New Intermountain War Emergency Box Cars are out!

[up1950s]

First time I saw a wide door O/S braced box .
First time I saw a metal sided O/S braced box .

Thanks for that odd photo .

[wcfn100]

Can you guys see if the under frame is warped or not?  I think this uses all the same components (sans the sides) as the Modified 1937 AAR box car which has had the wrong under frame since the beginning of time.  I'm curious if these cars got the correct one.

Never mind, I can tell from the MBK pictures it's  still the wrong frame.  Hopefully the next run of modified cars will get it right.

Jason

[thomasjmdavis]

I have, however, always wondered about complaints about the undercarrage details. I mean, unless your model has derailed and turned over on it's back or side , who is going to see?

I will grant, it is a matter of personal perspective.  For myself, it comes down to 2 things.

1) In the days when I bought my first MT cars for (IIRC), I think I paid $3.98 each, and was impressed by how much more detailed they were than the Atlas cars that were $2.49.  In the days since, while I do allow for inflation, when you come right down to it, I expect better detail and accuracy in a car made in 2015 that sells for $21.95.  When I pay that much for a "ready to run" car, I may expect to add some extra details, or correct some minor discrepancy to make it road specific, but do expect it to run flawlessly around the layout, and to be properly assembled.

2) The wrong underframe, wheel diameter, or (as has been true of some Intermountain cars since the days of the kits) poor fit between the underframe and the floor parts (ribs not being notched to accept the beams, which was referenced earlier) leads to incorrect ride height, potential derailments, or "wobbly" cars. 

On the subject of brakewheels and grabs- after botching my first couple kits and busting 4 or 5 brakewheels trying to assemble Intermountain kits years ago, I bought several pairs of odd shaped surgical tweezers, and a set of miniature drill bits, and make a point of redrilling all the placement holes to be large enough to accept the mounting pins of the various detail parts.  It appears that the "one size too small" mounting hole remains an issue, even at the factory assembling the ready to run kits all these years later.  I suspect the reasoning was that the fit would be so tight, no adhesive would be necessary, but I have found them to sometimes be so tight that no assembly is possible.

I think my solution is going to be to buy a bunch of undecorated kits (assuming they appear), correct for some defects, and paint them myself.  I really do appreciate Intermountain for their willingness to take on some of these projects and have large numbers of their ATSF reefers and stock cars (which have their foibles, but seem to have better fit and finish than I am seeing in the photos of the war emergency cars).

Tom D

[sd45elect2000]

I now have 18 of these new cars and so far I really like them. Out of the 18 there are three that needed a little "adjustment".
The only fit problems I see are the top corner grabs, that's simple to fix.

I like the contrast of these new cars in a freight train!

I do miss the kits though, I've built 100s of them , gondola's, tank cars, reefers, box cars... I would sit in front of the TV with a pin vise and several kits drilling out holes, assembly was a snap after that. My favorites were the tank cars.

[nickelplate759]

Now, to go from that to this:





Not even sure it's worth trying to keep the sides; just take the ends and roof and build new bracing.

New trucks too!   The C&NW car has trucks refitted with roller bearings, and the old solid-bearing cover plates removed.

[Kisatchie]

I do miss the kits though... My favorites were the tank cars.

Ahhhhh! Nooooooooo.


Hmm... Kiz could never
finish the tank car kits.
He had to sell dozens
of 'em...

[sd45elect2000]

I love the tank cars !!

[sd45elect2000]

I would have gladly built them for you Kiz !


Randy

[Chris333]

Bought a 4th on ebay. At least this roofwalk doesn't bow up 

[Bob Bufkin]

I'll probably pick up a couple.  Anyone know how long they lasted in service?

[arbomambo]

I'll probably pick up a couple.  Anyone know how long they lasted in service?

DITTO.........
I'm curious as to how long these lasted on the Santa Fe...
Bruce

[wazzou]

Bought a 4th on ebay. At least this roofwalk doesn't bow up 

Whoever glued that one was determined to make certain of that.

[wazzou]

I'll probably pick up a couple.  Anyone know how long they lasted in service?

The ones on the Northern Pacific, though different than these offered by Intermountain, lasted well into the 70's.

[Cajonpassfan]

DITTO.........
I'm curious as to how long these lasted on the Santa Fe...
Bruce

Bruce,
of the 300 Bx-38's built in 1944, 293 were still in service in '56, 190 in '61, 25 in '70 and the last one went in '79. Looks like you're good!
Otto

[arbomambo]

Bruce,
of the 300 Bx-38's built in 1944, 293 were still in service in '56, 190 in '61, 25 in '70 and the last one went in '79. Looks like you're good!
Otto

Thanks!