N Scale Container Chassis: Why is it So Hard to Get Them Right?

[tehachapifan]

3 2 prominent but older pewter kits of 48' container chassis, all both several scale inches to a foot too short, one of which was spectacularly rendered and detailed otherwise (the 3rd I originally listed had a correct 48' length. Their 45' kit did not). At least one relatively recent 40' RTR chassis that is 40' long over the ends and has no (prototypically correct) front "bulkhead" and also no "gooseneck" that inserts into the container "tunnel" (I'm yet to see a prototypical container chassis without a front bulkhead). And, as far as I'm aware, there hasn't been a completely correctly modeled container chassis in N scale too date of any length (has there?). How hard is it to research the general shape/design of a typical container chassis and realize that, in the case of a 48' container chassis, it needs to be 48' FROM THE BACK SURFACE OF THE FRONT BULKHEAD to the very end CORNER of the chassis? The container is 48' long, not the chassis!! Can you tell I've been splicing kits together to get correct length 48' chassis?

[cfritschle]

3 At least one relatively recent 40' RTR chassis that is 40' long over the ends and has no (prototypically correct) front "bulkhead" and also no "gooseneck" that inserts into the container "tunnel" (I'm yet to see a prototypical container chassis without a front bulkhead). And, as far as I'm aware, there hasn't been a completely correctly modeled container chassis in N scale too date of any length (has there?).

I am also hoping someone will produce a true 48-ft container chassis. 

There is/was a least one prototype chassis manufacturer of 40-ft straight frame chassis.  http://www.chassisking.com/products/40-foot-container-chassis/40-foot-straight-frame-container-chassis/

[Mark5]

Is anyone currently even making N scale chassis?

N Scale kits seems to have vanished and Jacksonville Terminal has been silent for a few years. 

(I guess Kato makes some sort of 40' chassis that came with their Volvo truck)

[tehachapifan]

I am also hoping someone will produce a true 48-ft container chassis. 

There is/was a least one prototype chassis manufacturer of 40-ft straight frame chassis.  http://www.chassisking.com/products/40-foot-container-chassis/40-foot-straight-frame-container-chassis/

Should've known Ed's law would come into play with this as well! Thanks for the link! Still, chassis with bulkheads and goosenecks are far more common.

Is anyone currently even making N scale chassis?

N Scale kits seems to have vanished and Jacksonville Terminal has been silent for a few years. 

(I guess Kato makes some sort of 40' chassis that came with their Volvo truck)

If it's the same (extendable) one they included with their yard tractors, I find that one rather chunky and disproportioned (the frame looks too thick, wheels/tires look too small, and the rear bumper almost sits on the ground). That said, while it doesn't really resemble anything I've ever seen overall, they did more or less correctly model a bulkhead and a gooseneck.

[Scottl]

Looks like a simple 3d design.

[nkalanaga]

The "Latest News" from Jacksonville Terminal was posted Feb. 4, 2024, over two years ago.  Are they still in business? 

[reinhardtjh]

The "Latest News" from Jacksonville Terminal was posted Feb. 4, 2024, over two years ago.  Are they still in business?

My last newsletter from them was dated April 14th, 2025.
Their Facebook page has a post dated December 5th, 2025 about some new HO containers in stock
There is a July 2nd, 2025 post that they had been dropped by their largest distributor and were doing direct sales.  That may have killed them.
Also on Facebook is a post from May 16th, 2025 citing factory delays and problems for both HO and N scale items.

[nkalanaga]

Doing everything on Facebook doesn't help either.  I don't have anything to do with Facebook.

They used to send announcements as PDFs, but I haven't had one of those since September of 2023. 

My last communication from them was an email in April of 2025 apologizing for not sending emails.

[pmpexpress]

My last newsletter from them was dated April 14th, 2025.
Their Facebook page has a post dated December 5th, 2025 about some new HO containers in stock
There is a July 2nd, 2025 post that they had been dropped by their largest distributor and were doing direct sales.  That may have killed them.
Also on Facebook is a post from May 16th, 2025 citing factory delays and problems for both HO and N scale items.

Having arrived just after the huge tariff increases were implemented, there's also the issue of JTC getting burned on their last run of NSC 53' Well Cars.

With a substantially higher $69.95 MSRP then was originally quoted during the preorder period, all of the aforementioned cars are still in stock.

Given the company's size, it probably wasn't possible to absorb the bulk of the amount that had to be paid to the government for the unexpected increase in tariffs.

[samusi01]

The last time I contacted JTC, in mid November, I received a response four days later which I include below.

Yes, the prototype of our model was also in service as three car draw-bared units, with just very minor detail differences. I don’t have my files handy to get the TTX Type right now.
 
We are developing planes to offer these 3-unit drawbar sets, hopeful in 2026.

Original question related to their NWF13 vs. NWG30 car types.

[Wlal13again]

Didn't JTC have some demo models of highway tractors at a show? not sure what year.  I had spoke with them and they had plans on doing other thing as well like yard tractors..

[Wlal13again]

[Wlal13again]

Should've known Ed's law would come into play with this as well! Thanks for the link! Still, chassis with bulkheads and goosenecks are far more common.

If it's the same (extendable) one they included with their yard tractors, I find that one rather chunky and disproportioned (the frame looks too thick, wheels/tires look too small, and the rear bumper almost sits on the ground). That said, while it doesn't really resemble anything I've ever seen overall, they did more or less correctly model a bulkhead and a gooseneck.

I believe the old Chiquita containers ran on a straight chassis

[Mark5]

JTC? 

I was able to get some 40' chassis from them before they went silent. I was waiting on the 20' chassis, which I assume is still pending.

https://jtcmodeltrains.com/collections/container-chassis

[Wlal13again]

JTC? 

I was able to get some 40' chassis from them before they went silent. I was waiting on the 20' chassis, which I assume is still pending.

https://jtcmodeltrains.com/collections/container-chassis

The 20 footers were released some time ago.  They are sold out at JTC.