Just wondering what the general opinion might be among my fellow railroaders of MDC Roundhouse car kits.
I’ve bought and built about 15 of these kits so far. I admit, some of the kits do require a little tweeking, but so far I’ve had good luck with them.
Tracklayer
The 36’ reefer and box cars are the bulk of my freight car fleet. They’re pretty good - free-rolling, reliable, easy to put together - generally good cars.
I like them. Of the pre-1900s cars, they are the best. Not like I have a lot of choice. I put metal wheels and Kaydees as I build them. (Built 10 this last weekend.)
I always thought they built into nice looking cars once all the Flash was filed off of the metal floor castings… The one thing I never liked about them is the coupler and truck mounting… Instead of thier way too short self tapping screws, I drilled out and tapped #2-56 threads for mounting trucks and couplers. Like the cheapo (relatively) BB Athearn, they were (are) a good way to build up a fleet without going broke…
Jeff
Good idea.
I like them.
I’ve only one kit with the metal floor, I wasn’t too keen on it but it’s ok since I’m probably going to sell it as it doesn’t fit my layout.
The prefer the plastic ones. A lot easier to deal with.
Gordon
If you’re talking about their N-scale kits, they are a staple of my fleet. They were going for something like $3 to $4 each a while back when they were clearing them out. As Jeff mentioned, you had to do a little filing of the metal floors to assure a good fit. The trucks and couplers were junk. Those that came with the “MDC” type knuckle coupler were useless. I swapped them out to MT or Accumates.
I wi***hey were still being liquidated. They were great for the price. When weathered, they stand up rather nicely against pricier cars. I feasted on their 50 foot boxcars and 50 foot gondolas. Wish I bought more, beacuse I’m sure I won’t see deals like that come around again.
I like them. Although, the stirrups and grab irons are quite clunky, especially on the box cars. A little shadow-painting or replacement does the trick, though!
I used to favor Roundhouse over Athearn for freight cars in the mid-price range primarily because of their coupler system. I much prefer a screwed in couple rather than the metal clip over plastic nubs that Athearn uses. Not only that, but the Athearn floor weights were often warped and if you didn’t know this and correct it, you ended up with a lot of low couplers. Unfortunately, somewhere along the line, the Roundhouse line was converted to steam era equipment, most of it not appropriate for my transition era layout.
I was lucky enough to build my entire caboose fleet from dirt cheap Roundhouse kits that were put on clearance by my LHS when Horizon bought out MDC.
I have always liked the MDC kits.
I wi***hey would still make them. Big hint to Athearn.
Mark
Mark,Its my understanding that the MDC cars will come RTR then later as kits…I been told this several times by dealers.
I have heard about the RTR but not the return of all the kits which is a shame.
Mark
I am quite fond of MDC round house kits. I have close to 200 of them and I have yet to be disapointed yet.
James
I’ve got a few of them and after swapping the wheels and adding Kadee’s they are great reliable runners. Their ONR caboose kit needed a bit of work to get it to look good, the ladders and steps looked like crap so I replaced them.
I like the Roundhouse/MDC kits. The ones I bought years back were trouble free, unlike my Athearn Blue Boxes in which I apparently bought a batch of them that had undersized coupler box ears which resulted in couplers falling off. Not a big deal though.
I really like their two bay and five bay hoppers. I regret that I didn’t get more back then.
MDC’s modern kit line is being released in the Athearn Blue Box.
I love the MDC kits. My fleet of coal hoppers, ore jennies gondolas and flat cars is MDC. About half the box car fleet is MDC as well.
Nick
The HO line was all good old time truss rod 36 foot reefers look real good I am in N now and have a 36 foot snickers reefer to build it looks good also have some 50 foot modern cars that stand up next to any…Cox 47
Tracklayer:
…I own 6 shays and built them all these were the ones with the new can motors and have nothing bad to say about them. They get run quite a bitt and have never given me any trouble, just clean and oil them regularly and no trouble.
…Chuck
I have several OT cars and enjoy everyone. They are easy to kitbash, cutup, alter and are forgiving. I’ve spent many evenings and weekends enjoying these kits.
MDC kits are the best, for beginners and old school modelers.Having said that,the only kit. I’ve ever had a problem with was, the GONX railgon gondola,it had a problem with one truck being buckled.To bad horizon took over,or we would see all these kits shinning the rails once again.
Patrick