G Scale Model Train Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

MTH 1 gauge ribbed streamliners

Jump to Latest
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
#3 ·
For those who are visual 1/29th scale equipment is alas too big to go behind 1/32 scale equipment, I know because I tried. When I got my MTH GG1, 14 years ago, I had a buddy who lent me his Aristo Craft Crescent limited cars. They were a cm too wide and almost an inch too high. It doesn't show too much behind a Big Boy because these engines had huge tenders. But behind a Gee it really shows. (Remember that most railroads built east of Chicago had a much smaller loading gauge than western roads). I am sad that this is so, because I would just love to put the USA trains Congo cars set behind my Gee...
Now to answer your interesting question Gauge one bloke, it can be done although puttying between the flutes of the corugated sides would be difficult if not impossible at the splice. However, the trucks have been shortened also. I know this because, at first, I thought about doing this myself, but on smooth side cars (PRR Tuscan). Luckily I was able to get some of David Leeches cars which are aluminum, full length and from authentic PRR diagrams. That is not possible any more except on the used market. The Accucraft cars would be your best bet and would probably be easier to come by. However they still haven't produced stailesss teel fluted cars.
By the way another really troubling feature of the MTH cars is the fact that their windows are not flush with the sides as they should be this is very visible.
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
Hi Simon. Form my Accucraft J-Class I have some scratchbuilt 1/32 (not by me) N&W coaches as well as some Accucraft N&W coaches and a UP sleeper. There was a train called the Tennessean which passed through N&W country which mostly used Southern stainless steel coaches. My ambition was to model this - sort of - with a couple of MTH ribbed coaches. However, if they are wrong and cannot be fixed then I will pass on this idea. Many thanks for your response.
 
#5 ·
So, now that 1:32 has been confirmed, yes people have spliced fluted cars before... you will have to align the pieces well, with a strong splice plate inside... but now some putty and paint will be needed, but this has been done.
 
#6 ·
The man who seems to have mastered this is Robert Brown who does very elaborate molds for casting in resin stailess steel coach work. He also, I seem to remember, lengthened an MTH car. You should look up his posts in this very forum. I do wish that some stainless steel scale cars were made available in 1/32 scale. That Tennesseanwas an interesting train to model. And the Js were some beautiful machines. I almost bought one, after all PRR did test them.
 
#7 ·
yeah, he stretched a smoothside... not diminishing his excellent work, but perhaps easier...

here's the thread on that:

by the way, 1:29 stuff can often be lowered so that is usually easily handled... it's the width and length.

But if you were looking for heavyweights, the Aristo look great with 1:32, easily lowered, and since they are 72 scale feet long (weird), they scale length fine in 1:32

Greg
 
#9 ·
Yes I also heard that they were patterned after the Blue Commet. To go with the Accucraft Pacific. I had the chance of riding the observation with friend Peter Mc Gilligan back in 1974, from somewhere near Easton to Newark we got up before dawn to get to Easton and rode that train right behind the road engine which could have been a SD 45 or something like that. It made one trip a day back then. The line was quite impressive with huge fills.
 
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
About this Discussion
13 Replies
5 Participants
Last post:
David Leech
G Scale Model Train Forum
posts
460K
members
32K
Since
2007
A forum community dedicated to G scale model train owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about collections, displays, models, styles, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Live Steam General G Scale Discussions Beginner's Forum Model Making Track, Trestles, Bridges and Roadbed