Does anyone make modern HO tankers? With all the tankers on the railroads you see very few modern tankers that most people can afford. Most cost twice that of tha average box car. Why?
Don’t know how modern you are referring to, but if
it’s like the Atlas HO 17,360 Gallon tank car on
on page 2, MR August edition. I might add, those wheel sets finger spin for 13.03 seconds, longer than my Kadee sets. I will be ordering a couple thru
trainworld @$15.00 plus a few more Atlas Pressureaide cars which are awesome. Go to www.atlasrr.com for more infor(they also have a HO
forum)
Walthers has been making some good models of tank cars in the recent past and I’ve managed to collect several of them. The cars I’m most satisfied with are the 65’ LPG cars. The funnel flow cars tend to fit together less reliably and require that you have some matching paint on hand to touch up the seams.
Atlas makes superb tank cars as well, but as you mentioned, they are expensive. And like the previous reply mentioned they do have very free rolling wheels, but I don’t like the face of the wheel. In fact, I remember a guy from Caboose Hobbies mentioning something about the axle length of Atlas wheels being too long for some other manufacturer’s trucks. Personally, I prefer Proto 2000 wheels to Kadee, Jaybee, and Atlas. Intermountain semi-scale wheels are excellent as well.
Anyway, you could also try Model Die Casting Roundhouse. They make a 30’ and a 50’ frameless tank car. To combat the high prices of tank cars, you can pick a 12 car set of ADM white tanks on their web page for 50 bucks. Nobody says you can’t repaint them. That’s what I did.
And one last suggestion - ebay. I do a search once a week for “tank car” on ebay and I’ve found some good deals. A word of advice, though: try finding sets of cars to bid on. A $3 car on ebay can become a $10 car after shipping.
Good Luck on your search.
RCHarris
Charles hit the mark when he mentioned those new Atlas tankers in AUG. MR. They look beautiful!!! My question to him is, how RTR are they? I don’t feel like drilling 16 holes to put grab irons on. LOL.
John
Oh, are they compatable with Proto 2000 couplers also?
John, I ordered 5 more ACFs along with 2 tankers from trainworld and expect arrival Monday. I did not
have to drill my ACFs and assume I will not have to drill my tankers. The AccuMate Couplers are compatable.
I got 4 of the tankers and the look and run great.
I seen the new covered hoppers and the look great to, I did not get any of them as I already have a lot off covered hoppers but I was tempted
Clear blocks
Jerry
Charles I model post 1980 A better question might have been I’m looking for articals, tank ends and parts for kit-bashing modern tankers thanks for the info on the Atlas tankers J.J