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MTH O Scale "Premier" 50ft HiCubes.

F-UnitMad

By F-UnitMad,
in USA & Canadian Railroads

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F-UnitMad

F-UnitMad

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At the last couple of Telford Guildex events I've been able to pick up a couple of MTH 'Premier' 50ft HiCube Boxcars, fitted with 2-rail trucks & kadee #805's. Normally I wouldn't have even considered MTH as they are usually 3-rail, and I get the impression a lot of 3-rail stuff is also dimensionally compromised, but these Boxcars look spot on, and are well detailed.

Here's one of them - whoever owned it previously has done a neat weathering job & added a load.

20140907_154659_zps346ff56f.jpg

 

My other one is in CSX blue. What I'd really like is one in TTX "Railbox" yellow.

They seem to be currently sold out from MTH & several US retailers. I'm also aware that MTH only supplied them as 3-rail, but if anyone has one (either side of The Pond) that they would sell for a reasonable price, feel free to PM me. ;)

 

Edit - Posted in the USA Section rather than "Classifieds /Wanted" as it's more likely to be seen by like-minded members.

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40019

40019

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I did pick this up on the Bring & buy & almost parted with the cash, but left it there - they do look good & that one is nicely weathered

 

I consoled myself by picking up this PC caboose instead 

 

I'll keep an eye out for a yellow one

 

Paul.........post-24082-0-55436000-1411502063_thumb.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

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F-UnitMad

F-UnitMad

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My local Model Shop has quite a bit of MTH stuff*, which alongside Lionel I'd just dismissed as unsuitable for 2-rail, but after I picked up the CSX HiCube at Telford last year I had a rethink. I also have a Lionel Covered Hopper (PS2 I think) which is accurately scaled, and an MTH Centerbeam Flat - which I suspect may actually be a bit narrow, but with 2-rail trucks and Precision Scale wheels they all look good.

My only teeny-weeny disappointment with them is that the trucks don't have rotating bearing caps like Atlas.

 

* Edit: ...but not, of course, the TTX Boxcar I'm after!! :(

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Andy Reichert

Andy Reichert

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My local Model Shop has quite a bit of MTH stuff*, which alongside Lionel I'd just dismissed as unsuitable for 2-rail, but after I picked up the CSX HiCube at Telford last year I had a rethink. I also have a Lionel Covered Hopper (PS2 I think) which is accurately scaled, and an MTH Centerbeam Flat - which I suspect may actually be a bit narrow, but with 2-rail trucks and Precision Scale wheels they all look good.

My only teeny-weeny disappointment with them is that the trucks don't have rotating bearing caps like Atlas.

 

* Edit: ...but not, of course, the TTX Boxcar I'm after!! :(

 

You can't have rotating bearing caps AND pin-point axle bearings.  For those running longer trains, the rotators are probably a real drag.

 

Andy

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DaveB

DaveB

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Received this Illinois Central from MTH via Railking. It is switcheable 2/3 rail. All rolling stock is Weavers via Ebay. This is my first venture into o gauge,(I put it on my bucket list!) and I didn't even know there was a 2 rail and 3 rail version!

Buildings at rear of pictures are downloaded from 3DK and I think give a good impression (very cheap too).

 

 

Dave

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post-8889-0-29805400-1411572323_thumb.jpg

post-8889-0-72841200-1411572351_thumb.jpg

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F-UnitMad

F-UnitMad

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You can't have rotating bearing caps AND pin-point axle bearings.  For those running longer trains, the rotators are probably a real drag.

 

Andy

Yeah I know that... :D

I've just replaced the plastic wheels that came with the MTH cars with metal ones. I sent off for some MTH "2-Rail Trucks" and they came with molded caps/pinpoint axles too :mad:  According to Jack Hill's Blog (now defunct for a few years - a real shame) he used Lionel 'bearing cap' trucks with NWSL wheelsets on Weaver cars. I don't know if the same thing could work on MTH cars.

Oh and yes, if the Atlas trucks with rotating caps have the strengthening piece removed from across the truck, although the truck becomes more flexible & better sprung, the axles running through the frames can cause drag issues, so it's a bit of a catch-22 situation.

 

Dave; love the loco - GP38-2 is a type I really could do with (in several liveries!!); I didn't know there was a "switchable" version either!!

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Prof Klyzlr

Prof Klyzlr

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Dear F-unit, Dave B,

 

RE Atlas RB trucks, 

 

On Chicago Fork, I used 2x Atlas Hicubes (already had the RB trucks), and 2x Red Caboose kits. I equipped the RC kits with the same Atlas RB trucks, replacing the "riser" piece with a length of thick styrene, and using the stock riser-retaining screws to hold the resulting "low rise" assembly together. The RC flat and tankcar bolsters mated up nicely, and the coupler height was bang-on relative to the Atlas cars and brass GP35 loco.

 

RE MTH/Weaver "scale" offerings

 

Finding the "Premium" range with proper pilots
(Not the daft talgo/swing-pilot toy setup. HINT: Look at the handrail mounting points. If they end/mount at the frame, it's a talgo-toy model.
If the handrails end and are-anchored down below the frame, at least 1/2 way down the step-wells like they should, it's a "scale model" version with fixed-pilot)

 

is an exercise in extreme patience. Plenty of MTH and Weaver (and even Atlas for that matter) O scale locos available, but very few in the "scale pilot" format.
Thankfully, if they have the scale-pilot, they likely also have the "3>2R conversion" capability, and in the case of MTH also already have the scale-wheelsets installed.

 

Indeed, there is one eBay crowd who appears to be selling CN-lettered "train sets" of Weaver gear, inc a GP3x, at potentially nice prices, with potential "O2R" capabilty.
(would need to undergo a mass wheelset swap-out, likely just replace the trucks with Atlas RBs ;-) ).

 

Having sold the original Chicago Fork some years ago, I see these occasionally and think "Hmmm, a complete equipment set for a canadian-outline "Chicago Fork" in one box, for less than I paid for the brass GP35 on the original CF"... (tempting, if I had the storage space...)

 

I know we've fharped on about it before, but why the US market's obesssion with 3R? I have to say I don't get it, particularly with the oft-stated refrain that "the future of O scale will be refugees-from-the-smaller-scales who want the same or better level-of-detail as they had in HO, in a larger model".

 

Um, here's a hint, an oddball 3rd rail and talgo pilots do not say "HO-level detail in a larger package"...

 

(/rant)

 

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

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F-UnitMad

F-UnitMad

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Yes, I slightly fell for the "3-Rail Legacy" thing with my Atlas RS3; it is 2-rail, with fixed pilots, but being from the "Trainman" range has handrails that stop short at the frame (as per 3-rail) and the pilots are also 3-rail with a plastic 'filler' piece to fill the 3-rail gap. I'll get around to doing something about the handrails in due course. The Atlas RS3 also turns out to have hoods that are a bit high, apparently in order to cover the vertically-mounted motors. The clue is that the cab center windows are a bit shallow - more rectangular than square. But hey-ho; I prefer it to the Weaver version which requires a lot more work (carve off molded grab irons, replace plastic handrails etc) and my Atlas RS was cheaper than a Weaver RS I saw as well. ;)

 

I think the 3-rail "thing" in the US is the fact that with very sharp curves, a lot of Railroad can be got into a relatively small area. And as the traditional 'mindset' seems to be Basement Empire-focussed, obviously the more track you can fit in your basement, the better your pike is..... or something like that??!!?? :O

 

Edit - I've found a potential lead over on another Forum. Email sent!!

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brianusa

brianusa

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Agree with the previous post.  There are precious few columns on 3R on these forums but this may be a situation brought on by location.  A lot of houses in the US are bigger than the UK which allows for basement or room layouts without having to resort to converting garages or attics.  At one time Lionel and Hornby trains were the must have but since Hornby O disappeared, OO took its place with the ability to fit a lot of trains in a small place.  Lionel took a different view with sharper curves which allowed a lot of trains in the same small place.  If one had a bigger space, so much the better.  O gauge over here faltered a bit but recovered well and with the introduction of better models from newer companies, has increased its popularity and perhaps the same will happen in the UK with all the new models from ACE et al.   Also a transformation occurred when O tinplate morphed into scale locos and rolling stock with remote control.  It basically divided the scale boys from the Lionel toy boys and while there are still active Lionel type layouts, they are outnumbered by the more modern versions.

 

Brian.

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F-UnitMad

F-UnitMad

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Edit - I've found a potential lead over on another Forum. Email sent!!

Well that's nice. The Boxcars on that advert are now listed as Sold - no courtesy of even a reply to my email from the Seller (even if it was "sorry, already sold"), and a "Wanted" post I put on that Forum about this has also been removed without explanation. :scratchhead: :mad:

 

Still looking for an MTH TTX HiCube as per the OP, guys.....

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Andy Reichert

Andy Reichert

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Well that's nice. The Boxcars on that advert are now listed as Sold - no courtesy of even a reply to my email from the Seller (even if it was "sorry, already sold"), and a "Wanted" post I put on that Forum about this has also been removed without explanation. :scratchhead: :mad:

 

Still looking for an MTH TTX HiCube as per the OP, guys.....

 

You can try Central Coast trains in Atascadero CA. They often purchase remainders of runs and also find items.  They are reachable by me, so if they couldn't post something direct, I probably could collect it and send it on myself.

 

Andy

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jjb1970

jjb1970

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I think US O gauge 3 rail and even some 2 rail serves a market of its own and that it is probably a lot closer to the traditional Hornby trainset market (sadly a rather moribund market) than the sort of modelling most RMweb people will be interested in. As such it is judged against different criteria and many aspects which may seem gimmicky or toy like to some of us are part of the attraction for the target market. Lionel, MTH etc are not really my cup of tea but I know people who have made some really rather impressive set ups and take a lot of pleasure from them.

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brianusa

brianusa

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The US market is indeed a market of its own. There are those elsewhere who have an interest but the logistics of obtaining items puts off the all but raving enthusiast. The RMweb is obviously dominated by scale OO modellers, but a lot can be learned from their posts to apply to tinplate layouts. If they are real train enthusiasts, any scale should be interesting to them as their layouts are to myself and other tinplaters.

 

I run O gauge US trains and Hornby on the same layout so I don't know what the reaction would be to that!

 

Brian

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jjb1970

jjb1970

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I'm a big believer in running whatever you like and not getting too hung up on these things. I know that is considered heresy by some but the hobby should be fun. I love Japanese n and when having a running session on a hastily thrown together Kato unitrack "layout" on the laminate floor run Japanese trains alongside any other n gauge that grabs my attention. Some day I'd like to build a OO layout designed to accomodate Bulleid era Southern and GWR trains but if I do get around to it there'll be a lot of BR steam and corporate blue and regular visits by North American, German and French trains.

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