Howitzers on Menards flat car

VERY NICE models!

That's a pretty cool gun.  The ones on the MTH flat car are 105mm 1:43 Solido models.  They come with ammo that you can shot.

Lehigh74 posted:

That's a pretty cool gun.  The ones on the MTH flat car are 105mm 1:43 Solido models.  They come with ammo that you can shot.

Thanks for the pic. I see the solido has a single axle. I am working on 10 more of the twin axles so I can do a string of these cars. Not sure if I will keep the Menards flat.

jini5,  Are those the 8' guns made by Atlas models?

Jesse

jini5 posted:

 I see the solido has a single axle. I am working on 10 more of the twin axles so I can do a string of these cars. Not sure if I will keep the Menards flat.

The 14” flat is the best car that Menards sells in my opinion.  The removable plastic faux bearing caps make it easy to adjust the gauge.  I put a few coats of Age-It-Easy on the deck.  Like every other Menards car, you do have to lubricate the bearings.  The majority of my military train is made up of them with diecast that I got on sale at American Excellence (though I don’t see any 1:43 US military stuff on sale there at the moment).  With the bearings lubed, a single loco can pull a dozen of the 14” flats easily.

texastrain posted:

jini5,  Are those the 8' guns made by Atlas models?

Jesse

 

Those Howitzers Look like Atlantis Models 1/48 plastic kits,I put one on a 41 ft flat car for my WWII train.I will post a pic later.

Mikey

Here is an Atlantis Howitzer on a flat car

You could pick up another flat car from Menards and keep one artillery piece per car. Since the artillery is on wheels i would use scale wood blocks for the wheels with conjunction to having the chains in place.  

Lehigh74 posted:

jini5 posted:

 I see the solido has a single axle. I am working on 10 more of the twin axles so I can do a string of these cars. Not sure if I will keep the Menards flat.

The 14” flat is the best car that Menards sells in my opinion.  The removable plastic faux bearing caps make it easy to adjust the gauge.  I put a few coats of Age-It-Easy on the deck.  Like every other Menards car, you do have to lubricate the bearings.  The majority of my military train is made up of them with diecast that I got on sale at American Excellence (though I don’t see any 1:43 US military stuff on sale there at the moment).  With the bearings lubed, a single loco can pull a dozen of the 14” flats easily.

After extolling the virtues of the Menards 14” flat car, I should add that if you are building a military train, the MTH flat cars with military loads may be the better choice.  Depending on the cost of the military model, the cost of the Menards flat plus two models can approach the cost of an MTH flat with the models included.  Usually you can find the MTH cars at a discount and there is no question that they are better cars.  Now if you want a particular load that MTH doesn’t have, the Menards cars work.  Personally, after seeing this thread, I ordered two of the Atlantis Howitzers last night to put on some Menards 14” flats.

Lehigh74 posted:

Lehigh74 posted:

jini5 posted:

 I see the solido has a single axle. I am working on 10 more of the twin axles so I can do a string of these cars. Not sure if I will keep the Menards flat.

The 14” flat is the best car that Menards sells in my opinion.  The removable plastic faux bearing caps make it easy to adjust the gauge.  I put a few coats of Age-It-Easy on the deck.  Like every other Menards car, you do have to lubricate the bearings.  The majority of my military train is made up of them with diecast that I got on sale at American Excellence (though I don’t see any 1:43 US military stuff on sale there at the moment).  With the bearings lubed, a single loco can pull a dozen of the 14” flats easily.

After extolling the virtues of the Menards 14” flat car, I should add that if you are building a military train, the MTH flat cars with military loads may be the better choice.  Depending on the cost of the military model, the cost of the Menards flat plus two models can approach the cost of an MTH flat with the models included.  Usually you can find the MTH cars at a discount and there is no question that they are better cars.  Now if you want a particular load that MTH doesn’t have, the Menards cars work.  Personally, after seeing this thread, I ordered two of the Atlantis Howitzers last night to put on some Menards 14” flats.

I was thinking the same thing about the cost going into this. However, in my opinion, MTH premier flats ride too high. Their diecast offerings are just not quite right scalewise. This is not a bash on MTH. Their detail on those diecast pieces is very good(just not sized right). I have some of their Abrams tanks and think they are awesome (just too small)  I like the Atlantis kits because when they are on sale the price is right and easy fast assembly with Tamiya liquid glue. You can do an assembly line when building the Howitzers. It goes very quick. Have your airbrush ready for a few coats of light military green and some clearcoat. In the end, You have a true 1/48 model with very nice detail. 

OK... my mistake.  Meant to say Atlantis, not Atlas.  I have three of the Atlantis 8" guns to build for my military consist.  These can be easily converted to "Long Tom" 155mm guns with change in the barrels.  Visually that is the only difference between the two guns.  The 155mm gun came first, then, with same carrier, the larger 8" gun was produced.  Also have helicopter and the Sinclair/Army tankers to build for flats.  But, first, have the 14" rail gun to finish.  Moving forward...…...

Jesse

texastrain posted:

I have three of the Atlantis 8" guns to build for my military consist.  These can be easily converted to "Long Tom" 155mm guns with change in the barrels.  Visually that is the only difference between the two guns.  The 155mm gun came first, then, with same carrier, the larger 8" gun was produced. 

Jesse

Oh!  That's cool.  I might just make mine into Long Toms.

I put together the two howitzers that I got after seeing this thread.  I like the way they look with the limber attached, but as jini5 pointed out, that means one canon per flat car.  I was going to put them on Menards 14” flats, but the car looked too big for the canon.  So, I replaced home-made pipe loads on some MTH flats with the howitzers.

 I have to say that I was not impressed with the Atlantis kits.  Maybe I’ve been spoiled by Atlas O and Tamiya, but the Atlantis kits seemed to have imprecise fit between some of the parts, too much flash on delicate parts and some instructions that I found questionable.

Those kits are reissues of the old Aurora kits.  The state of the art has advanced since then.  I'm just happy we can get these pieces at such a reasonable price.

@Lehigh74 posted:

I put together the two howitzers that I got after seeing this thread.  I like the way they look with the limber attached, but as jini5 pointed out, that means one canon per flat car.  I was going to put them on Menards 14” flats, but the car looked too big for the canon.  So, I replaced home-made pipe loads on some MTH flats with the howitzers.

 I have to say that I was not impressed with the Atlantis kits.  Maybe I’ve been spoiled by Atlas O and Tamiya, but the Atlantis kits seemed to have imprecise fit between some of the parts, too much flash on delicate parts and some instructions that I found questionable.

No doubt not high end kits. I found assembly goes quick once you get the hang of it. If you do an assembly line method, you can put 10 together in a hurry using Tamiya liquid cement. Have your airbrush ready to give all 10 a quick coat of flat dark green. Although I have not seen in person the Solido diecast, I just like the looks of the Atlantis plastic kit with the 10 rubber tires. I have decided to go with 2 Howitzers on 1 Menards 14" flat by setting the trailer assembly on the heavy frame of the Howitzer as pictured in the first post of this thread. Personal preference I guess. I like this thread......I am getting to see other's ideas.

Looks great!  I remember building that same kit in the 70s.  I think it was Aurora or Revell back then.  The Mernard flats are perfect for carrying those loads.  I like your home made cars much better than the MTH ones.  Just put chains and chocks and you should be good to go!