MTL January 2012 releases

[Puddington]

It's nice to see that Mike, you are to MTL what I am to Kato....

[James Costello]

The MTL model is correct for the Conrail Mercury scheme.  The B&O scheme already has appeared on the Athearn trailer.

The paint scheme might be correct, but aren't the 48' CRMZ trailers all Strick built? It is a pity that the Fruehauf trailer has that distinctive front lower bulkhead.....

CRZ 220000 1 Strick "Trailvan Conrail" logo on side - 220000 photo MPT p.110
CRMZ 229001-229100 100 Strick 1989 3560 cuft, 15280 lbs, re# SKRZ 222717-222816re# IRMZ 620200s
CRMZ 229101-229200 100 Strick 1990 3560 cuft, 15280 lbs, re# SKRZ 222818-222916?
http://intermodalarchive.org/IT_T102X48V.htm
http://crcyc.railfan.net/crrs/inter/intermerc.html

The frustrating thing about the CR / B&O trailer releases are that there is many more proto schemes for these trailers that MTL has never done.

I guess I'll have to keep on sending photos in to Joe for correct schemes.....

Common Joe, how about a Schneider 48'er or some Espee Golden Pig / Xtra / Transamerice / Preferred Pool 45' trailers?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Did Schneider ever use sheet-post vans? I thought they have been all dura-plate/Platewall since the mid 90's.

We could really use some Xtra 48' vans. I am pretty sure these are correct for the Z-van.

Fowlers Express, a local trucking company uses Z-Vans to this day on their regional trucks. How they got away with their logo without upsetting Ford, I will never know.

http://fowlersexp.com/index.php

[Sokramiketes]

Say what you will, I'll be willing to bet there's a decently-sized group out there that loves those buildings.  They may not frequent this board, but they impress the socks off their grand kids and put together some Ntrak modules that make the audience smile.

I think if there was a "decently-sized group" then the series wouldn't have failed.   

[James Costello]

Did Schneider ever use sheet-post vans? I thought they have been all dura-plate/Platewall since the mid 90's.

Yes they did. Unfortunately not a lot of photos have turned up online. The couple of photos I have acquired over the years I have already sent on to Joe. Fortunately, they can be easily modelled with the Microscale decal set.

Whilst Schneider have been mostly Wabash since the late ninties for new trailers, these trailers are needed for earlier TOFC periods of late 80s and early 90s. This includes both the standard intermodal orange scheme and the earlier white scheme with orange logos.

We could really use some Xtra 48' vans. I am pretty sure these are correct for the Z-van.

Yep, there are countless runs that could be done for both XTRA and Transamerica that would be welcome for the 80s and early 90s modelers.

[Sokramiketes]

Micro-News PDF has now been released:

http://www.model160.com/2011/12/29/micro-trains-january-2012-announcements/

[eric220]

That's what I thought.  PRR release is way too modern for me.  Oh well, my modeling dollars are already stretched beyond breaking.

[Puddington]

Ok; I'm not complaining, I'm happy to see a CPR coach; and whoever did their homework at MTL obviously looked into this and got as close as possible.... remembering that the CPR built 99% of it's own equipment to it's own standards.....

The 3 car 986-989 series of cars were 83 ft over knuckles, not 78' (they were 75 ft over frame) and were single window, not paired, but the window count is but one window shy and the vestibule end windows are in the correct position so, as a stand it, it's a go with me !!!!

[mcjaco]

It's nice to see that Mike, you are to MTL what I am to Kato....

Or he's modeling a B&O train and doesn't want to wait.   

Still happy these are coming out, regardless of the paint schemes this time.  It's been far too long to have to wait for good heavyweight equipment, and more schemes are certainly down the line.

[ljudice]

Anyone know if the CR vans are painted with silver roofs and reinforcing strips along the sides, or are the all white.

Can't tell from the posted photos...   The old release was all white.

thx,

[bbussey]

It's a reprint, so I assume it is the same as the original all-white release.

[milw156]

received one of the Milwaukee SEL RBL's from Chuck today, Milwaukee color guide says this car series (2600)had black roofs, while this car has silver (should be 2500 series?). Oh well, at least it's colorful!
Rick

[Sokramiketes]

received one of the Milwaukee DF RBL's from Chuck today, Milwaukee color guide says this car series (2600)had black roofs, while this car has silver (should be 2500 series?). Oh well, at least it's colorful!
Rick

Its got possibility after a quick adjustment to the angle on the sills and adding another pair of rods to the plug door. 

[Robbman]

BNSF flat proto... have fun.

http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=23698

[James Costello]

BNSF flat proto... have fun.

http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=23698

Challenge accepted. Might even do a BN version too.