MTL July - Business Car Roof

[jmlaboda - RIP]

Below you will find the floorplans for NYC 30, which went on to become PC 30 and CR 10 before becoming CSX 994010 New York, and SOU Virginia which went on to become NS 1 Virginia, which are good examples of what a "Day" business car might be like on the inside...

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[thomasjmdavis]

Jerry,

The first drawing you showed appears to have the window arrangement of a Pullman sleeper-lounge-obs (both MT and Lowell Smith have marketed "business" cars based on the 3-2-L) while the second is a specific NYC which has windows not too unlike the new MT car.  So, frankly, I am a bit confused on the nature of your criticism.  Are you saying MT needed to do custom interiors for their business cars? (I don't own any of them, so I don't have one to take apart to inspect.

What specific details are you not finding on the MT model?

[jmlaboda - RIP]

The first drawing you showed appears to have the window arrangement of a Pullman sleeper-lounge-obs (both MT and Lowell Smith have marketed "business" cars based on the 3-2-L) while the second is a specific NYC which has windows not too unlike the new MT car.  So, frankly, I am a bit confused on the nature of your criticism.  Are you saying MT needed to do custom interiors for their business cars? (I don't own any of them, so I don't have one to take apart to inspect.

The first drawing is from my on-line article discussing rebuilding a MT Plan 3959 observation car into a business car.  That page can be found here...

http://n-scalevarnish.info/index/varnish/MT%20business%20car%20conversion.htm

The layout of the MT business cars simply do not fit with what has proven to be true for over a Century and that is why I am a bit critical of it.  With just a little effort a more appropriate window pattern could have been developed and used on their models, making them a much better model overall.  On the side opposite from most of the images that have been shown (with the observation platform to the left) a large portion of the side is windowless which would not normally be found on a business car since windows are part of the way the car interiors were lit (though they do have interior lighting).  Below is a link to the side I am speaking about, the blank part of the side... the three windows in the center of the car should be for the dining room but that should be further to the rear.

http://cdn.lowellsmith.net/wp-content/uploads/CPRR-Kansas_City-Obs-.jpg

The floorplans simply to show how the various sections of business cars are laid out, as described in my previous post.  I have provided the images as a way of illustrating various details that would be common to certain business car types.  Whether or not MT decides to do such an interior is largely up to them but would not address errors in design... as for interiors for me simply cutting up the observation's interior will work well enough for my purposes.

[Nato]

                   I have a feeling, (someone like Joe From MT could correct me if I' am wrong), that Micro Trains did the new modernized smooth side business car (if you could call it that) and the balloon roof tooling for Lowell Smith with the understanding that after so many years MT could also have access to the tooling and that the other Business Car body (think Magellan) that Lowell Smith now is also using will also be made available to MT down the road. As a hardcore Passenger Train Fanatic I have to agree with Jerry that the smooth side car does not have business car like features, the riveted side Magellan care is more business car like closer, but no cookie the kitchen end however is closer to a correct configuration for office cars, but as was pointed out along with photos of the real car in a previous thread the model is not a very good match.  Nate Goodman (Nato). Salt Lake, Utah. 

[daniel_leavitt2000]

If I were to start a CR5 or CR21 project do I start with this business car or use the observation with the balloon roof?

[ljudice]

If I were to start a CR5 or CR21 project do I start with this business car or use the observation with the balloon roof?

I may be wrong, but I think you need the business car and the roof package....

[jmlaboda - RIP]

If I were to start a CR5 or CR21 project do I start with this business car or use the observation with the balloon roof?

You could use the business car model or the Plan 3959 sleeper - lounge observation but for the latter you will need a arched roof to replace the clerestory roof (unless you are like me and be able to get a hold of a couple of the Circus obsy's with the arched roof, or purchase the CP observation that has the arched roof).  I would suspect that you would be using new sides for these... should not be too hard to do.  I have a couple of projects that will involve using the Circus obsy's with etched brass car sides being applied.

[chicken45]

That's great stuff @jmlaboda ! Thanks!!

[JoeD]

they are coming 

They are offering the 10-1-2 and 12-1 heavyweight sleeper Cars in Tuscan red.

Does Microscale offer decals for turning these models into cars used by PRR? Does anybody know the correct order number?

The runners pack for the PRR is quite disappointing as I was hoping for a three car runners pack with the paired window coach. Just like they did with the 10-1-2 and 12-1.

It would be easier on my wallet, too. As always, YMMV.

   Javier

[JoeD]

this was tooling commissioned by Lowell Smith and he decided on the window configuration that best fit his needs.  I was hoping we could use any number of proto cars to fit the bill but with the projects he had lined up they would not have worked.  So we got what we got.   Still, we've gotten a lot of requests for them...

Joe


 

No.  Not even close.

I hate that this is true... a little research could have provided them with an idea on how to do them right (there are common detail that could have been used to make the cars look at least half-way decent without following a specific prototype), and the so-called "Ferdinand Magellan" heavyweight is the same way... way off from common practices that were used by the railroads in creating their business car fleet.

Sad really...

[JoeD]

What I would like to know is will the "balloon" roof work on the other heavyweights? Does anybody know?

No they don...ends are unique to the business car as well.  I guess you can cut a few up and make it work.  I am hoping that I can get the time to put out a Harriman style roof to drop on some of the 70' cars to make them look a bit closer to proto.

[John]

I am hoping that I can get the time to put out a Harriman style roof to drop on some of the 70' cars to make them look a bit closer to proto.

This!!!!

I need to build one of these better ..

http://s3.amazonaws.com/rrpa_photos/10006/DSC00345.JPG

[thomasjmdavis]

@Shipsure,

Does the balloon roof also work with the 3-2-Lounge observation car?  Does the recently released ATSF business car (based on the 3-2-L obs) have a balloon roof, or a clerestory roof?  The promo photos make it a bit difficult to tell due to the shiny aluminum paint.

In any case, glad to have the roof parts and the undec business car.

[Missaberoad]

@Shipsure,

Does the balloon roof also work with the 3-2-Lounge observation car?  Does the recently released ATSF business car (based on the 3-2-L obs) have a balloon roof, or a clerestory roof?  The promo photos make it a bit difficult to tell due to the shiny aluminum paint.

In any case, glad to have the roof parts and the undec business car.

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Micro-Trains-N-14400170-3-2-Heavy-Observation-ATSF-p/mtl-14400170.htm

You can click on their image and get a larger version that shows the arched roof.

There was also a recent CP car that featured it...

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Micro-Trains-N-14400085-3-2-Heavy-Observation-CP-p/mtl-14400085.htm

[Norway2112]

No they don...ends are unique to the business car as well.  I guess you can cut a few up and make it work.  I am hoping that I can get the time to put out a Harriman style roof to drop on some of the 70' cars to make them look a bit closer to proto.

You do this and I'll be first in line for a Harriman roof to fit the RPO, Baggage-Mail and Horse Car.  @Lemosteam  and I have been working (mainly him, I just provided the specs for him) on such roofs.