Thanks for going the extra effort. I'm not about to strip a model that finely detailed so unless they offer my road (MP) or undec, I'll pass. I can't believe they would do ficticious roads but not cater to prototype modelers. I guess, once a toy train company, the habit is hard to break.

Jerry Glow

Thanks for going the extra effort. I'm not about to strip a model that finely detailed so unless they offer my road (MP) or undec, I'll pass. I can't believe they would do ficticious roads but not cater to prototype modelers. I guess, once a toy train company, the habit is hard to break.

Jerry Glow

Hello Group,

Going from memory here... so this may be reality... then again...

I somewhat remember an article in one of the model mags about modeling sugar beet loads. I think it was in a past issue of The WARBONNET of the Santa Fe Railway Historical & Modeling Society. It may have been in the 3rd quarter of 2005 issue -- Vol. 11, No. 3.

Hope this is of some help.

Happy Modeling & Happy Holidays,
Bill Keene
Irvine, CA


On Dec 22, 2010, at 8:02 AM, water.kresse@... wrote:

Glue together some bird seed and paint them purple-brown and dirt.

Al Kresse

----- Original Message -----
From: "PaDanby" <n6nvr@...>
To: STMFC@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 2010 4:15:18 AM
Subject: [STMFC] Re: Motrak car loads

--- In STMFC@yahoogroups.com, "PaDanby" <n6nvr@> wrote:

I've had a few people recommend contacting Motrak for sugar beet loads for my sugar beet cars. Unfortunately, I'm not having much luck finding anything current about them. Does anybody know if they are still in business, maybe under another name? or are they no longer with us?

Thanks for all the assistance. Looks like I'm going to have to do my own beets.

John

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In STMFC@yahoogroups.com, "rhammill" <nhrr@> wrote:

Photos are here for now: http://www.flickr.com/photos/16761215@N02/sets/72157625651838888/

Randy

Thanks, Randy.
It's bothersome that it appears that the paint is already chipping on the hand grabs, and there is evidence of a finger print on the end.
Can you tell us if the fingerprint is yours, or if it came that way? Worst case situation would be a print etched into the paint because of solvent or adhesive on someone's finger during assembly.

Thanks,
Ken Olson

I've had a few people recommend contacting Motrak for sugar beet loads for my sugar beet cars.  Unfortunately, I'm not having much luck finding anything current about them.  Does anybody know if they are still in business, maybe under another name?  or are they no longer with us?

Yep, I figured I'd post them here so folks wouldn't have to leave the site. I didn't realize they wouldn't be available right away.

I'm not sure if I'll get a chance before Christmas, but I'll try to pull together a better review and pictures to post on my site. I'm very interested to know what others think about the models.

Randy Hammill
http://newbritainstation.com

Yep, I figured I'd post them here so folks wouldn't have to leave the site. I didn't realize they wouldn't be available right away.

I'm not sure if I'll get a chance before Christmas, but I'll try to pull together a better review and pictures to post on my site. I'm very interested to know what others think about the models.

Randy Hammill
http://newbritainstation.com

--- In STMFC@yahoogroups.com, jerryglow@ wrote:

I had the same problem locating them. I think he posted them in the photos section here but they haven't "passed inspection" yet as the folder is empty.

Jerry Glow

--- In STMFC@yahoogroups.com, "lnbill" <fgexbill@> wrote:

Dear Randy

Are your photos posted somewhere. I tried your website and if they are there I could not find them. Thank you for your review.

Bill Welch

--- In STMFC@yahoogroups.com, "rhammill" <nhrr@> wrote:

Well, since I hadn't seen anybody posting on these, I was wondering how well they were done. So I picked one up. I had to special order it, since none of the shops in my area carry MTH HO models.

I am certainly not an expert on these cars. From what I've read here and elsewhere, the complaints for the existing models are:

1. The side center side panels on the Tichy hopper are too wide, and thus all of the ribs are moved too close to the ends

2. The Accurail ones are very accurate, but have molded on details

So I was hopeful that this model would be as accurate as Accurail, but have the fidelity of detail as the Tichy. And as far as I can tell, they have.

I've added a gallery of a few pictures to let you judge for yourselves. I stacked an Accurail hopper on top of this one, and although I didn't quite get them centered, you can see the ribs and panels are pretty much identical. In fact, in terms of the body itself, it looks like it's almost a copy of the Accurail. I don't know if that speaks to the accuracy of both models, or if they copied the Accurail one (and yes, I know their ads show a picture of the Accurail).

The double rivet line along the bottom is a little closer together, and the rivets for where the two hoppers meet in the center are at a slightly lower angle. The interior rivet detail is pretty much the same as the Accurail - that is there is no rivet detail on the interio of the sides, just the slope sheets.

The interior does have a center brace that is snapped into place, and there are two additional cross beams that the modeler installs. They snap into place as well, but it's loose and they have a tendency to rotate, so I'll glue them. These extra cross bearers are not shown in the pictures I took (I hadn't found them yet).

The end detail is great. All grabs are wire and there are wire uncoupling levers. The train line and air hoses are plastic. The Wine latches have rods that connect to the mechanism between the two hoppers on each side. There are no brake levers.

The brake detail looks very good. It looks 'right' to me, I don't know if it's accurate. The surprising thing to me, though, is that it's a K-brake system. It includes piping to the retainer valve, and between the brake components. It includes a dirt collector, the connection to the train line, and the main brake lever.

It weighs 2 oz without the plastic coal load which adds another 1/8 oz. The center sill is metal, and additional metal weight is squeezed in between the two hopper bays, and between the hoppers and the bolsters.

They have released them in various delivery schemes appropriate for K-brakes, as well as non-prototypical schemes. But they are notating these with their "Imagination and Fun" logo, an orange circle with an 'I' in it. The non-prototypical schemes product numbers start with 81-, so they'll be easy to avoid.

So I'm happy with the quality of the models. I will have to see how easy it is to strip and refinish them in a later paint scheme.

Aside from hearing what others think about the models, what I'm curious about is:

Would any of these still have K-brakes circa 1947-1953, which is when I'm modeling. I've asked MTH if they have plans to release later paint schemes with AB brakes, I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, take a look at the pictures and let me know what you all think. I can take more if needed.

And no, I have no affiliation with MTH. In fact, this is the first product of theirs that I've purchased.

Thanks!

Randy Hammill
http://newbritainstation.com

I had the same problem locating them. I think he posted them in the photos section here but they haven't "passed inspection" yet as the folder is empty.

Jerry Glow

--- In STMFC@yahoogroups.com, "lnbill" <fgexbill@> wrote:

Dear Randy

Are your photos posted somewhere. I tried your website and if they are there I could not find them. Thank you for your review.

Bill Welch

--- In STMFC@yahoogroups.com, "rhammill" <nhrr@> wrote:

Well, since I hadn't seen anybody posting on these, I was wondering how well they were done. So I picked one up. I had to special order it, since none of the shops in my area carry MTH HO models.

I am certainly not an expert on these cars. From what I've read here and elsewhere, the complaints for the existing models are:

1. The side center side panels on the Tichy hopper are too wide, and thus all of the ribs are moved too close to the ends

2. The Accurail ones are very accurate, but have molded on details

So I was hopeful that this model would be as accurate as Accurail, but have the fidelity of detail as the Tichy. And as far as I can tell, they have.

I've added a gallery of a few pictures to let you judge for yourselves. I stacked an Accurail hopper on top of this one, and although I didn't quite get them centered, you can see the ribs and panels are pretty much identical. In fact, in terms of the body itself, it looks like it's almost a copy of the Accurail. I don't know if that speaks to the accuracy of both models, or if they copied the Accurail one (and yes, I know their ads show a picture of the Accurail).

The double rivet line along the bottom is a little closer together, and the rivets for where the two hoppers meet in the center are at a slightly lower angle. The interior rivet detail is pretty much the same as the Accurail - that is there is no rivet detail on the interio of the sides, just the slope sheets.

The interior does have a center brace that is snapped into place, and there are two additional cross beams that the modeler installs. They snap into place as well, but it's loose and they have a tendency to rotate, so I'll glue them. These extra cross bearers are not shown in the pictures I took (I hadn't found them yet).

The end detail is great. All grabs are wire and there are wire uncoupling levers. The train line and air hoses are plastic. The Wine latches have rods that connect to the mechanism between the two hoppers on each side. There are no brake levers.

The brake detail looks very good. It looks 'right' to me, I don't know if it's accurate. The surprising thing to me, though, is that it's a K-brake system. It includes piping to the retainer valve, and between the brake components. It includes a dirt collector, the connection to the train line, and the main brake lever.

It weighs 2 oz without the plastic coal load which adds another 1/8 oz. The center sill is metal, and additional metal weight is squeezed in between the two hopper bays, and between the hoppers and the bolsters.

They have released them in various delivery schemes appropriate for K-brakes, as well as non-prototypical schemes. But they are notating these with their "Imagination and Fun" logo, an orange circle with an 'I' in it. The non-prototypical schemes product numbers start with 81-, so they'll be easy to avoid.

So I'm happy with the quality of the models. I will have to see how easy it is to strip and refinish them in a later paint scheme.

Aside from hearing what others think about the models, what I'm curious about is:

Would any of these still have K-brakes circa 1947-1953, which is when I'm modeling. I've asked MTH if they have plans to release later paint schemes with AB brakes, I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, take a look at the pictures and let me know what you all think. I can take more if needed.

And no, I have no affiliation with MTH. In fact, this is the first product of theirs that I've purchased.

Thanks!

Randy Hammill
http://newbritainstation.com

Dear Randy

Are your photos posted somewhere. I tried your website and if they are there I could not find them. Thank you for your review.

Bill Welch

--- In STMFC@yahoogroups.com, "rhammill" <nhrr@> wrote:

Well, since I hadn't seen anybody posting on these, I was wondering how well they were done. So I picked one up. I had to special order it, since none of the shops in my area carry MTH HO models.

I am certainly not an expert on these cars. From what I've read here and elsewhere, the complaints for the existing models are:

1. The side center side panels on the Tichy hopper are too wide, and thus all of the ribs are moved too close to the ends

2. The Accurail ones are very accurate, but have molded on details

So I was hopeful that this model would be as accurate as Accurail, but have the fidelity of detail as the Tichy. And as far as I can tell, they have.

I've added a gallery of a few pictures to let you judge for yourselves. I stacked an Accurail hopper on top of this one, and although I didn't quite get them centered, you can see the ribs and panels are pretty much identical. In fact, in terms of the body itself, it looks like it's almost a copy of the Accurail. I don't know if that speaks to the accuracy of both models, or if they copied the Accurail one (and yes, I know their ads show a picture of the Accurail).

The double rivet line along the bottom is a little closer together, and the rivets for where the two hoppers meet in the center are at a slightly lower angle. The interior rivet detail is pretty much the same as the Accurail - that is there is no rivet detail on the interio of the sides, just the slope sheets.

The interior does have a center brace that is snapped into place, and there are two additional cross beams that the modeler installs. They snap into place as well, but it's loose and they have a tendency to rotate, so I'll glue them. These extra cross bearers are not shown in the pictures I took (I hadn't found them yet).

The end detail is great. All grabs are wire and there are wire uncoupling levers. The train line and air hoses are plastic. The Wine latches have rods that connect to the mechanism between the two hoppers on each side. There are no brake levers.

The brake detail looks very good. It looks 'right' to me, I don't know if it's accurate. The surprising thing to me, though, is that it's a K-brake system. It includes piping to the retainer valve, and between the brake components. It includes a dirt collector, the connection to the train line, and the main brake lever.

It weighs 2 oz without the plastic coal load which adds another 1/8 oz. The center sill is metal, and additional metal weight is squeezed in between the two hopper bays, and between the hoppers and the bolsters.

They have released them in various delivery schemes appropriate for K-brakes, as well as non-prototypical schemes. But they are notating these with their "Imagination and Fun" logo, an orange circle with an 'I' in it. The non-prototypical schemes product numbers start with 81-, so they'll be easy to avoid.

So I'm happy with the quality of the models. I will have to see how easy it is to strip and refinish them in a later paint scheme.

Aside from hearing what others think about the models, what I'm curious about is:

Would any of these still have K-brakes circa 1947-1953, which is when I'm modeling. I've asked MTH if they have plans to release later paint schemes with AB brakes, I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, take a look at the pictures and let me know what you all think. I can take more if needed.

And no, I have no affiliation with MTH. In fact, this is the first product of theirs that I've purchased.

Thanks!

Randy Hammill
http://newbritainstation.com

Well, since I hadn't seen anybody posting on these, I was wondering how well they were done. So I picked one up. I had to special order it, since none of the shops in my area carry MTH HO models.

I am certainly not an expert on these cars. From what I've read here and elsewhere, the complaints for the existing models are:

1. The side center side panels on the Tichy hopper are too wide, and thus all of the ribs are moved too close to the ends

2. The Accurail ones are very accurate, but have molded on details

So I was hopeful that this model would be as accurate as Accurail, but have the fidelity of detail as the Tichy. And as far as I can tell, they have.

I've added a gallery of a few pictures to let you judge for yourselves. I stacked an Accurail hopper on top of this one, and although I didn't quite get them centered, you can see the ribs and panels are pretty much identical. In fact, in terms of the body itself, it looks like it's almost a copy of the Accurail. I don't know if that speaks to the accuracy of both models, or if they copied the Accurail one (and yes, I know their ads show a picture of the Accurail).

The double rivet line along the bottom is a little closer together, and the rivets for where the two hoppers meet in the center are at a slightly lower angle. The interior rivet detail is pretty much the same as the Accurail - that is there is no rivet detail on the interio of the sides, just the slope sheets.

The interior does have a center brace that is snapped into place, and there are two additional cross beams that the modeler installs. They snap into place as well, but it's loose and they have a tendency to rotate, so I'll glue them. These extra cross bearers are not shown in the pictures I took (I hadn't found them yet).

The end detail is great. All grabs are wire and there are wire uncoupling levers. The train line and air hoses are plastic. The Wine latches have rods that connect to the mechanism between the two hoppers on each side. There are no brake levers.

The brake detail looks very good. It looks 'right' to me, I don't know if it's accurate. The surprising thing to me, though, is that it's a K-brake system. It includes piping to the retainer valve, and between the brake components. It includes a dirt collector, the connection to the train line, and the main brake lever.

It weighs 2 oz without the plastic coal load which adds another 1/8 oz. The center sill is metal, and additional metal weight is squeezed in between the two hopper bays, and between the hoppers and the bolsters.

They have released them in various delivery schemes appropriate for K-brakes, as well as non-prototypical schemes. But they are notating these with their "Imagination and Fun" logo, an orange circle with an 'I' in it. The non-prototypical schemes product numbers start with 81-, so they'll be easy to avoid.

So I'm happy with the quality of the models. I will have to see how easy it is to strip and refinish them in a later paint scheme.

Aside from hearing what others think about the models, what I'm curious about is:

Would any of these still have K-brakes circa 1947-1953, which is when I'm modeling. I've asked MTH if they have plans to release later paint schemes with AB brakes, I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, take a look at the pictures and let me know what you all think. I can take more if needed.

And no, I have no affiliation with MTH. In fact, this is the first product of theirs that I've purchased.

Thanks!

Randy Hammill
http://newbritainstation.com

All of the talk about which railroads had Hart Ballast cars reminded me that
I have a photocopy of a Rodger Ballast Car Co. pamphlet from around 1906. At
that time, there were several variations of Hart cars:
34 Ft 40-ton Class CS car - This is the car represented by the new resin
kit. It is a wood convertible car with truss rods. The convertible feature
means that the removable floor sections over the center section could be
laid flat and ballast dumped out through the doors in the sides of the car
to end up outside the line of the ties or those sections can be removed and
leaned against the sides so that ballast drops through openings in the floor
of the car to be placed between the ties. In the first setup, the ends of
the cars could be removed and a plow winched down a line of cars to help
push the ballast out the side doors.

Class CS World's Fair Type - This was a car exhibited at the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition. It was a 50-ton car with a steel underframe.

Class CS 50-ton Steel Underframe, 41'6" car - The pamphlet claims that this
car was furnished to "several of the largest railroads".

34 Ft 30-ton Class F.H. car - This appears to be more like a regular flat
car with a drop bottom hopper secured by stake pockets.

Pacific Car Type - This appears to be a steel car with provisions for both
center or side dumping but each entire side opens as a single hinged unit.

Interestingly, the pamphlet also includes a Hart box car which can be
arranged as a center dump car or a standard box car and a Hart stock car
with the same convertible features.

The pamphlet also includes this list of owners as of 1905-06. (The YV wasn't
listed since they didn't buy their 34 Ft 40-ton Class CS cars until 1909.) I
OCR'ed the list and didn't spend a lot of time trying to decipher the list
since I know so little other than the YV. <g>

Here is the list but remember the list includes owners of any class of Hart
car as if 1905-06, not just the car represented by the new kit:

Alabama & Vicksburg
Arizona & New Mexico
AT & SF Ry
Atlantic Coast Line
Atlanta & West Point
Brunswick & Birmingham
Butte, Anaconda & Pacific
Baltimore & Ohio
Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern
B & O Southwestern
Boston & Albany
Boston & Maine
Buffalo & Susquehanna
Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg
Burlington & Mo. Riv. Ry
Central of Georgia
Canadian Pacific
Chicago & Alton
Chicago & Western Ind.
Chicago & Eastern Ill.
CB & Q Ry.
Chicago Great Western
C CC & St L Ry
C RI & P RR
CRI & T RR
Chicago & Northwestern
Chihuahua & Pacific Ry
Cinn. & Cols. Tr. Co.
Cinn. Ham. & Dayton
Coal & Coke Ry,
CM & St P Ry
C St. PM & O RR
Central Ry of New Jersey
Cin. Rich. & Muncie Ry
Carolina & No. W.
Del. Lack. & Western Ry
Des M., Ia. Falls & No.
Chicago & Joliet Elec. Ry
Detroit & Tol. Shore Line
Erie Railroad
Florida East Coast Ry
Gulf & Ship Island Ry
Galv., H. & San. Ant. Ry
Great Northern Ry
Gulf, Colorado & S. F. Ry
Grand Rapids & Ind. RR
Illinois Central RR
Intercolonial RR
Indianapolis Nor, Trac. Co.
Iowa Central Ry
Long Island RR
Kansas City Southern
Kans. City. Mex. & O. Ry
KC, Ft. Scott & Mem.
L& N Ry
Lake Shore & Mich. So.
Lake Erie & Western
Louisville & Atlantic
Maine Central Ry
Mason City & Ft. D. RR
Michigan Central
Mo. Kans. & Tex.
M, St. P. & S. S. M.
Missouri Pacific.
Mobile & Ohio RR
Morgantown & Kingwood
Northern Pacific
New Orleans & N. E.
New Orleans Grt. Nor. Ry
N Y . N. H. & H. R. R.
NY Cent. & H. R. RR
Ohio River RR
Oregon Short Line
Ore. Water Power & Rv, Co.
Ore. Ry & Nav, Co.
Omaha, K. C. & East. Ry
Pennsylvania Company
Pere Marquette R. R.
Pitts., Ft. W. & Chicago.
Pitts., Cin. Chi. & St. L.
Rich. Fred & Potomac RR
Rock Island & Peoria Ry
Rutland Railroad
Seaboard Air Line
St. J & GI Ry
St. L., K. C. & Colo. Ry
St. L., Keokuk & N. W. Ry
St. L., Mem. & S. E. RR
St. L., Troy & Eastern Ry
St. Louis Valley Rv
St. L., P. & N. W. Ry
St. L. & San Francisco
Scioto Valley Tr. Co.
Sierra Ry
Southern Ry
Texas & Pacific Ry,
Texas Central RR
Tennessee Copper Co
Tidewater Railway
Townsend, Reed & Co.
Toluca, Marquette & No.
Toledo & Western
Tol. B. G. & So. Trac. Co.
Union Trac. Co. of Ind
Union Pacific RR
Vera Cruz & Pacific
Wabash Railroad

Jack Burgess
Newark, CA