So, what about the next MT heavyweight body style??

[Alwyn Cutmore]

Brian,

I have to agree. A bit of paint and a couple of decals and hey presto a bright model. I have just bought three Rivarossi heavyweights for kit bashing. Claus Schlund from Hell Gate models is the driving force behind that with his articles in The Keystone Modeler. Brilliant stuff. Really looking forward to adding to my PRR Fleet of passenger cars. I will have to look at the latest NSR to see what the article is all about.

Regards

Al

[peteski]

I also think that the Rivarossi heavyweight models were of pretty decent quality.  They just need a little touch-up to look good in a consist with current MT models..

[spookshow]

Yeah, I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'.... 

Cheers,
-Mark

[bbussey]

All of the RivaRossi tooling was ahead of its time, especially the tank cars and the passenger cars, and they still fit in well today with just a little bit of work.  In fact, if you detail the RR cars the way Gregg Scott of GHQ has done with his North Coast Limited consist, you'll also have to upgrade the details on the MTL cars to match.

All the RR heavyweights really need is ALM diaphragms, body-mounted knuckle couplers, 36" wheels and lowering the body height to compensate, MTL (instead of the narrow GMM) vestibule steps, and equipment from the MTL underbody detail.

[rogergperkins]

Are the MTL parts all available to detail the Rivarrossi heavyweights as you suggest?
I think the trucks and body mount couplers are, but you mention steps in your list.
Thanks.
I still have my B&O Blue and Greys on the layout as well as 3 MTL B&O trains based solely on the 5 body styles release to-date.

[bbussey]

Contact MTL directly and ask to purchase the heavyweight parts you need.  Just because they are not available at the mass-market level doesn't mean they aren't available at all.   It simply means they don't believe they can sell enough to cover the overhead costs of making them available at the mass-market level.

[rogergperkins]

I have toyed with the idea of adding details to some body styles of Rivarrossi B&O cars that MTL has not released to-date.
It is not clear to me which body mounted coupler they offer as a part item is the same one they used on their passenger cards.   I have assembled one RPO kit. The body mounted coupler in that kit are attached by a Delrin pin versus a screw used in most of their coupler kits.
I found a part number for the PS 6-wheel 36" wheel trucks without couplers, so no problem there.

One of the issues to solve is how attach the new trucks and if the Rivarrossi screw and weight are used.
 

[bbussey]

The plastic pin is used in place of the screw on the heavyweights is for ease of assembly.  They do the same thing on the #1019 couplers (TOFC and auto racks).  The coupler is a standard #1015 on the heavyweights (they started the RPOs with #1023 but I think switched to #1015), and you can use a standard #00-90 screw after tapping the hole.

Regarding the RivaRossi cars - use the existing trucks and substitute in 36" wheelsets, adjusting the brake shoes if necessary and removing the coupler pockets.  Lower the bolsters to accomodate.  Cut the steps from an MTL heavyweight underframe and add to the RivaRossi car.  Body-mount the MTL couplers of choice.

[Alwyn Cutmore]

Hi Bryan,

Tried to get several under frames from MTL but they said they did not sell them as spares. I will try again and see how I go.

Regards

Al

[bbussey]

Al,

Contact Joe, he will make arrangements for you to purchase them.

[JoeD]

Yep, contact me at MTL and I can get you parts you need.  Next car will be the diner,  D78 to be specific.  Next series of cars are under development and i hope to announce them soon.

Joe

[Alwyn Cutmore]

Hi Joe,

Email despatched. With the D78 you have made my day.

Regards

Al

[Bob Bufkin]

Great a D78.  Is it the original 3 wheel truck or modernized 2 wheel?  Older roof or moden round roof.  A/C or non A/C.  Those diners had many variations.  Either way it can make for some great kitbashing possibilities.

[bbussey]

Sweet, a Pennsy prototype.  Easier to kitbash into a NH prototype.
 

[dougnelson]

D78 is great for a diner.  I would also like to see a solarium car.  Although MT did a nice open-platform observation car, these were a lot less common after the Great Depression.  For the 1940s and 1950s, solarium cars were more common than the open-platform observation cars.