MTL October releases

[conrail1973]

@Bendtracker1 Thanks for the information!  I'm looking for Airslides for sugar use, and the BN release will make a nice addition for one of my industries.

Adam

[Cumbo2000]

As Bryan pointed out the worst noticeable flaw is the truck centers which isn't even close to correct.  After that would be the width of the car which is also really off, but not as easy to see.  The MTL car is also just slightly longer than the Red Caboose Car.


Jason

I just check mine again and the rivet pattern appears correct for a X29. The problems are all with the underframe as MTL chose to use the one from their PS-1 boxcar. That decision made the underframe too wide for the X29 and have a too short truck center spacing.

Regards,

Bob Witt

[bbussey]

I just check mine again and the rivet pattern appears correct for a X29. The problems are all with the underframe as MTL chose to use the one from their PS-1 boxcar. That decision made the underframe too wide for the X29 and have a too short truck center spacing.

Bob,
It utilizes the PS-1 underframe?  I never noticed that.  I don't have many since the RC car was out first with multiple variations and I have a bunch of those, including some Pennsy REA.  I know I have the PRR MOW and the one deco'd for the cement company, one of which I will dissect to satisfy my curiosity.

[nkalanaga]

I have one MT X29, painted for the Maine Central, and it does have a PS-1 underframe.  Not knowing anything about X29s, I never thought anything of it, and I doubt that very many appeared on the 1974 BN anyway.

I would have thought that, if they had to recycle an underframe, the "USRA" boxcar would have been the logical donor.  It's narrower, whether it's any more accurate in other ways.

[thomasjmdavis]

"I would have thought that, if they had to recycle an underframe, the "USRA" boxcar would have been the logical donor"

Now I am really confused.  I thought the MT "USRA steel boxcar" was the body used for the "X29". 

http://www.spookshow.net/freight/mt40usrabox.html

[nkalanaga]

I didn't know that MT made a USRA steel boxcar.  I believe Atlas does, but the only USRA boxcars I have from MT are the wood sheathed ones.  On the other hand, I haven't bought any since it was Kadee, so they may have a steel one by now.

[Point353]

I didn't know that MT made a USRA steel boxcar.  I believe Atlas does, but the only USRA boxcars I have from MT are the wood sheathed ones.  On the other hand, I haven't bought any since it was Kadee, so they may have a steel one by now.

The 120-xx-xxx series of boxcars is supposed to be of a USRA prototype.
They have been made in four versions, with a Murphy or flat style roof and a vertical or side-mounted brakewheel.

[OldEastRR]

Didn't X29s for express service have express trucks and passenger car system piping?  What available trucks would be replacements for the MTL trucks?

[bbussey]

Didn't X29s for express service have express trucks and passenger car system piping?  What available trucks would be replacements for the MTL trucks?

From what I remember, they ran on standard AAR trucks.

[Point353]

From what I remember, they ran on standard AAR trucks.

This page lists quite a variety of trucks that could be found under an X29:
http://prr.railfan.net/freight/classpage.html?class=X29
Plus, it states that "other truck classes may also have been used."

One PRR-specific option from that list would be the 2D-F8 from Bowser:
http://www.spookshow.net/trucks/prr2df8.html

[thomasjmdavis]

Keystone Crossing has a cross listing for just about every PRR truck.  Unfortunately, it is "HO biased" when it comes to manufacturers, but still gives a pretty good idea of what goes with what.

http://pennsyrr.com/index.php/freight/86-modeling/199-prr-truck-cross-reference

[mmagliaro]

I don't want anyone at MT to take this question the wrong way, but is a MT X29 actually a model of an X29, or is it a more generic boxcar?  If accurate, I could use a couple to supplement the old Red Caboose ones I have.

Now I am curious.  The Red Caboose ones are really nice (low ride height, low body profile and correct truck spacing that is
pushed out more toward the ends of the car).  They are still around for 8 to 10 bucks on eBay these days.
Is there something special about this MT version?  Why not just snap up some more of the Red Caboose ones?

[bbussey]

Now I am curious.  The Red Caboose ones are really nice (low ride height, low body profile and correct truck spacing that is
pushed out more toward the ends of the car).  They are still around for 8 to 10 bucks on eBay these days.
Is there something special about this MT version?  Why not just snap up some more of the Red Caboose ones?

That's what I did when I needed some additional ones.