Can a Fictitious Railroad Be Realistic? - Unboxing and Review of an MR&T Boxcar from Tangent!

[@Trains-With-Shane]

Nice looking car! Tangent seems to be worth the price when it comes to their rolling stock. As far as fictitious railroads being realistic I am totally on board with that paradigm. I myself don't model anything freelance or fictitious mostly because I lack the creativity to come up with anything interesting, lol. But if I had an idea pop into my head I certainly wouldn't hesitate to put it into a physical form. I do well enough to try to recreate my main railroading muse which, similar to your Donner Pass and SP consist builds and concepts, is what I saw when I was younger which was MKT, Burlington Northern, and some ATSF. I'm glad you were able to get one of those cars. I'd like to see it snuck into a consist on your layout once you get it going.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I really like Tangent models. I like freelancing as I find it to be a great creative outlet. I chose a prototypical line for my HO layout, but my little N scale layout is freelanced. Both approaches have their merits. Even the Donner plan has a couple of non-prototype scenes, which are more for functionality than anything else, but I don't like putting too many restrictions on myself. I will definitely use this car on the layout. I think it would be fun to see if anyone notices it. Thanks for watching!

[@blainedunlap4242]

You ought to see my fleet of F-45s liveried for the MKT, which didn't have any. They look trick and go nicely with my 4 SD70MAC and in the engine house are two new Dash 9's the paint crew is puzzling over. The MKT has been under new management since 1986 and in this alternate universe, they are doing well. We are about to do a heritage engine honoring the fallen flag of the UP.

[@alanpope179]

As an SP fan I appreciate your hobby sarcasm!

[@Trains-With-Shane]

Now that's an alternate reality I could get behind!

[@randallellison6421]

An alternate timeline where MKT does a UP heritage unit, this needs to happen!

[@DanielCortopassi]

That sounds cool. Did you go with the yellow and green scheme? I always liked that one. I love what-if scenarios. I think it can make the basis for a great model railroad. Thanks for watching!

[@Trains-With-Shane]

@@DanielCortopassiI was sad when the UP MKT Heritage unit was red instead of yellow/green.

[@SPSteve]

Very cool, Dan! I'd like to have a MR&T car. Timely that you posted this review, I ordered 4 of these Tangent 40' high cube's 2 days ago. I bought 2 from Tangent, the D&RGW and the Illinois Central. I would have loved to have the NP car, but they are sold out. I also bought 2 from HomeShops, the Phoenix, Turnbow and Apache and the Springfield, Omaha and Denver. As I'm sure you know the HomeShops cars are modeled after notable freelance model railroads, in a way similar to the MR&T. I'm eager to get these 40' high cubes into my inventory. Thanks for another great review!

[@DanielCortopassi]

These are nice cars. I think I have another one in Rio Grande that I got some time ago. I've seen some of the Home Shops stuff but have not ordered anything. It sounds like an interesting idea. I'm glad you liked the review. Thanks for watching!

[@paulkirkmanMYTRAINS]

Being a Tangent, I knew this car would be good. I used to have a small fleet of these cars and locomotives. They all looked good. Now, I still collect the V&O, AM, and VM. Allen McCelland was my most favorite model railroader. Nice review.

[@DanielCortopassi]

Those old articles on the V&O were always inspiring. Allen McClelland was a trail blazer. Thanks for watching!

[@HaroldAlexis-bb8sd]

This high cube box car looks great. Awesome presentation Daniel.💯👍

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm glad you liked the review. Thanks for watching!

[@garypyke1576]

Good point on Model Railroader being an early inspiration. I feel the same way. Great review.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm glad you liked the review! Thanks for watching!

[@fevinman7162]

Tangent has probably become my favorite manufacturer over the last year or so as I’ve started collecting more. While their models don’t align with my choice of era and road as well as some other manufacturers, their models are second to none in my opinion, both in terms of quality and variety, often with unique cars and roads. Thanks for the review!

[@DanielCortopassi]

I like Tangent, too. I'm glad you liked the review. Thanks for watching!

[@randallellison6421]

I love fantasy locomotives and rolling stock, and this MR&T boxcar looks amazing!

[@DanielCortopassi]

I agree. Thanks for watching!

[@xray606]

Their Clinchfield layout series is what did it for me as a kid. Definitely a totally different publication in those days. Wish I had kept all those copies.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I loved that series, too. It was an inspiration. Thanks for watching!

[@w.rustylane5650]

Most I've ever paid for a piece of rolling stock was for a Kadee Central of Georgia for $39.99 + $8.00 for shipping. I model the Central of Georgia since I used to live in Jonesboro, GA. Your fictitious rail car looks pretty good. Nice detail. After much swearing and cussing I assembled a Tichy Train Group flatcar that came out looking really good with a lot of fiddly brake detail. Cheers from eastern TN

[@DanielCortopassi]

Kadee makes nice rolling stock, too. I don't have a lot of it because most of their models are for an earlier era than I model. I have a Tichy tank car kit that I have yet to build. It looks like it should be very nicely detailed. Thanks for watching!

[@scarecrow456]

Thanks Dan, I appreciate & enjoy watching your reviews. I'm also quite saddened by the recent state of MR magazine - hopefully they will listen to subscriber feedback & address the concerns in a positive direction.

[@DanielCortopassi]

Yes, the issues are so thin these days compared to how they were back in the day. I still read it, but mostly I like the layout articles and a couple of the monthly columns. Thanks for watching!

[@nyemt601]

I think my favorite free lanced railroad would have to be the Utah Belt.

[@DanielCortopassi]

That's a nice model railroad, from what I've seen of it. Thanks for watching!

[@ZaneKitsune]

This is a very very nitpick about this car. I am designing my own freelance railroad and one often thing I see some people skip is amking sure the paint scheme on freelance equipment is correct for the era. The font used on this car is Arial, which was invented in 1982, which is post-dated after the build date on the car. Obviously, 99% of people won't know this, though some might notice the modernness of it. I really only catch it because I'm in the creative services field/not a big fan of it or its original helvetica. It always is a little bit of a question mark when someoen goes through a ton of effort detailing a scene or engine to make it as realistic as possible and then using a default font to really lose the immersion of the model.

[@DanielCortopassi]

That is something I hadn't really considered. I agree that if I were going to have decals made for a freelanced railroad, I'd probably go with a different font. Since it has COTS panels, I suppose it could be a repaint. I thought the car looked reasonably plausible for the 1990s era that I model. Thanks for the insight and for watching!

[@riogrande5761]

I can relate to your thoughts on the MR magazine. I started reading it in Jr High when I lived in Davis CA in the 1970's (graduated Davis Sr High class of 77) I suspect you look younger than you are! I still have some of my paper magazine collection in boxes computer fanfold paper used to come in. Boxes are small but heavy! Every time I move, I get rid of more. I used to re-read the magazines a lot but past decade with everything online, I rarely read the magazines anymore. Times have changed.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I have the same dilemma. We've been reorganizing our storage area and I still have boxes of old MR magazines, along with some Trains and miscellaneous other ones. I've been thinking that when I get the layout going, I'll build some shelves under it. It's a lot to store, though, and I have the digital access subscription. Hopefully that will all continue with Kalmbach being sold. Thanks for watching!

[@riogrande5761]

@@DanielCortopassi Storing ok for a while. It's nice if you can stay in one place for decades. I expect I'll be moving five years so I'm taking a hard look at what I have and looking at what I can pare down and trying to resist adding too many more freigh tcars to my collection. I simply have too many.

[@billkraemer4710]

Sure it can. I run the Buckeye and Carson. Totally realistic for a model railroad and everytime the rolling stock trundles by I think of my favorite trout fishing creek. Stuff gets real.

[@DanielCortopassi]

It sounds like you have a good concept for your railroad. I like freelanced equipment, especially if its done in a way that's believable. There's great creative freedom in going that route. Thanks for watching!

[@jimmyseaver3647]

I'm a sucker for freelance stuff, and as of posting, have just left a train show with a freelance locomotive and two pieces of rolling stock in tow (though based off of older Athearn kits). Regardless, I do like how clever people can be when putting together their own fantasy layout.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I've done some freelanced stuff, mostly in N scale. It is interesting to see what people come up with. Some of it is very believable looking. Thanks for watching!

[@BNGreen970]

These are nice cars. I got two of them in NP and IC paint. Wish I would have got the MRT car.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I have another one from a while back in Rio Grande, and it's also nice. The MRT cars sold out faster than I expected. I'm glad you liked the review. Thanks for watching!

[@Eduardomd54]

I did like your point of view towards the hobby. Before I started a collection of MR, magazines, I was exposed to some catalogs of Lionel Trains, as a kid , and go over and over again, and dreaming to have more of those Toy trains. I started with the basic set of 2018 Steam Locomotive. That my Dad find for me at a Walgreens Drug Store, somewhere in Texas and bring it to me in Mexico City.

[@DanielCortopassi]

Magazines and catalogs were always inspiring to me. I've always loved looking at photos of finished train layouts. That's cool your dad found a train for you! Thanks for watching!

[@markhayes6407]

Another good review

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for watching!

[@riogrande5761]

Home Shops offers a lot of fantasy schemes using Tangent models, or freelance.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I've seen their models on social media a few times. Some of them look pretty cool. I haven't bought anything from them as yet. Thanks for watching!

[@riogrande5761]

@@DanielCortopassi I generally am not into fantasy but I did buy one of the Copper State 4750 hoppers, partly because my mothers brother worked for a copper mine in Bagdad AZ until he retired.

[@tomspettel3646]

I like the freelance railroads very cool idea but as always i am very picky with what i buy. I have my fav’s in freelance.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I've seen a few freelanced model railroads that I think were very well done. It can be a great approach to the hobby. Thanks for watching!

[@shed66215]

While I don't have any MR&T cars I do have the two 'Puddington Valley' gondolas that Rapido released after the death of Mike McGratten. I purchased them well after they were produced but after reading of the reasons behind them and what the money was for, had a look and found them. Personally I don't see a problem with fictitious cars - if they are manufactured to the proper standards and decorated in the usual way then why not? A lot of comments within the 'wider' hobby world are always about trying to bring in new people and model railways are no different so maybe being a little 'off-track' with the livery and colours of rolling stock can be a way of doing it.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I have two N scale Puddington Valley cars, too! I got them for the same reason. Those were pretty nicely done, and very plausible looking. I've done both freelance and prototype based modeling, and both have their place in the hobby. I like the creativity that's possible with freelancing. Having some other types of models out there might broaden the hobby's appeal, like you suggested. Thanks for watching!

[@trapdriver7006]

Excellent review Dan

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for watching!

[@eliabraham6918]

Nice review. I like Tangent's products too they're really good

[@DanielCortopassi]

Tangent does make some nice models. Thanks for watching!

[@dave3156]

Nice model--good enough reason to me to purchase! Thx

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm glad you liked the review. Thanks for watching!

[@berkeleygang1834]

Here's a problem you didn't address, but it's a real nit. The reweigh date is NEW 8-67. The car should be reweighed at most every 30 months - earlier if and when major repairs are done. The 2 panel COTS was introduced in 1974, several years after the car should have been reweighed. It's also missing an ACI label was mandated in 1967, but I'm not sure of the month. Surely by the time the 1 panel COTS was applied (before the two panel COTS as on this model), the car would have received an ACI label. While the ACI label was discontinued in 1977 and no longer required, that was they year the wheel inspection dots were required. So what era is this paint scheme accurate for? Unless I've got my information wrong, none. No matter what date you pick, there's something wrong with the way this car is lettered.

[@DanielCortopassi]

Those are interesting points. I thought the car looked reasonably plausible for the 1990s era that I model, but I confess I wasn't looking too closely at the things you mentioned. Adding some ACI labels and maybe patching out the date with a more recent one would add to the realism. I might consider doing some of that when I get around to weathering the car. Thanks for the info and for watching!

[@eprohoda]

how is it going?. thank you, you made cool unboxing! 🙌

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm doing well, thanks for asking! I'm glad you liked the video. Thanks for watching!

[@4everdc302]

You have to go out of your way to get a bad Tangent car👍A cool railway of lies piece😅

[@DanielCortopassi]

Overall I've been very happy with models from Tangent. I'm glad you liked the review. Thanks for watching!

[@captainbill12]

It does not matter that the RR is a foob. The car looks good and non-modelers will probably not know the difference. I would add one to my fleet if i modeled the 60's.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I agree. Thanks for watching!

[@johnathanlewis2049]

It’s nice boxcar. Just fade It down and weather it to hell. It’ll make a nice addition in any modelers rail yard

[@DanielCortopassi]

I think so, too! Thanks for watching!

[@chatanugadotorg]

Got several of the MR&T cars (boxcars and covered hoppers), including this one, as well as boxcars and covered hoppers for the V&O, AM, and VM. I have this car and a few more kits that I have to put together yet since I did a video of all of them when Allen McClelland passed. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4STf4dnp9SImc0 Unfortunately, my layout isn't up and running yet since I moved in October.

[@DanielCortopassi]

That sounds cool. Allen McClelland was a huge influence on the hobby. Thanks for watching!

[@jaxson4809]

'Promo SM' 🎶

[@DanielCortopassi]

Thanks for watching!