|
|
Post by grabbem88 on Jul 26, 2014 6:54:27 GMT -8
Looking to buy some csx/csxt hoppers or frisco but I have no clue which or what is a better buy in the long run??
I'm open to other brands but I'm looking for 3 or 2 bay ribbed side hoppers in those road names...
Thanks art
|
|
|
|
Post by atsfan on Jul 26, 2014 7:34:20 GMT -8
If you have a specific prototype car in mind that will help focus your decision as not all brands are of the same cars.
Overall, if cash is not a problem, get Tangent cars. They are the best. Period. The Roofwalks stay one for one thing.
You don't mention Athearn but their older model is a good value if you shop for the older versions. The new RTR versions cost a fortune so why get them.
Roadnames is also an issue. Tangent has the fewest. Intermountain the most probably.
And then there is availability. CSX by Tangent is limited and sold out but may be around in stores etc.
Overall you won't go wrong with any of them so just get one or a few of each and have fun.
|
|
|
|
Post by valenciajim on Jul 26, 2014 7:43:26 GMT -8
I agree witht he comment about the quality of the Tangent models.
|
|
|
|
Post by grabbem88 on Jul 26, 2014 7:46:01 GMT -8
Ps 4750 cu ft 3 bay hoppers is what I like..
Now I used to load shplx ttlx ultx tank cars at Mississippi lime but I only find walthers proto???
No athearn cause for there prices I can get a tangent or intermountain..
|
|
|
|
Post by atsfan on Jul 26, 2014 7:53:03 GMT -8
Ps 4750 cu ft 3 bay hoppers is what I like.. Now I used to load shplx ttlx ultx tank cars at Mississippi lime but I only find walthers proto??? No athearn cause for there prices I can get a tangent or intermountain.. Tangent has not offered 4750s in CSX. Closest is L&N Family Lines. They do have undecorated kits. So I would focus on Intermountain then. Include the PWRS runs in your search of the Intermountain Cars. |
|
|
|
Post by grabbem88 on Jul 26, 2014 8:14:59 GMT -8
But they do have 4740's so not to be critical but close the tangents in csxt trim is what I aquired in a prior dealing
|
|
|
|
Post by WP 257 on Jul 26, 2014 18:19:47 GMT -8
Overall, if cash is not a problem, get Tangent cars. They are the best. Period. The Roofwalks stay on for one thing. Maybe for you they stayed on, but the last time I ordered a Tangent covered hopper (one of the ICG late solid orange ones) it arrived with the roofwalk loose in several places, and actually some other damage as well. For the high cost, I was displeased, and I let them know. I just haven't found another car I had to have from them, so haven't re-ordered. Wanted to buy more ICG ones, but after the first one, I just couldn't re-order more of the same thing and risk further repairs on my part. The fact is that with etched metal roofwalks, it is possible for anybody's roofwalk to be loose upon arrival (if shipped through the mail). For that reason, I now prefer to only buy covered hoppers in person, and/or I just avoid them as they are not my favorite car types at all. Given the extreme cost of covered hoppers, I generally spend my money elsewhere. Now for open hoppers--yes Tangent makes some very nice cars, but as others have said, the various manufacturers offer quite a variety of open hoppers--even more so than covered hoppers, it seems. I tend to buy the ones that are needed for "my" railroad, regardless of manufacturer... |
|
|
|
Post by grabbem88 on Jul 26, 2014 18:29:29 GMT -8
That's why I'm asking cause tangent are nice but are high risk in shipping..
So what's the downfall with intermountain detail? Durability?
|
|
|
|
Post by jbilbrey on Jul 26, 2014 18:58:18 GMT -8
The Intermountain 4750 cu.ft. hopper uses tooling that dates back to the early 1990's; the very earliest releases had a solid roof-walk. There are several different variations of 4750 hoppers with differences in underframe, brake rigging (body vs. truck brakes, outlets, roofwalks, etc. So, the Intermountain cars may or may not exactly match the prototype. In addition, I believe there has been past mention about the ribs being too fat and the shape of the bays being off. Their early multi-piece trucks were often best consigned to the trashcan. Finally, I do not think it is easy to replace the couplers on the Intermountain covered hoppers due the construction of the center sills.
The Tangent 4740 and 4750 cu.ft. hoppers use much more recent tooling. And, Tangent has made an effort to include as many variations as possible.
If you are looking for CSX covered hoppers, do not forget the Athearn Trinity or Atlas-Trainman Thrall 4750 cu.ft. covered hoppers. The Athearn cars represent a more recent prototype and are often seen lettered for CSX's Grain Express. The biggest downfall on the Athearn Trinity Covered Hoppers are the couplers. The Atlas-Trainman cars represent ex-RF&P covered hoppers, and the biggest/simplest upgrade for them is to replace the plastic roofwalk with a Plano etched roofwalk. Exactrail hasn't made any CSX covered hoppers, yet.
James Bilbrey
LaVernge, TN
|
|
|
|
Post by atsfan on Jul 26, 2014 19:15:39 GMT -8
Overall, if cash is not a problem, get Tangent cars. They are the best. Period. The Roofwalks stay on for one thing. Maybe for you they stayed on, but the last time I ordered a Tangent covered hopper (one of the ICG late solid orange ones) it arrived with the roofwalk loose in several places, and actually some other damage as well. For the high cost, I was displeased, and I let them know. I just haven't found another car I had to have from them, so haven't re-ordered. Wanted to buy more ICG ones, but after the first one, I just couldn't re-order more of the same thing and risk further repairs on my part. The fact is that with etched metal roofwalks, it is possible for anybody's roofwalk to be loose upon arrival (if shipped through the mail). For that reason, I now prefer to only buy covered hoppers in person, and/or I just avoid them as they are not my favorite car types at all. Given the extreme cost of covered hoppers, I generally spend my money elsewhere. Now for open hoppers--yes Tangent makes some very nice cars, but as others have said, the various manufacturers offer quite a variety of open hoppers--even more so than covered hoppers, it seems. I tend to buy the ones that are needed for "my" railroad, regardless of manufacturer... I always buy in person and have had no issues post sale with the roof walks. I have far too many covered hoppers but they are an addiction. |
|
|
|
Post by WP 257 on Jul 26, 2014 19:26:07 GMT -8
grabbem88--
No, it's not just Tangent or Intermountain--everybody's etched metal roofwalks seem to have issues during shipping in the mail. It's worst on covered hoppers. The roofwalks, often being metal now (except Kadee), expand and contract at a different rate than the rest of the plastic car body. Since they are delicate, and not held on with very much glue in the first place, sometimes they buckle and/or come loose. Of course, you will see prototype cars with dented and buckled roofwalks, but I'm apparently not able to neatly reglue only a portion of loose roofwalk without having issues--and on a $44 car, I don't want to have to make repairs and then end up messing up the appearance. I might not care as much if it was a $10 car, but those days are long gone.
The dealers generally speaking receive them in case lots via ground shipping on a truck. For whatever reason, I think most of the ones look ok when they get to the dealer--but maybe mail shipping, bouncing around and temperature differences in transit (when no longer in a case) take their toll.
With modern boxcars that have no roofwalks, mail order seems to be aok.
Other folks seem to be better at re-attaching stuff that comes loose than I am, so perhaps for them, mail order is no big deal at all.
Your mileage may vary.
|
|
|
|
Post by SOMECALLMETIM on Jul 26, 2014 21:05:22 GMT -8
Don't be scared of the delicacy of Tangent cars. Yes, they are finer detailed, but I haven't had any issues with damage during shipping when I purchased them directly from David at Tangent. I've also purchased several second hand from other modelers and again no issues with damage during shipping so maybe I've been lucky. As others have mentioned Intermountain suffers from the same shipping issues - I had 6 of 12 arrive damaged, their 4750 model is not as accurate dimensionally, and Intermountain has been known to paint their cars with road names that are not accurate for the type of car so a little research is sometimes needed to ensure accuracy. I have a mixed fleet of Tangent and Intermountain PS 4750s. I would like to go to a pure Tangent fleet, but cost and specific road names not being released has prevented me from doing that.
If cost and durability are an issue Accurail is slowly releasing their PS 4750 and I see CSX is a future release. I haven't seen any reviews on it though and it wasn't on your list of manufacturers.
|
|
|
|
Post by grabbem88 on Jul 27, 2014 4:52:30 GMT -8
So tangent it is with a ps 4740 4750 hoppers?
|
|
|
|
Post by curtmc on Jul 27, 2014 5:36:39 GMT -8
Tangent is the more accurate and better detailed car - but they should be, being that they are significantly later designed and higher priced than what the others can be found for...
The Tangent cars were released as $40+ RTR cars within the past few years... Wherevere you find Tangent cars they are likely going to be $40+
The Athearn PS4740 was initially released 40+ years ago as a less than $3 car kit, then $12.98 RTR with some upgrades a decade ago, now $30 (!!!) (By the way, they did some nice CSX 4740s as kits about 2000 for about $7 each, and Athearn RTR cars can be found at many shows for $10-15)
The Intermountain PS4750 was initially released as a $9.95 kit, then $15.95 RTR (and the first RTR release of those included CSX), then with some upgrades at $19.95 which has now increased to $34.95... Along the RTR way they have done several runs of CSX cars including some with dubious car numbers. IM PS4750s can be found new discounted to about $24 and older runs can be found at shows for $10-20.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2014 7:25:22 GMT -8
ExactRail doesn't make a P-S 4750...They do make a Magor 4750 hopper, however. And a P-S 4427 Low Side Covered hopper...so it depends on which prototype you are looking for. If you want just a "shiny" nice looking train...it really doesn't matter...if you want a specific prototye car, it does.
Accurail makes very nice "budget-friendly" cars...with excellent printing...and paint.
|
|
|
|
Post by grabbem88 on Jul 27, 2014 7:53:11 GMT -8
I bought 3 csxt'. One is an athearn grain express #265097
A csxt #249376 which is a tangent and an unmarked csxt that might be an atlas all for $3.00 a piece so I'm trying to add to the three I already have..
|
|
|
|
Post by tangentsm on Jul 27, 2014 20:18:25 GMT -8
Ps 4750 cu ft 3 bay hoppers is what I like.. Tangent has not offered 4750s in CSX. Closest is L&N Family Lines. They do have undecorated kits. To be clear, Tangent Scale Models has every intention to offer many more CSX - and predecessor options - on our covered hoppers. We geek out on all of the cool paint scheme options as well and with the CSX predecessors there are many nice choices! We have noted your interest here - please just give us a bit more time to do so! Thank you all for your support! David Lehlbach Tangent Scale Models |
|
|
|
Post by grabbem88 on Jul 28, 2014 5:25:41 GMT -8
Well I'm pulling the trigger on another tangent csx 4740 cause personally it is the best looking car I got other than my cargil tank cars...
My layout is small but I buy with expansion in mind..
|
|
|
|
Post by iccn1000 on Jul 28, 2014 7:10:04 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by grabbem88 on Jul 28, 2014 7:23:04 GMT -8
I'm drooling over some Denver rio's too since I sold my roundhouse version
|
|
|
|
Post by grabbem88 on Jul 29, 2014 6:43:51 GMT -8
What's the part numbers I need for a missing air hose coupler end pin lift handle?
Somehow I'm missing the whole end detail and mark twain hobby told me to contact tangent because these were out of stock items???
Kinda ticked me off after forking over big $$ to get a retail store answer without a hobby enthusiast in mind..
Oh well need part numbers and ill be moving on..
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2014 7:00:10 GMT -8
What's the part numbers I need for a missing air hose coupler end pin lift handle? Somehow I'm missing the whole end detail and mark twain hobby told me to contact tangent because these were out of stock items??? Kinda ticked me off after forking over big $$ to get a retail store answer without a hobby enthusiast in mind.. Oh well need part numbers and ill be moving on.. Why not PM Tangent? They have responded to this thread. |
|
bigzmn
Junior Member
Posts: 91
|
Post by bigzmn on Jul 31, 2014 5:16:41 GMT -8
grabbem88-- No, it's not just Tangent or Intermountain--everybody's etched metal roofwalks seem to have issues during shipping in the mail. It's worst on covered hoppers. The roofwalks, often being metal now (except Kadee), expand and contract at a different rate than the rest of the plastic car body. Since they are delicate, and not held on with very much glue in the first place, sometimes they buckle and/or come loose. Of course, you will see prototype cars with dented and buckled roofwalks, but I'm apparently not able to neatly reglue only a portion of loose roofwalk without having issues--and on a $44 car, I don't want to have to make repairs and then end up messing up the appearance. I might not care as much if it was a $10 car, but those days are long gone. The dealers generally speaking receive them in case lots via ground shipping on a truck. For whatever reason, I think most of the ones look ok when they get to the dealer--but maybe mail shipping, bouncing around and temperature differences in transit (when no longer in a case) take their toll. With modern boxcars that have no roofwalks, mail order seems to be aok. Other folks seem to be better at re-attaching stuff that comes loose than I am, so perhaps for them, mail order is no big deal at all. Your mileage may vary. Back in June I got all 12 numbers of the Santa Fe PS 4750 hoppers from Tangent. On three of them I had to make some minor repairs. Two had the running boards popped loose in a couple of places and one had a loose stiffener. The problem is the factories in China use super glue on all joints to assemble these models. Metal to plastic joints should have a flexible glue since the expansion/contraction rates between the metal and plastic are different. A couple of days ago I was stripping and disassembling some Walthers Greenville 2 bay open gravel hoppers. There is a plastic end piece that is glued to the weight/underframe section with super glue. With an Xacto #17 blade I was able to easily pop them loose. My wife was watching me and asked "I thought super glue was strong?" I said that it is but has a low shear strength. I asked her if she remembered the commercials for Krazy Glue back in the 70's where the guy was hanging from a beam. I said if someone tapped the glued assembly in the right place, that guy would have fallen on his butt. Chris Z. |
|
|
|
Post by grabbem88 on Jul 31, 2014 5:28:40 GMT -8
I pm'd tangent guy so ill wait and see??
I just needed part number... S
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2014 11:02:59 GMT -8
I pm'd tangent guy so ill wait and see?? I just needed part number... S I'd contact them too if you already haven't. Squeaky wheel gets the grease..... |
|
|
|
Post by drolsen on Jul 31, 2014 11:29:39 GMT -8
|
|
