Micro Trains Civil War Sets..

[robert3985]

Look like shiny plastic MTL wheels to me.  They are gloss black plastic and tricking your eye.

How did you know I only have one good eye???

Upon closer inspection, it has become un-tricked and yes, it is shiny black Delrin.

[rogergperkins]

I receive a set today and have already ran the cars headed by the Atlas 4-4-0 versus the one that came with the set.
My solution to the coupler issue between the tender and first car was to remove the stock coupler from one end of the car
and install a MTL 905 Z-scale coupler.  I like the appearance of the Atlas 4-4-0 and how nicely it runs.

Based on very limited running of the Bachmann 4-4-0, IMHO it seems to fall short of the Atlas 4-4-0.  I have Kato Unitrack and the Bachmann 4-4-0
stalled in several locations at turnouts and on straight track. This one may find its way to the Railroad Museum.

[nkalanaga]

I would think the Z couplers would look much better here, and as short as the cars are, the limited gathering range wouldn't matter.  In fact, these are about the size of Nn3 cars, and the Z couplers are also intended for them.  Since these will likely never be run with modern equipment, maybe MT would consider using Z couplers on any future cars?

[rogergperkins]

  I elected to change one coupler on one end of one car to a MTL Z-scale 905 to make it possible to use the existing coupler on the tender of the Atlas 4-4-0.
I do NOT advocate that MTL use these couplers on further releases; I am neutral on the matter. 
Just did what worked for me.
Installing the MTL coupler provided on the Bachmann locomotive tender is still an option for me.
At the present, I installed the MTL compatible knuckle coupler that came with the set.

[rogergperkins]

/>Atlas 4-4-0 with Micro-Trains Civil War set.
Viewing video, I see something about the locomotive that I did not notice on the layout.  It is hopping.

[DKS]

It is hopping.

It's happy!

[rogergperkins]

  I am not happy it is bobby up and down.  Never saw this until I did the video and watched it.
I did use the YouTube remove the shake feature, but do not think it caused the effect. 

[peteski]

I don't think ti is the locomotive.  Can you see the same movements when you watch it run?
In that video, the bridge, station, telephone poles, horse, boxcars, and several other items seem to be happily bouncing and swaying!

[robert3985]

Hahaha!!    Yup, it's the whole layout bouncing up and down!!  It's an artifact from your camera/phone's shutter, which is probably a "rolling shutter".

Thanks for the laugh!

[rogergperkins]

I think the motion is actually an artifact created by YouTube in its attempt to remove "shaking."  Certainly hope that is what I am seeing. 

[rogergperkins]

/>Take 2 without YouTube's help. 
Shaking was my unsteady hand holding Nikon Coolpix S3300.
Glad in was operator malfunction and not locomotive problem.

[fifer]

While I do not model Civil War era , I respect that MT has entered a brave new world there.
I would have to assume that NONE of us always gets it right the first time and MT is certainly one of the best at doing so.

IMHO

If we are truely railroad MODELERS we should be able to overcome some truely minor issues.

Yes , I am ready for fallout.


Mike

[robert3985]

While I do not model Civil War era , I respect that MT has entered a brave new world there.
I would have to assume that NONE of us always gets it right the first time and MT is certainly one of the best at doing so.

IMHO

If we are truely railroad MODELERS we should be able to overcome some truely minor issues.

Yes , I am ready for fallout.


Mike

From whom?  The North Koreans?

[AlkemScaleModels]

Regarding truss rods as modeled on the MT cars. Very few cars during the war had truss rods like these. You can remove them if they cause trouble. Those kind of truss rods with extended queen posts became prevalent after the ACW. So if you model a later period the truss rods are appropriate, but they would be rare in the ACW. The truss rods in ACW era cars tended to be straight and ran alongside the frame. They would not be visible from the side view.

With the MT cars, Atlas locos  and GHQ figures, N scale is now the scale with the best availability of ACW era items.  That is pretty amazing. Well done MT, Atlas, GHQ,  et al.

[loco-n]

Plus Bachmann, Fine N Scale, Republic Locomotive Works, Panamint Models/Eric Cox, Mark Watson/CG N Scale, Musket Figures, etc.. And there are some more! 2013 is a very good year for Old Time RR in N scale.
Franz