HO Scale Auto Racks Comparison

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Looking to add some Auto Racks to your HO collection but are unsure which one is best and don't want to spend $80 and realize it's not worth it? I was once that way! Luckily for you... today there is now a source to learn about all the different manufacturers of auto racks in one place. Check out the 8+ minute video and you will come away with certainty on which rack you'd like to buy!

[@Offthbadan]

This helped me tremendously. I went with the Walthers Proto. Can be handled without worry and looks really good. The Atlas will be my next purchase.

[@Roman-hx3qj]

I am truly surprised you scored Intermountains car so low. It is really an exceptional model capable of standing on its own merits. Thank you for the comparison.

[@YourLocalRailfan]

Operator and s the best for budget and details

[@riogrande5761]

I model late 70's thru end of caboose era (appox 1985) so I look for versions which fit that time frame. Mostly racks with 2 panel stencils and appropriate paint schemes. We need more early enclosed and partially enclosed for the mid-late 1970's. Of those sold represent versions that are too new for my needs, such as Scale Trains and Atlas. That forces me into Walthers and Intermountain.

[@tolucaheights]

The doors are so realistic, they really are that hard to open in real life

[@SEOutlaw]

I model the 1980s and early 1990s. Walthers have the best Autoracks for that period.

[@randallellison6421]

Great video Dillon! I was lucky enough to find some Atlas autoracks for around $50 at Lombard Hobbies (they have since sold out) and just from the eye test, they're on par with the Scaletrains Rivet Counter autoracks. With that said, even the Scaletrains Operator and Walthers Mainline cars still offer alot of visuals without fear of breaking the bank and fragile details!

[@MrPedroramos8911]

Great comparison

[@RWTX]

Thank you. I am glad so many viewers are getting good information from these videos. :)

[@oneastrails]

Half of my dozen or so InterMountain cars have doors glued back on. That being said if you want the older style car ( no large pillar with road name) the choice is just Walthers and InterMountain. I have a half dozen Walthers cars and every one of them is a problem runner, never a problem with InterMountain. All my curves are 28” or larger.

[@andysmith6686]

Good video

[@RWTX]

Thanks for the visit. Glad you enjoyed it! :)

[@MrHunt916]

The comparison is between the IMRC & WKW Thrall car and the ATL & SXT Gunderson car. You have to compare car type across different vendors.

[@bradleyogden5688]

How well did they perform on curves? They all look great. Will you be doing a gondola or flat car reviews in the near future? Thanks for sharing this information with us fellow modelers.

[@RWTX]

Hello. Great question. I haven’t thought to check that. I know most are rated for 22” and higher. I will check them out and share the info. As far as gondolas and flat cars. Do you have a specific size of those you’d like to see?

[@bradleyogden5688]

How about the high sided ones that Athearn just released and the one that Otter Creek just released and if you have the cars, the woodchip cars that was built in the the late 1960s up to the present day. Coal cars would be real good too with all the various types and different jobs that we see them in now. Flat cars maybe the different bulkhead and center beam varieties available. Thanks for asking.

[@andreasweise9342]

"How well did they perform on curves?" I have two of the Walthers, and I have a minimum radius of 19". The cars can negiotate this curve without any issues - as far as the train is not too long (3-4 cars).

[@RWTX]

Hey. Just released a video on Centerbeams. Here is the link kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4O6epiXrN2bnac Thanks for watching and hope you enjoy. :)

[@MTG_Squad]

Great video, I was wondering if your next video comparing models would be about center beams.

[@RWTX]

Good evening! I actually don’t own any centerbeam cars. That doesn’t mean I couldn’t do one in the future though! 😃 I do know walthers mainline, atlas and exact rail make them. Do you know of any more?

[@MTG_Squad]

@@RWTX the only other one I know is rapido

[@RWTX]

Oh rapido makes one, oh cool. I bet those are nice! I will keep a watch out for some. Do you have any of them yet?

[@MTG_Squad]

@@RWTX nope,not yet, just visited a hobby store today and was overwhelmed with the different brands to choose from. I was considering getting an atlas one but then I decided to buy something different.

[@RWTX]

I have seen the Atlas and Walthers center beams before and based on looking at them through the packaging, Atlas seemed much nicer!

[@theinternexperience890]

Hi, I liked that C&O one from the intro, what manufacturer was that one

[@RWTX]

Thanks for watching. That rack is either a walthers kit or an old walthers ready to run. I bought it used so I can’t be entirely sure. 😃

[@whiteknightcat]

This is really confusing. As far as I've known, the TTGX bi-level cars are all built up from smooth deck 89 foot flatcars and ride on 33 inch wheels. The ETTX tri-level cars are built up from low-clearance flatcars and ride on 28 inch wheels. So why in the world are the different manufacturers seemingly installing 28, 33, and even 36 inch wheels on these cars? These cars don't even rate 36 inch wheels with their relatively light loads.

[@RWTX]

I can't say i know for sure. You seem to know much more than I on the subject. But i can say that my assumption in terms of wheel size would mostly center around cost and design.

[@justinmalachinski1496]

Well the lower clearance makes it so you need the smaller wheels, and since it’s smaller the deck can be lower to the ground meaning more car storage hence tri level

[@Eric-sn4qz]

Great video. Any thoughts on doing Amtrak Passenger cars?

[@RWTX]

That would be a good idea. I do not have any currently. What manufacturers would I be looking for on them? Kato? Walthers?

[@Eric-sn4qz]

@@RWTX I personally find Walthers and Rapido to be in the forefront of the the Passenger car production. Rapido is very detailed, but can be pricey. But a beautiful item. Walthers I find has a very large section and more affordable pass cars.

[@aidensypolt]

Correction: The Walther autorack is not out of production sice they just announced some new road names.

[@RWTX]

Right. The Walthers Proto are still in production but the kits haven't been around for many years. I liked the kits as well. They were fun!

[@jcq0120]

I've purchased about a dozen of the Intermountain auto racks and 9 out of the 12 had broken doors on them. Glued them back on, but I won't be buying any more of them. I'll stick with the Proto and Scaletrain versions from here on out.

[@RWTX]

Yes. For me Auto rack train, I decided to put an IM in there every 8-10 cars just to add a cool effect since they are transparent. Not planning on buying an entire train of them though. Thanks for Watching! :)

[@UrMomsChauffer]

You need to buy a spudger to open the doors on those racks.

[@RWTX]

You are right. I will have to find one haha

[@UrMomsChauffer]

@@RWTX you can grab them online fairly cheap. Various sizes. Thank you for this video as well

[@8mmzzs]

Intermountain has way more details than the ST operator and has about the same amount of details of a Walthers proto.

[@riogrande5761]

Keep in mind, ST Operator are the lower cost line which is why they have less details.

[@8mmzzs]

@@riogrande5761 I know that, but his numbers in the table are weird, even though its his own opinions.

[@anb7408]

The RTR Walthers aren’t even remotely worth what they’re asking for them with the crappy plastic panels they’re still using, and they’re starting to show up on the internet with discounted pricing to get rid of them. Intermountain is far more detailed for the older racks.

[@OgaugeTrainsplusslotCars]

Sweeet

[@MrHunt916]

Walthers rolling stock is under detailed cheap junk