MTL Heavyweight Observation car Review

[Nato]

       I recieved my two MTL Obs cars today. They are a 9.9 on a one  to ten scale. Very nicely done,but with one minor complaint. The car features one of the finest looking rear railings I have ever seen on a N Scale car either Brass or Plastic,(is it etched?) .Here then is my complaint. Most,but not all end platform railings were brass. Rivarossi on many of their obs cars plated (chromed) the plastic railing gold color. I have seen photos of some prototype cars where the railing support pieces are black or pullman green and the rest of the railing parts brass. I have also looked at photos of some cars with solid painted railings,black I believe. MTL has colored their railings to match the cars,pullman green on one car and Pennsylvania Tuscan on the other car. I believe black or brass (gold color) would be correct. "Pickey,Pickey", I know. Also how about some canvas awnings to hang below the end roof,a sheet of them on die cut cardstock(thin) that could be folded and glued in place would be nice. Nuff said.An otherwise very nice model. Thanks Joe and MTL.                                          Nate Goodman (Nato). Salt Lake, Utah.

[VGN50]

Thanks for the report, Nate.

I dunno, lack of "brass" rail and an awning sounds like 9.95 to me.

Pickey, Pickey

Mark

[CBQ Fan]

I just got mine yesterday.  It is wild, the detail on the platform end is so fine when compared to CC/Riv that it almost doesn't look right to me when I know it actually looks much better.  I found the rear end glass to be interesting as the handfull of proto obs cars I have seen in person did not have that much glass on the rear end.  I am very happy with it and looking for additional road names to be released.

[JoeD]

Figuring what color is appropriate for the end railings has been a challenge on some of the cars.  Your right, brass construction and for a time they would have been bare...but later they were painted both the car color and black...again depending on railroad.   I wanted to do the awnings, but my stitching these days is not as good as it used to be  ;D

I put in a request that we run some railing in a brass color and offer them as a replacement part...will keep you posted.  If you want black Nate, contact me and I can scratch up a few for you I think.

Cheers

Joe
MTL

[seusscaboose]

I put in a request that we run some railing in a brass color and offer them as a replacement part...will keep you posted. 

Best Quote Ever

[Puddington]

Can't wait until they migrate north.....

[Nato]

         Joe, Thanks for the offer to make a few Black railings,but Brass is what I really had in mind so keep us posted if some bress colored ones are manufactured. Nate Goodman (Nato).

[rogergperkins]

  I am delighted with the car; I asked the LHS to hold two of the Pullman cars for me.  Obviously someone else also found the car of interest and purchased one before I arrived.  Second one due 15 August 2011.

I have never ridden in a heavy weight observation car, thus my views of the interior configuration are based on light weight observation cars and the Rivarrossi n-scale model.   I was not able to find the floor plan for the 3-2 car, so did not know what to expect.  I thought the floor plan would be more open versus compartments.   I would like to see a part available for the floor/seats with no partitions.

I used the Easy Peasy lights in mine.   Eagerly awaiting the second one I requested.
Also looking forward to the "winter release" of the coach.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Joe, pssst.... they might be a foob, but I'd line up for something approaching these guys:

http://thecrhs.org/Images/CR-10-at-Harrisburg
http://thecrhs.org/Images/CR-10-near-Horseshoe-Curve
http://thecrhs.org/Images/CR-4-Horseshoe-Curve-PA-5281978
http://thecrhs.org/Images/OCS-CR-4-278

[Bob Bufkin]

This site should show you the interior arrangement:

http://collections.carli.illinois.edu/cdm4/browse.php?CISOROOT=/nby_pullman

[jmlaboda - RIP]

At one time Lazer Horizons had sides for ALL of the CR cars (including the ex-N&W and ex-SOU cars).  They are not listed on the current page at Pro Custom Hobbies but contacting the shop could yield a new run of sides.  Would be ideal to use on the MT observation car (not sure of measurements) and they are not all that difficult to actually paint and assemble.  And, yes, LH has done CR 10!!!

Oops... forgot the link:
http://www.procustomhobbies.com/catpages/LAH.shtml

[up1950s]

I would buy one in UP but the Passenger car index of Jerrys not working , so I couldn't quote a car name .

[David Leonard]

Richie, try this: http://passcarphotos.info/  I think maybe that Jerry forgot to update his signature.

[Roger Holmes]

Joe-- A PRR buddy just bought the new obs and asked me what the large oval "loops" are on the end of each truck sideframe.  I had no answer for him but said I would ask this august (not the month) body.

[CBQ Fan]

I have seen several train shows on some network called RFD on Direct TV and there seems to be quite a few obs cars that have brass horizontal rails and either black or green veritcal rails/posts.  Some of these were color excursion runs and some where "in the day" color clips.  So it looks like there may be quite a bit of variation.