Since the prototype has a ribbed roof, it goes without saying that these cars will too. Atlas follows prototypical details well.
Does anyone know how the auto carriers compare to the ones Lionel did a few years ago?
@rdunniii posted:Ya know, ya just gotta leave it to Atlas to find one offs. There are few types of auto racks that you see everywhere all the time. Yet somehow they found a prototype I don't see anywhere. Didn't stop me from preordering several, but... Just like their articulated auto rack, I think I have seen about a dozen in the past 5 years.
I do hope they are putting their new factory into high gear.
Search YouTube videos for "Multi-Max Auto Rack" to see many videos of them.
Andrew
@rdunniii posted:I would also be up for several MTH 5 unit spine cars. They're only 48' but are modifiable to 53'.
If Atlas only changes the trucks on MTH freight cars for theirs that will be a big leap forward. Any MTH models I do get, like the 50' hycubes, the first thing that goes in the trash are those trucks.
Don't trash the 3 rail trucks......sell them to me 
I checked with the dealer from whom I order, who checked with Atlas - roofs are to be corrugated, was the reply. Will be interesting to see how the end doors will work - I doubt it will be like the prototype - too finicky, or parts too small and fragile. The small bit of artwork showed good detail on the doors, though.
David
@AGHRMatt posted:Yeah, but Walthers offered a "Beer Can Tank Car Kit" that provided the ends and rails to attach to your 12-16 ounce beer can. ...snip...
I had one of those kits; when I finally decided to build it, a problem arose. The kit was designed in the era of steel beer cans that had "applied" tops and bottoms; the then current aluminum cans did not work well. The few steel cans that I could find had been opened with a can opener which left a triangular hole in the top. 
If I had ever found an un-opened can, I was going to put two small holes in line in the side of the can, each one near one end to drain the can. The holes would have been hidden by the end platforms.
@PRRMP54 posted:I had one of those kits; when I finally decided to build it, a problem arose. The kit was designed in the era of steel beer cans that had "applied" tops and bottoms; the then current aluminum cans did not work well. The few steel cans that I could find had been opened with a can opener which left a triangular hole in the top.
An opened can isn't a problem. The kit's end caps cover the holes. You just need to find an old steel beer can in good shape. The early pull top cans will also work as they were steel with aluminum ends pressed on.
@AGHRMatt posted:An opened can isn't a problem. The kit's end caps cover the holes. You just need to find an old steel beer can in good shape. The early pull top cans will also work as they were steel with aluminum ends pressed on.
I had forgotten that the kit had those "domed" ends included. Finding a steel beer can today means the collectors' market. I do not know if I built the kit with PVC pipe or even what may have happened to it if I did not build it. I have not seen it in many years.
As an aside, remember Walthers HO "Jailbox" car? the two-line slogan (a paraphrase of the Railbox slogan)as I recall was "ANY CRIME" "DO THE TIME", I would have liked to see that one done in O! 
Edit: The slogan may have been "DO THE CRIME" "DO THE TIME"
@PRRMP54 posted:. . .As an aside, remember Walthers HO "Jailbox" car? the two-line slogan (a paraphrase of the Railbox slogan)as I recall was "ANY CRIME" "DO THE TIME", I would have liked to see that one done in O!
Edit: The slogan may have been "DO THE CRIME" "DO THE TIME"
Forgot about those cars. I happened to get hold of a K-Line SP "Railroad Police" bay window caboose some time ago. They did a good job. Actually saw both prototypes (brown and white) about 20 years ago. One end of the caboose actually had a jail cell (maybe two).
As for the beer cans, they're on eBay from $5.00 up to $200+ depending on rarity. I got one from a Los Angeles brewery for about $13 including the shipping. Look for one with a clean cylinder body -- you can mask it and shoot the ends with primer to seal it up and keep any rust from spreading. I'm not sure if it's a good idea to clear-coat the can as I'm not sure about it reacting with the paint.
They have an Undecorated AIRSLIDE 50' covered hopper.
I need the GRAND TRUNK WESTERN's 7 AIRSIDE covered hoppers in the blue scheme.
I would have to either paint and then make decals for the Undecorated AIRSLIDE hoppers, or wait for a production run.
Andrew
