Harriman Roofs for MT Coaches - Any Interest?

[VonRyan]

I am ready  to buy!!! I'm working on about 25 different SP Oval roof cars, some with MT, Rivarossi, Atlas and expecting a bunch of car side from Roberto in Italy.
How soon can I get these????

Robert Bond
San Antonio, TX

Well, I have seven original castings of the Lima/Micro-Trains roofs (yet unmodified for use on MT cars) and one Rivarrosi roof on hand.

New castings of the Lima/Micro-Trains roofs can be made, packaged, and ready for sale in a couple months, but that is only if the molding/casting material supplier will allow me to mail them a cash payment since all the company monetary assets are in cash. If they won't, then who knows.

[peteski]

I'm curious as to what type of resin is used in your kits?

Is it the stinky kind (has a strong moth-ball-like smell which never goes away), like Fine N Scale uses or the odorless type like used by DKS and Lunde Studios?

[VonRyan]

I'm curious as to what type of resin is used in your kits?

Is it the stinky kind (has a strong moth-ball-like smell which never goes away), like Fine N Scale uses or the odorless type like used by DKS and Lunde Studios?

We're planning on using either the same stuff that Konrad used back in the 80s/90s, or experimenting with other companies products.

As far as I know, Konrad was the only model-railroad manufacturer that was using Dow Corning's resin. He just added colorant to it so as to disguise what it was he was using to prevent anyone from catching on and trying to copy his methods.

But these days, there isn't much need for that.

[peteski]

We're planning on using either the same stuff that Konrad used back in the 80s/90s, or experimenting with other companies products.

As far as I know, Konrad was the only model-railroad manufacturer that was using Dow Corning's resin. He just added colorant to it so as to disguise what it was he was using to prevent anyone from catching on and trying to copy his methods.

But these days, there isn't much need for that.

That doesn't answer my question - stinky or odor-free?   

[VonRyan]

That doesn't answer my question - stinky or odor-free?   

I couldn't answer one way or the other. I don't know what "stinky resin" is.
Dow Corning's resin doesn't have a foul smell, nor a sweet one, nor a sour one.
But to my nose it isn't "odor free", because nothing really is.

[peteski]

I couldn't answer one way or the other. I don't know what "stinky resin" is.
Dow Corning's resin doesn't have a foul smell, nor a sweet one, nor a sour one.
But to my nose it isn't "odor free", because nothing really is.

Like I described in my earlier post, some resins have strong foul smell of moth-balls (if you ever smelled them, you know how bad it is).  Manufacturers like Chooch, Fine N Scale, and Showcase Miniatures use that type of resin.  The strong smell never goes away. 

DKS used another type of resin which had no discernible odor (to my nose). The Smooth-On resins I use also have no odor (smell) after they set.

I wasn't expecting you to get your calibrated olfactormeter and spectrometer to give me some scientific evaluation of the odor.    Sounds like the resin you will use has no or very low odor. - which to me is a good thing.

[ChristianJDavis1]

I finally got around to taking a picture of the Harriman Roof (I only have one, when I thought I had more). Oh well. I also took some pictures of the Air Conditioned Pullman roof. The castings are a little rough, but where likely rejected samples anyway (owing to why they where hidden away). The resin has no discernable odor, unlike the Fine-N-Scale cars I have, which stink in comparison. First is the Harriman Roof:

 


This one is the better of the castings I have. I did not have an MT coach at the ready to do a test fit. The bottom reveals nothing about what car it was meant to fit. With a little work, this roof could probably work for the MT car. Now on to the Air Conditioned Roof:




This castings is a little more rough than the other one (I have three of these total). Upon inspection, there is no doubt what this car is meant to fit. I did test fit it to a Rivarossijeavyweight with no problems. I did not have one on hand for these pictures, though.

[peteski]

The resin has no discernable odor, unlike the Fine-N-Scale cars I have, which stink in comparison.

Thanks - that is good to know.  I prefer using stinky organic-solvent paints, but I like my resin parts with low or no odor. 

[VonRyan]

The castings I gave Christian are of a different quality than standard C&A castings. There was a specific reason why some were done like that, but I cannot remember what the reason was.

I have the secondary master for the Lima/MTL roofs prepped and ready for a test-fit on an MT coach tomorrow afternoon. Pictures will be posted of the results.

[VonRyan]

Here is the official test photo of the C&A Lima/MTL Harriman roofs as tested on a Micro-Trains paired window heavyweight coach.

A few minor refinements still being worked out to better enhance the fit, but overall I am pleased with the results.

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[Cajonpassfan]

Cody, i hope these are not as heavy as the originals. I have some of the originals from way back and they made my cars too top heavy to operate. I ended up grinding out the insides (a messy process) as much as I dared and they are still heavier then I'd like.
Certainly a much needed product.
Otto K.

[VonRyan]

Cody, i hope these are not as heavy as the originals. I have some of the originals from way back and they made my cars too top heavy to operate. I ended up grinding out the insides (a messy process) as much as I dared and they are still heavier then I'd like.
Certainly a much needed product.
Otto K.

I'll be sure to take that into account as I further refine the current master.

I'll be performing field-tests of the car's performance this weekend on a large N-Trak layout.
The car is a purely stock MTL coach, just with the C&A roof.

In the background of the photo an MTL diner can be seen with the Rivarossi-length roof partially fitted. Further refinement is needed of that one before any field-testing can begin.

[babbo_enzo]

I'm following this argument with great interest as I'm modeling SP in the 50'.
Sure a much needed product, and a simple way to convert a "well it's my RR" into a stand in model.
I'm also curious about the Rivarossi you mention: are the same HW cars that ConCor sells in the past? I've 3x 6 cars boxes on shelf somewhere!
Keep going this project

[jmlaboda - RIP]

I'm also curious about the Rivarossi you mention: are the same HW cars that ConCor sells in the past?

Yes.

[Catt]

Anybody know what the Model Power heavyweights are or were originally were. I would not mind getting some round roofs for my Bachmann shorty heavyweights (or whatever they are).