these days the flatcar is still a minority item for most railroad rosters.

And where do your statistics come from, H. Lee? Are you the sales manager for a producer or retailer? My conjecture was followed by emoticons of sarcasm. Your 'facts' are followed with what?

I would dare to guess that the inclusion of loads tends to increase sales, or else manufacturers probably wouldn't be selling them that way and cottage industries wouldn't be selling them aftermarket either. A marketing tactic a lot less popular back 'then'. And I can say, since I was around then, MT was never the only game in town. Atlas has a model dating back to the beginning of time (N scale time, that is), a 40' Rivarossi car I believe.

You may not like flatcars, but Western roads used them more, and I need 'em.

[wcfn100]

And to be honest on most railroads the flatcar was a very small percentage of the car fleet. and even with all of the TOFC traffic these days the flatcar is still a minority item for most railroad rosters.

On some roads, flats outnumbered stock cars, tank cars, reefers, and gondolas...combined.


Jason