Late PS-1 50' Boxcars....

[ljudice]

I take it that this is a late PS1, given the differing door configuration from the excellent MTL model.  Any other roads have these?  Perhaps this would be an easy variant for MTL to do???

[MichaelWinicki]

Boy, I gotta say if given a choice I'd rather see Athearn do it if anyone. 

MT 50' PS1's are too tall when it comes to the height of the box.

[bbussey]

Agreed, the Athearn/MDC model is a better representation of the prototype.

[ljudice]

So the MTL body itself is too high or it's ride on it's underframe????


Looks like this decal set could stand in for doing these cars:

http://highballgraphics.com/FN-238.htm

[Kisatchie]

Agreed, the Athearn/MDC model is a better representation of the prototype.

Except for the loose roofwalks on the majority of Athearn cars I've seen. I'd rather have the Micro-Trains cars and their slightly high ride height than to have to rip off the roofwalks and reattach them to the Athearn cars.


Hmm... I like to rip the
legs off of termites and
just eat the bodies...

[ljudice]

Except for the loose roofwalks on the majority of Athearn cars I've seen. I'd rather have the Micro-Trains cars and their slightly high ride height than to have to rip off the roofwalks and reattach them to the Athearn cars.


ah, hA - but its an advantage if you want them off!!!!

[garethashenden]

I thought that the PS-2 was a covered hopper and the PS-1 was the boxcar. I was under the impression that there were 40' and 50' versions of the PS-1. Is that not correct?

[ljudice]

My mistake:

PS1 Boxcars
PS2 Covered Hoppes
PS3 Open Hoppers

[MichaelWinicki]

Except for the loose roofwalks on the majority of Athearn cars I've seen. I'd rather have the Micro-Trains cars and their slightly high ride height than to have to rip off the roofwalks and reattach them to the Athearn cars.

Securing down the running boards on the Athearns is a piece of cake compared to trying make the MT 50' box car more accurate, which would entail cutting a section out of the car.  A simple dab of Super Glue, or Quick Grip Glue on the end of a toothpick will take care of any running board issues.

[bbussey]

So the MTL body itself is too high or it's ride on it's underframe????

Both.  It stands too high over the rail, and as with the 40-footers the body height is too tall.  The Athearn cars ride too high also, but the body dimensions are correct.

[amato1969]

I would love Athearn to tool up a post-1960 version, with low ladders all around, low brakewheel, and no roofwalk.

  Frank

[bbussey]

Except for the loose roofwalks on the majority of Athearn cars I've seen. I'd rather have the Micro-Trains cars and their slightly high ride height than to have to rip off the roofwalks and reattach them to the Athearn cars.

Or ... you could just re-cement the loose areas of the etched Athearn roofwalk on the Athearn car and stay with the better-looking accurately-decorated model.

[Kisatchie]

Both.  It stands too high over the rail, and as with the 40-footers the body height is too tall....

How much is the body height off? The car looks fine to me.


Hmm... the bananas I'm
gonna have for supper
look fine to me...

[MichaelWinicki]

Fair question Vincent!

Here's an Athearn 50' alongside a MT 50'...



And keep in mind the Athearn car rides a little high on its own, here's a comparison between the Athearn 50' alongside one of the new Atlas 40' PS1's which is at the correct ride height and its dimensions are accurate...



The MT 40' PS1's have the same issue; here's a side by each comparison between an Atlas PS1 and an MT PS1– and at least to me there is a big difference...



Is it something that everyone is going to care about?  Nope.  But if someone is going to come out with a new variant I would like to see it come out with accurate measurements.  Ride height can be compensated for (usually), but if the measurements are off on the box then you've got a much bigger challenge. 

[Kisatchie]

Thanks for the info and photos. I'm going to keep my Micro-Trains PS1 box cars.


Hmm... Kiz is just cheap...