New MTL CIRCUS CAR , might this one be prototypical

[Puddington]

I don't like the Circus stuff or any "fantasy stuff"..that said, I'd defend to the death your right to make it - ain't my company.........knock yourselves out; just don't forget us too........... ;D

[inkaneer]

Generally I have a thick skin regarding this stuff (you need one on the Boards)...but I think "Stupid" is a bit much.  There are other markets other than Prototype and not everyone is worried about that extra row of rivets or the proper brake wheel.  Most in this hobby keep things in perspective and have fun with this stuff...others...well...I should stop now and get back to work making more stuff you'll find "stupid".

Remember, this is a hobby...and hobbies are supposed to be fun.

Joe
MTL 

Well apparently the message was lost because we focused in on one word and we missed completely the intended message.  No one picked up on the last line, "It's gonna be right up there with that bad noise car."  For those out there who do not "git" it.  It is a reference to the line of 'state' cars that MT did and specifically to the state of Illinois car.  So Illinois car = 'bad noise' car, eh?  Maybe if I put the word "stupid" in quotation marks?  I apologize to anyone who failed to appreciate my attempts at humor. So if the truth be told I did not buy ten of these cars and I am not building a giraffe unit train.  Maybe if the giraffes turned their heads as the car rolled down the tracks.....  Okay, Okay, I'll stop.

[altohorn25]

Someone wanted to know a while back if a circus would ever carry an RPO.  The answer is maybe.  Most of these shows in the early 1900's bought all coaches/sleepers second hand from the railroads.  It was much more economical; part of the reason shows like Royal American Shows (carnival) was still using heavyweight cars in the 1970's and why Ringling was using WWII hospital cars into the 1950's.  Back to topic.  For the shows advance cars (these were the advertising departments that traveled 2-3 weeks in advance of the shows to put up advertising), they used mostly baggage/combine cars.  They used the extra doors for ease of getting their advertising material out of the car.  It would not be out of line to think they may have used RPO's as well.

As always, refer to specific prototypes if you want a "correct" answer.  It's always fun to have someone tell you that you're wrong and then for you to produce a photo of what they are saying is incorrect.  I love doing that. 

Hope this helps.

Nate 

[jmlaboda - RIP]

"Someone wanted to know a while back if a circus would ever carry an RPO.  The answer is maybe."

Unfortunatley the answer is definitely "NO."  Mail would have been sent for pick-up at scheduled showings and not handled en route.  The Royal American Shows had a baggage - mail because it was what the car was before they acquired it but this car, too, would not have handled mail.  What is more, the circus didn't own any steel cars until the acquisition of the former WWII hospital cars (even many of their earlier wood vestibule cars were former WWI hospital cars).  And, while I am usually a stickler for accuracy for prototypes, I, for one, will not knock MT for their efforts... while I likely wouldn't buy any of the circus cars (I honestly don't need them) I like the idea never the less and unless someone was truly knowledgeable about them they wouldn't likely notice.  They fill a niche in the hobby and that's not bad.

Paint scheme wise, it may well be accurate (don't mave my circus magazines handy to double check)... one thing is certain, it's perdy!!!

[up1950s]

I have a Circus Train book . It shows a 12 wheel heavyweight RPO painted up and used as an advertising car , and stated RPO's were rare in a circus train . Also saw on the web a crappy shot of the RPO that Buffalo Bill used to go from show to show . With that info I am thinking it is a feasible and interesting choice by MTL . 

[altohorn25]

"Someone wanted to know a while back if a circus would ever carry an RPO.  The answer is maybe."

Unfortunatley the answer is definitely "NO."  Mail would have been sent for pick-up at scheduled showings and not handled en route.  The Royal American Shows had a baggage - mail because it was what the car was before they acquired it but this car, too, would not have handled mail.  What is more, the circus didn't own any steel cars until the acquisition of the former WWII hospital cars (even many of their earlier wood vestibule cars were former WWI hospital cars).  And, while I am usually a stickler for accuracy for prototypes, I, for one, will not knock MT for their efforts... while I likely wouldn't buy any of the circus cars (I honestly don't need them) I like the idea never the less and unless someone was truly knowledgeable about them they wouldn't likely notice.  They fill a niche in the hobby and that's not bad.

Paint scheme wise, it may well be accurate (don't mave my circus magazines handy to double check)... one thing is certain, it's perdy!!!

Jerry,

I was not meaning that the circus would use the RPO as a working RPO, only that they may use a car that had formally been an RPO as part of their equipment.

I would have to disagree with you on the fact that circuses used heavyweight steel cars before they got the WWII surplus hospital cars that Ringling used.  I've done quite a bit of research on this and have numerous books to back me up.  Please refer to the book "The Circus Moves By Rail" by Tom Parkinson and C.P. Fox if you would like more information on the subject.  

Sorry for the confusion; I should have been more specific in my explanation of the RPO use.

Nate

[bbussey]

The use WWII is hospital cars is interesting from an N scale perspective.  Isn't the Atlas/RivaRossi "lightweight" riveted RPO car based on the Monon cars, of which the prototypes were converted WWII hospital cars?  It might actually be possible to "back date" the RivaRossi model into a RBB&B circus consist car.

[sirenwerks]

Crap, I saw the title of this post and was hoping MT had actually produced the 70' Mt. Vernon flats. Anyone know where I can find drawings of these cars so I can just scratch my own?

[altohorn25]

Crap, I saw the title of this post and was hoping MT had actually produced the 70' Mt. Vernon flats. Anyone know where I can find drawings of these cars so I can just scratch my own?

Bryan,

Sparkling Star Models out of Florida makes some very nice laser wood kits of both Mt. Vernon and Warren Flat Cars.  I've used both and they run very well as long as you weight them properly.

Nate

[sirenwerks]

Bryan,

Sparkling Star Models out of Florida makes some very nice laser wood kits of both Mt. Vernon and Warren Flat Cars.  I've used both and they run very well as long as you weight them properly.

Nate

I appreciate the info. I'd seen that SSM offers the models but the website photos don't do anything to sell the cars and I won't drop cash without trusting the quality. The grainy photos look like the models have burn holes for rivets rather than 3D rivet heads. If that's the case, I'd rather build my own as soon as I can find drawings or measurements.

[wm3798]

I'm afraid of clowns.

[SkipGear]

I'm afraid of clowns.

And yet you still post on the Atlas Board... ;D

[altohorn25]

I appreciate the info. I'd seen that SSM offers the models but the website photos don't do anything to sell the cars and I won't drop cash without trusting the quality. The grainy photos look like the models have burn holes for rivets rather than 3D rivet heads. If that's the case, I'd rather build my own as soon as I can find drawings or measurements.

They do have burn holes as opposed to 3D rivet heads (unfortunately).  You may want to try your luck at building a master to your liking and then casting the sides.

Bryan:  PM me if you would like me to take some photos of the finished cars (I've done a bunch for my Ringling show). 

Nate

[Ian MacMillan]

And yet you still post on the Atlas Board... ;D

Now now...we don't want to be seen as the Type A Anti-Social personality board.... maybe we should require MMPI-2 tests haha  ;D

[Dave Schneider]

Nate,

Is this your train? It would be great to see more of this work in a dedicated thread.



Best wishes,
Dave