Need Advice: Shipping Containers from Different Manufacturers

[Caveman]

So far I have 10 40' shipping containers that came with a Kato 5-unit well car. I want some more and maybe some 20' and 53' containers too. Many manufacturers make them with different names on the sides and I was wondering if other manufacturers' containers look the same and fit together with the Kato containers. Will they stay in the well cars while running? From what I understand, the Kato containers have magnets or something in them to make them stick together and they have little pins that keep the containers aligned.

If other containers are not compatible for running, do they look the same (or better) so I can use them as containers on the ground in a yard and/or stack them in a yard? Are some manufacturers better than others? Are there some I should stay away from?

Also, I have a new airbrush arriving in the next few days so I'll probably be interested in painting lots of stuff—at least until the newness wears off. Is there a good source for undecorated containers?

Thanks.

[MetroRedLine]

Here's how popular N scale containers are compatible, in terms of stacking connectivity:

Manufacturer / Available Sizes / Connectivity
Walthers / 40'; 48' / Bottom Pins (1)
Deluxe Innovations / 20'; 40'; 45'; 48'; 53' / No Connectivity
Kato / 40'; 53' / Magnets + Bottom Pins (2)
ScaleTrains / 53' / Bottom Pins (2)
Con-Cor / 40'; 45'; 48'; 53' / Top Pins
Micro-Trains / 40; 48; 53 / Bottom Pins (3)
Rolland Industrial Ltd / 20'; 40'/ Magnets
Atlas / 40' / Bottom Pins (1)
HobbyTrain / 40' / Magnets

Containers with bottom pin connectivity can stack with containers with the same number type (1, 2 or 3) -- i.e. Kato and ScaleTrains containers can stack.

[Caveman]

@MetroRedLine — Thank you for the information.

Are the pin locations based on a 40' container like the prototypes? For example, will the pins on the bottom of a ScaleTrains 53' container (at the ends of the 40' section) would mate with the pins on top of a Kato 40' container?

Do you know that information from your own equipment? Or is there a source for that kind of information online somewhere? I wasn't able to find it through Google and forum searches.

[crappie]

  You has look at DigCom Designs. cardstock kits  has maybe 50 diff containers you buy a PDF and make all you need. add magests. you can stack all you want

[prbharris]

If other containers are not compatible for running, do they look the same (or better) so I can use them as containers on the ground in a yard and/or stack them in a yard?........I have a new airbrush arriving in the next few days so I'll probably be interested in painting lots of stuff—at least until the newness wears off. Is there a good source for undecorated containers?

You could also try Simon Ansell's N Scale Laser containers www.nscalelaser.com single N030 and double stack containers N031 with decals [in a number of current leasees] from N Scale Kits.

Peter

Peter Harris
N Scale Kits
ww.nscalekits.com

[jagged ben]

Here it is, my only real contribution to the world of n scale internet how-to, and the way to stack different brands of containers.

http://www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?threads/double-stacking-your-containers-the-magnet-method.26737/

Pin locations, by the way, are a little screwed up.  They are basically in the right place for 40' containers, but Kato made their 53' containers first and placed the pins to far out for ISO containers as opposed to 102" wide domestics.  They and scale trains do not match others.   Pretty much you need my method, or tacky putty, if you want to mix and match brands.

[MetroRedLine]

@MetroRedLine — Thank you for the information.

Are the pin locations based on a 40' container like the prototypes? For example, will the pins on the bottom of a ScaleTrains 53' container (at the ends of the 40' section) would mate with the pins on top of a Kato 40' container?

Do you know that information from your own equipment? Or is there a source for that kind of information online somewhere? I wasn't able to find it through Google and forum searches.

Yes. The Kato and ScaleTrains pins are all located at the 40' container frame position, and a ScaleTrains 53' will stack with a Kato 40'.

I have gathered this info from my own equipment. I own containers from all manufacturers listed above, with the exception of Con-Cor (which is not stackable with any other container anyway).

[MetroRedLine]

Here's a better looking chart for container stacking compatibility:

[Caveman]

@crappie — The http://www.digcomdesigns.net/ website is only producing a blank page this morning. I hadn't thought of making containers out of heavy paper. I use a lot of 110# paper so it's already laying around. (For comparison, normal printer paper is 20#.)

@prbharris — Thanks. I'll check out both N Scale Laser and N Scale Kits later today.

@jagged ben — That's a great idea! I'm not sure what I would do with 1,000 magnets though. 

@MetroRedLine — The chart looks much nicer. I've started a blog where I'm making notes about things I find during my research on railroad-related things. Would you mind if I reproduce your table, with proper attribution, of course?

I work nights, so it's off to bed now. Thanks everyone.

[MetroRedLine]

@Caveman : Sure, no problem! I'd be interested in reading your blog too!

[jagged ben]

@jagged ben — That's a great idea! I'm not sure what I would do with 1,000 magnets though. 

What, you don't have 250 containers?     You can buy them in smaller quantities.

[Englewood]

I use Aleene's tacky glue to hold my containers together. Just a small drop will do the trick. When done, you can just rub the glue off with your finger. I've never had any containers discolor or anything from the glue. As far as which containers are compatible with each other, I couldn't tell you for sure. If pins get in the way of stacking them, I just use a different container on that spot. I've thought about clipping the pins off of the ConCor containers I have, which aren't many, but where else are you gonna get 53' Tropicana containers??

[MetroRedLine]

I've thought about clipping the pins off of the ConCor containers I have, which aren't many, but where else are you gonna get 53' Tropicana containers??

Con-Cor makes the WORST containers by far. The proprietary top pins are the least of their problems. First of all, they're too wide, which means they may have trouble fitting in certain well cars (Deluxe Maxi-III and Maxi-IV owners know this to be true), second, they either have foobie paint schemes, or if they have the correct paint scheme, it's for the wrong prototype container. The ScaleTrains containers are basically the Con-Cor 53'ers done correctly.

Con-Cor is full of fail. They're the only brand of containers I flat-out refuse to buy.

[JoeD]

We also have 20' containers here at MTL

Here's how popular N scale containers are compatible, in terms of stacking connectivity:

Manufacturer / Available Sizes / Connectivity
Walthers / 40'; 48' / Bottom Pins (1)
Deluxe Innovations / 20'; 40'; 45'; 48'; 53' / No Connectivity
Kato / 40'; 53' / Magnets + Bottom Pins (2)
ScaleTrains / 53' / Bottom Pins (2)
Con-Cor / 40'; 45'; 48'; 53' / Top Pins
Micro-Trains / 40; 48; 53 / Bottom Pins (3)
Rolland Industrial Ltd / 20'; 40'/ Magnets
Atlas / 40' / Bottom Pins (1)
HobbyTrain / 40' / Magnets

Containers with bottom pin connectivity can stack with containers with the same number type (1, 2 or 3) -- i.e. Kato and ScaleTrains containers can stack.

[MetroRedLine]

We also have 20' containers here at MTL

Thanks. Do they also have bottom pins?