Scale-Trains doing Tier-4 Gevos....

[GaryHinshaw]

I must admit I don't get the 53' well car gap frequently mentioned.  Deluxe did Maxi-IV and those are 53' wells.  Is there another model in particular people are looking for?  I'd be pleased to get some variety in stack trains but I am already happy with the Deluxe model (it needed washers added to fix it).

All of the currently-available, RTR well car models (except for the old 48' Walthers sets) are based on Gunderson prototypes which have smooth-side construction.  Trinity and National Steel both make 53' well cars with outside-rib construction which look very different from the Gunderson.   Here's a good example of a domestic stack train with a mix of well styles:

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/611024/

The current situation is like having only smooth side box cars available.

Added: In Canada, I've noticed that rib-side wells seem to be even more common than in the States, e.g.:

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/546165/

[Scottl]

Thanks Gary, that helps!

[Missaberoad]

Added: In Canada, I've noticed that rib-side wells seem to be even more common than in the States, e.g.:
http://www.railpictures.net/photo/546165/

There was a period in the early 2000's where CP Domestic Stack trains were almost exclusively NSC 53' wells (either in TTX or CP markings) ... There's more variety now, and CN has always been a mixed bag...

[ski]

I am going to be in trouble with my wife once my T4 preorder hits the credit card...

 

[Philip H]

There's a carbon black plant in Baton Rouge so this will feature on the new layout. I've already got 2'on order - I can see 4'or 5 more for the first run.

[migalyto]

I am going to be in trouble with my wife once my T4 preorder hits the credit card...

 

I hear you! I've already committed to 2 in HO and now 2 in N. luckily she knows of the HO purchase, but the 2 in N will be a total surprise!

[squirrelhunter]

I think part of the carbon black problem is that there are some people who need a ton of them who model customers like tire plants or even have a carbon black plant on their layout. Everyone else just needs one or two or three to scatter in their through freights.

These cars have always been common on the UP Houston to Brownsville line and the SP from Houston east, mainly because there were plants at Aransas Pass, Baytown, and Orange just to start with. The issue is they tend to be scattered as ones and twos in a lot of the freights headed north from the coast on the UP and BNSF.

My complaint was they did schemes that stand out too much- the Sid Richardson one in particular- or were only good for the 70's or after the late 90's. Only the WITX cars and one number of the Cabot cars could fit into the 1985-1995 space without either removing conspicutity stripes or ACI labels and U-1 dots.

They are a very distinctive car though. How many other black painted hoppers do you see running around?

[peteski]

Hopefully they will use needle bearings in axle cups for lower friction.

 

The shells were empty but the trucks had wheels installed and rolling. See my observation (as best I could)  in https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=42217.msg531266#msg531266

[Sokramiketes]

There was a powered, non-DCC equipped unit left on the Modutrak layout. 

Definitely not needle point, but pass through as Peteski mentioned.  There is also a small soldered wire running from the axle pickup into the body, so that will be something to watch for fatigue failure.  No sprung pickup strips. 

Other than the no-decoder-song, it ran very smoothly and didn't melt on 0 address...

Tooling is very sharp, especially in the roof grill area.  That was impressive. 

I haven't seen these angles posted yet:

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While some manufacturers are showing frame detail with molded in traction motor cables, this was the first I've seen with separate cable pieces.

[wcfn100]

I haven't seen these angles posted yet:

(Attachment Link)

Are the wheels on one side wider than the other or is that an illusion?

Jason

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Thanks for clarification.  Still pissed IMRC and ESU couldn't get this correct on the SD40-2's 

Have you talked to IM about it? I had a wonderful conversation with them on Saturday, and they're really interested in feedback!

[Sokramiketes]

Are the wheels on one side wider than the other or is that an illusion?

Jason

It does kinda look that way.  I didn't notice it in person...? 

I did notice that the axle assemblies move side to side a whole bunch in the truck frames.  Not sure if that's a small radius feature or just a function of the through axle pickups instead of needle points. 

[Seligman Sub]

FWIW- I emailed the folks at ST and Mike replied to me today about the grab iron issue.  He stated that they were sent directly from the factory for the show and they haven't had the time to review the models yet.  He indicated that they are going to do so when they get back from the show.  I'd suggest if it's a personal issue to you you indicate constructively via email or social media that you'd like to see this issue corrected. I indicated in my email that I felt that they stood off too far from the shell, but certainly gave them deserved high praise for the model in general.

[wcfn100]

It does kinda look that way.  I didn't notice it in person...? 

On my big screen I can see it's just an illusion created by the wheel wear which is definitely uneven. 


Jason

[mu26aeh]

Have you talked to IM about it? I had a wonderful conversation with them on Saturday, and they're really interested in feedback!

If they want feedback, I gave it to them thru their FB page.  Never heard anything back from them.