All 8 Atlas Hyundai container in 3RS well cars

I bought the full set too, but they are still in their boxes, waiting for me to get more track down. They really are everywhere. Saw one on the freeway just yesterday.

They look great, and I love the Max-I stack cars.

You are really right Elliot. Just for fun, I went over to youtube and searched BNSF stack train.  The first result was this:

I counted 92 Hyundai 40ft containers on this train alone.  (I didn't count the 20ft hyundais).  I think they are absolutly essential if you run BNSF.

I was tempted to buy the special run of K-line, but it seems that they are a big customer of Union Pacific, which I don't model.

You're right Martin. This hobby is all about what you see in the real world. These Hyundai's are so common, Atlas really filled a void.

I never really noticed that a particular container line was associated with any one railroad. I'll have to pay more attention, now that you've said that. Here in the Twin Cities we have BNSF, UP and CP, so even if that is true, the variety here is quite substantial.

Very nice pics!! Like those Maxi-I's alot!! So cool- I got 10 of the Hyundai containers and they are some of the best to date.

Gotta give Atlas-O credit where it's due... They make the best intermodal containers out there, and thankfully the price has come down a little bit from a few years ago when they hit a ridiculous $32 per container.  Nowadays if you shop smart, you should be able to grab the 45-footers for around $20/ea and the 40-footers for $17/each -- perhaps even better if you're buying large quantities.  

Grab 'em while you can, 'cause they fly off the shelves quickly... And production runs seem far-and-few between.  

David

David, I used to think Atlas containers were a rip-off when they first came out.

Now these seem like an absolute bargain compared to trying to make your own!  Plus my pre-order price on these was only $21 plus shipping.

I feel these were an excellent value and would advise others not to wait, lest they miss out.

I missed the pre order, but still managed to pick up the full set off the bay from Horizon Hobby for $23.45 each, shipped, a couple weeks ago.

Where are you getting them for those prices David? I want some of that action.

Martin,

Those look great, as do your scratch-built cars. I picked up a case of the Hyndais and also the Maesk special run from Jeff at AM Hobbies. Being a Santa Fe modeler, both are liveries, I have wanted for some time.

Ironically although Atlas made a number of roadnames for its Gundersons appropriate for the 80s and 90s, most of the container liveries they have made are of more recent vintage. It's nice to have these for my Santa Fe intermodals.

RM

quote:

Where are you getting them for those prices David? I want some of that action.

The bay of E is the best place to get deals on containers. If your patient, you can get some good prices. I've also paid as low as $10 for them at train shows, sometimes you just get lucky.

Guys and gals,

DesPlaines Hobbies just had a 30% sale this past weekend (celebrating their 30th anniversary), and EVERYTHING was 30% off (except for Legacy locomotives which were 20% off).  I just double-checked their website though, and everything is back to regular prices. 

David

I've been watching ebay for a solid year now, and I guess I'm just not that lucky. Most of the ones I've seen have gone for $25 or more, plus shipping, depending on road name, and that's just the 40 footers.

Train shows aren't a real option for me. Even though I live in a major metropolitan area, it is an O gauge wasteland. I can get K-lines for $10, but not Atlas. I probably have close to 200 total, all manufacturers, 40% Atlas. That said, you can never have too many. They make good scenery in an intermodal facility.

Thanks David. I guess that was one of those "don't blink or you'll miss it" deals. I'll have to keep my eyes open.

Martin very nice containers. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

It amazes me that Atlas doesn't make 2-4 runs of these a year until demand slacks off.  It's easy money.

Of course it would also be nice if Weaver would run their 20' containers more than once every 5 years or so too.

And still no scale 53' containers.  Ah well there must not be any demand.

Believe it or not those are high cube containers, pre ~1995 high cube containers.  Originally, standard containers were 8' high or 9' high cubes.  Around 1995 that was changed to 8'6" and 9'6" high cubes.  The Atlas Containers are copies of the PRB containers imported in the 1990s. 

No one makes scale contemporary containers in 1/48.  The closest thing is to lengthen the Lionel husky stack containers to create 48' or 53' domestic containers.

You are correct.  I forgot about the MTH 48' containers.  But they are the only MTH containers which are scale.

I lengthen the Lionel containers in the middle to make the 40' section correct.  At that point you have a 47'6" container.  You can then add between the 40 and 48' ends to make a 53' container.  The nice thing about a 47'6" container is it fits between the uprights on the Atlas twin stacks without modification.

The other nice part about the Lionel over the MTH is if you do lengthen the center section to 40' the pins match up perfectly with the Atlas containers whereas the MTH needs more work on the top and bottom to fill and relocate the mounts.

That's pretty cool.  Did you ever consider using sandpaper to remove some of the duplicate lettering on the left end?

In all fairness, the MTH Reefer 40ft High cube is exactly 1:48 scale also.  Unfortunately, their 20 footers are too wide, probably why they won't fit in the Atlas gundersons. 

Hmmm,

All the MTH 40' containers I have even seen are 8'6" wide which doesn't exist.  Do you have some that are 8' wide?

May I ask where dod you get the Maxi-stack I's? are they kitbashed from MTH gundersons?

Here are the Hyundais in BNSF well cars: