Just an update, haven't been able to get them yet but will keep looking! Did buy however some Tangent 3 dome tank cars, got sold out fast, many roads first day.
dmitzel Model Power - yes, them, it's true - made some fantastic models of the DM&IR U-29 ore cars in HO scale a few years ago. Unfortunately, they've shut down since. I believe someone bought their brand, but no idea if they're resurrect the Metal Train U-29 ore jennies. In the interim here's a link: http://www.amazon.com/Model-Power-Chicago-North-Western/dp/B011P5OQJO
Model Power - yes, them, it's true - made some fantastic models of the DM&IR U-29 ore cars in HO scale a few years ago. Unfortunately, they've shut down since. I believe someone bought their brand, but no idea if they're resurrect the Metal Train U-29 ore jennies.
In the interim here's a link: http://www.amazon.com/Model-Power-Chicago-North-Western/dp/B011P5OQJO
Model Rectifier Corp (MRC) bought Model Power. But they don't show any ore cars on their web site.
Enjoy
Paul
TwinZephyr Athearn has imported both a "ribbed" and what they call "offset" 24 foot ore car (ex MDC). These have been made both with and without extended sides for taconite service. Walthers also imports Minnesota and Michigan iron ore and taconite cars. The Walthers cars are more detailed than the Athearn and look very nice. I have not seen the MTH HO scale ore cars in person. MTH's first production run did not include DM&IR or even D&IR or DM&N.
Athearn has imported both a "ribbed" and what they call "offset" 24 foot ore car (ex MDC). These have been made both with and without extended sides for taconite service.
Walthers also imports Minnesota and Michigan iron ore and taconite cars. The Walthers cars are more detailed than the Athearn and look very nice.
I have not seen the MTH HO scale ore cars in person. MTH's first production run did not include DM&IR or even D&IR or DM&N.
The Athearn cars are the MDC cars, Athearn took over Model Die Casting / Roundhouse a decade or so back.
Redore wjstix Just to be annoying, the MDC cars are based on "Michigan" ore cars as used in the "U.P.", the upper peninsula of Michigan - specifically, Milwaukee Road cars I believe. The Walthers ore cars are based on "Minnesota" cars used on the Vermillion, Mesabi, and Cuyuna Ranges. They're similar, but the Michigan cars are higher and narrower, the Minnesota cars are lower and wider. I know that, but truth be told, in a 40 car train of mixed MDC and Walthers I can't tell the difference. The Walther cars just derail more. I guess I'm more in the good enough school of modeling.
wjstix Just to be annoying, the MDC cars are based on "Michigan" ore cars as used in the "U.P.", the upper peninsula of Michigan - specifically, Milwaukee Road cars I believe. The Walthers ore cars are based on "Minnesota" cars used on the Vermillion, Mesabi, and Cuyuna Ranges. They're similar, but the Michigan cars are higher and narrower, the Minnesota cars are lower and wider.
Just to be annoying, the MDC cars are based on "Michigan" ore cars as used in the "U.P.", the upper peninsula of Michigan - specifically, Milwaukee Road cars I believe. The Walthers ore cars are based on "Minnesota" cars used on the Vermillion, Mesabi, and Cuyuna Ranges. They're similar, but the Michigan cars are higher and narrower, the Minnesota cars are lower and wider.
I know that, but truth be told, in a 40 car train of mixed MDC and Walthers I can't tell the difference. The Walther cars just derail more. I guess I'm more in the good enough school of modeling.
The ore cars should have five foot wheelbase trucks. Walthers early run models came with 5.5 foot Bettendorf trucks which resulted in very limited wheel-to-frame clearance. Walthers sells five foot ore car trucks either with or without wheels. Replacement wheels with shallower flanges might also solve the problem.
RedoreThe Walther cars just derail more.
Might check the clearance around the wheels and trucks for interference with the underframe. IIRC, there was some issue with the early runs of these where they used prototype diameter wheels, or maybe a generic truck instead of the shorter wheelbase ones needed, but these didn't quite clear the as-modeled underframe.
Maybe someone else remembers more than that and can confirm, as well as the specific solution?
On the 1:1, there wasn't much clearance and things turned out to be even tighter on these models.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Redore They're nice cars, but at $33+ a pop it would take a lot of coin for a 40 car train or two. Only Missabe has the high air hoses, the BN taconite car paint is not right, BN taconite cars had roller bearing trucks, BN and GN painted the trucks the same color as the car, at least they got the high sides for BN the right height. For my money, I think I'll keep my MDC cars. They look just fine in a long train and operate very well. I live on Minnesota's Iron Range and have seen these cars for real for 55 years.
They're nice cars, but at $33+ a pop it would take a lot of coin for a 40 car train or two. Only Missabe has the high air hoses, the BN taconite car paint is not right, BN taconite cars had roller bearing trucks, BN and GN painted the trucks the same color as the car, at least they got the high sides for BN the right height.
For my money, I think I'll keep my MDC cars. They look just fine in a long train and operate very well. I live on Minnesota's Iron Range and have seen these cars for real for 55 years.
maxman rrebell There are some super detailed ore cars I want to get of the 22' size that someone has just put out, can't remember the manufacturer. Are you possibly thinking of MTH? http://mthtrains.com/prod-search/ore%20car?f[0]=field_product_line%3A6395
rrebell There are some super detailed ore cars I want to get of the 22' size that someone has just put out, can't remember the manufacturer.
There are some super detailed ore cars I want to get of the 22' size that someone has just put out, can't remember the manufacturer.
Are you possibly thinking of MTH?
http://mthtrains.com/prod-search/ore%20car?f[0]=field_product_line%3A6395
No, these are RTR ones by a newer manufacture. I do have a bunch of the Tichy and there are nice!
A better front-lit pic, although focus is a bit iffy.
Found a somewhat better pic of the Westerfield PSC ore cars. Sorry still rather dark.
Old school steel/wood composite ones are by Tichy in styrene.
Old school PSC steel ones by Westerfield in resin.
Pic of 2 Tichys and 1 Westerfield, all have been narrowgauged.