MTL heavyweight baggage car

[eric220]

So with all the MicroTrains awesome coming out, I screwed up and posted this in the wrong thread.

My baggage cars landed today. I've already swapped out the trucks for 3D-7P2's, and they are awaiting door swaps.

@Shipsure you guys need to slow down so I can keep the awesome straight.

[thomasjmdavis]

I think the position of the bolster has something to do with the length of the car- the RPO and baggage have the bolster offset toward the end of the car, the sleepers, coaches and parlors are offset toward the center of the car.  But I agree that it helps to have them outboard for coupling, and there is less overhang on curves.

[arbomambo]

Hello all...
after two weeks of traveling, plus getting some other hobby work done, I finally had some time to organize my builds of ATSF baggage cars using the new Micro trains baggage cars as cores.
I like to assemble all the parts I need for the build and keep them in a separate project container (I don't enjoy hunting parts in the middle of a build)
With that in mind, I'm taking the time to show the various parts of the new MT car as I disassemble it while considering exactly what I need to do to build the first bash (the ATSF 70' baggage- there will be 8 builds of this one!)

The parts breakdown for this one is considerably more simple than any of the coaches, Pullmans, and Parlor cars
Here I'm showing the parts disassembled...roof, car body, underframe, weight, separate foot ladder/steps, glass (4  separate pieces)...not pictured are the two diaphragms, and trucks (i'm replacing the trucks with the MT commonwealth trucks)



the separate ladder/steps on these are a little different-Micro Trains has done some clever engineering here; I'm imagining so they can use the same underframe on any of their future 70' cars (read baggage/mail and horse car)...the individual ladder/steps are 'keyed' to fit in locator indents in the top of the underframe. The underframe is molded with multiple indents, allowing alternate ladder/step locations for a specific car.





Here is a shot of the end of the car, with the MT diaphragm removed. I'll need to remove the doors to allow free movement of the American Limited diapragms I plan to install.



Here is a shot of the M&R Sides ATSF 70' baggage side layed over the side of the car-a perfect fit!



of course, I'll need to sand each side of the car smooth- to provide a good gluing surface, and remove some material. I'll also need to cut the openings for the doors on the ATSF car. Other mods will include adding the ATSF channel sill (This fret is one of the very few of Roberto's Santa Fe head end cars that doesn't include the ATSF channel sill. I'll also need to remove the the underframe details (actually quite easy to do with the way MT engineered the piece), re arrange the ones I'll keep and fabricate others specific to the Santa Fe car.
It's interesting to note that this car will also serve as a perfect candidate for other Santa Fe head end car builds, from M&R sides, including the 70' Fishbelley sill baggage car, and the 70' Mail/Baggage car....

Fishbelly baggage:



ATSF Mail/Baggage:



The arrival of this (and future heavyweight cars) have really done N scalers a service. Personally they've really impacted, in a massively positive way, my ability to model heavyweight head end cars for specific carriers.
Thanks for looking,
Bruce

[chicken45]

So...I may start a new thread on this, but, how much does it cost to etch a single car side?

I've been wanting to do a business car for some time but never really knew how to start.

[bbussey]

... Here is a shot of the end of the car, with the MT diaphragm removed. I'll need to remove the doors to allow free movement of the American Limited diapragms I plan to install...

Bruce — you should be able to fill that channel with .030" styrene strip, remove the top detail level with the rest of the frame, and then mount the ALM diaphragms.  That's what I do with the MTL heavyweights.

[arbomambo]

Thanks Bryan,
  Now that I'm looking at it, other than smoothing the upper ridge, do you think it's necessary to fill the channel? I haven't trial fit yet, but now I'm wondering if the channel around the door is wide and deep enough to allow clearance for the diaphragm's 'inside' working mechanism (heavyweight version), allowing me to keep the doors. I added the diaphragms to the heavyweight RPO bash, and don't remember filling that channel left after removing the MT's non-working ones.
Bruce

[Mark5]

But I agree that it helps to have them outboard for coupling, and there is less overhang on curves.

This.

I plan to move the bolsters to the ends similar to what Skipgear (Tony) did.

Mark

[seusscaboose]

So...I may start a new thread on this, but, how much does it cost to etch a single car side?

I've been wanting to do a business car for some time but never really knew how to start.

talk to me
i have your answer
i konw a guy with a laser

[bbussey]

Thanks Bryan,
  Now that I'm looking at it, other than smoothing the upper ridge, do you think it's necessary to fill the channel? I haven't trial fit yet, but now I'm wondering if the channel around the door is wide and deep enough to allow clearance for the diaphragm's 'inside' working mechanism (heavyweight version), allowing me to keep the doors. I added the diaphragms to the heavyweight RPO bash, and don't remember filling that channel left after removing the MT's non-working ones.
Bruce

Yes, just remove the upper ridge detail over the door.

The channel is wide/deep enough, but I wanted extra mounting surface on mine to cement the ALM diaphragms in place.  The ALM frame covers the channel, so any styrene filler would not be visible.

[bbussey]

I think the position of the bolster has something to do with the length of the car- the RPO and baggage have the bolster offset toward the end of the car, the sleepers, coaches and parlors are offset toward the center of the car.  But I agree that it helps to have them outboard for coupling, and there is less overhang on curves.

Outboard-offset definitely is better in my opinion, on all the cars.  That Inboard-offset design is only advantageous if running the cars over 9¾" radius track.

I plan to move the bolsters to the ends similar to what Skipgear (Tony) did.

It helps on the Diner also, and allows the missing service door stirrups to be added without interfering in the operation of the model.

[reinhardtjh]

BLW has the June MTL lineup posted and it includes undecorated HW Baggage cars along with GN and SP painted models.

http://www.blwnscale.com/mt-new.htm

I can't find anything on the MTL site yet.

[Upstate Gator]

And the feeding frenzy begins.

Interesting CN express car listed as well.

 
Ben

[thomasjmdavis]

undecorated HW Baggage cars...
Interesting CN express car listed as well...

I suppose I should be grateful for small favors- the CN express car will be delayed for a few weeks, so I will have the opportunity to use next month's rent instead of this month's water bill.

If Shipsure and the boys keep this up, I think we will need a new Railwire category for job ads-

Aging model railroader with experience in cabinetmaking, set design and higher ed, seeks part time second job.  Will accept payment in Micro-trains cars, or direct deposit to MB Klein or BLW.

[JoeD]

Thank you. 

Joe

I suppose I should be grateful for small favors- the CN express car will be delayed for a few weeks, so I will have the opportunity to use next month's rent instead of this month's water bill.

If Shipsure and the boys keep this up, I think we will need a new Railwire category for job ads-

Aging model railroader with experience in cabinetmaking, set design and higher ed, seeks part time second job.  Will accept payment in Micro-trains cars, or direct deposit to MB Klein or BLW.

[arbomambo]

Does anyone here know the history and proper name/nomenclature of the new trucks that ride under the new Micro Trains baggage car? Will MT also be releasing these separately, as they do with the Pullman Standard trucks?
~Bruce