JTC 60' N Scale Flatcar Review

[@davebnsfnscale4433]

Look awesome,nice stuff from JTC as usual

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

JTC does an excellent job - you don't hear much from them but their stuff is well detailed.

[@theuprrladivonyoutube]

Nice review. Thanks for sharing. I believe the Scale Trains containers do not have magnetics where the JTC's do. Disclaimer, I have not purchased any of the ST in a couple of years so perhaps the newer ones do.

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

I don't own any of the ST containers, but JTC containers are nice - very well detailed. they even offer some patched out options, which is always cool.

[@CM-ARM]

Nice, I wonder if you were to add a washer to the truck if it would help with the radius??

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

the number of spacers you'd have to add would make it look like the car was on a lift kit LOL. The center spine sits way deep into the wheel set making this not possible. But, the car does work on my 11" radius track so i'm going to live with it. actually bought two more - and had to adjust the air hoses first.

[@jurigelato4366]

Mine had wheels out of gauge. Also I wish JTC made a coupler box that would allow for a different coupler.

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

i'm going to continue working with these to see how these custom couplers work out but they seem to couple ok to microtrains and that's a big win in my book since MTL is the standard. i don't seem to have any issues running them now, but if i do - i'll check the gauge too. i'm all for new stuff - i just get nervous when someone reinvents the wheels... or the trucks as it were in this case.

[@wilzdart]

can you shave the coupler pocket in the rear so the wheels have more swing? The car it's self is highly detailed but the cost is a factor. Since container trains you run are 10-or so cars to look right, plus the containers they make are more $. Did you try other containers from other manufactures? I do have a non related question, what color do you use for brick structures? I have tried hull red from Tamiya but in N scale you lose detail on the doors and looks too dark. I am kit bashing a Bourbon Distillery using DMP buildings so I will have to put a brick color on them. Thoughts?

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

i looked at it, but it hits the coupler box AND the center beam of the car - which i wouldn't want to disturb so i abandoned the notion. I have some Athearn and Kato boxes - they're not as well detailed but if you're slamming them into a husky stack train and sending them off - they do just fine. I save my JTC for the yard stacks and the up-close models - much like putting super trees in the front of a forest and puffball trees in the back. Brick colors i vary - but i have a Special Oxide Red from Polly Scale i like to use - very deep red, but then i have some oranges from Vallejo mixed and various tans that i use as well. I stay away from the 'fire truck' reds and 'construction oranges' because they're too vibrant.

[@wilzdart]

@@AlleghenyNorthern I have been mixing some paints to get a nice brick color. I use a small throw away pipet I use Tamiya paint 2 parts XF 72, 2 parts XF7 1 part X6 and 1 part XF 90 and 4 parts ISO 70% . Thanks for the feed back

[@blayzslayr87-221]

Nice review very detailed. Those flat cars carried 3-20ft or 1-40ft,20ft containers only. Nothing longer.

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

ah, that explains why the 53' hangs off the end of the supports. thx!

[@mikehowey4869]

What is the cost of these cars?

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

39.99 + tx+ shipping. those last two will vary depending on where you are and where you order them.

[@dakotaziegler4]

Hmmmm interesting

[@robfairportlogistics]

$50 direct? really? thats not cool.

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

$40 bucks but yeah, they're pricey. same as a scale trains, east coast, or gold series atlas car though. welcome to the new world order pricing.

[@michaeltowler6174]

Goof balls....lol. Why I have no interest in intermodal.

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

it's hard to model modern eastern RRs and skip intermodal - it's pretty much the hot commodity. i'm not a huge fan of metal wheels on cars - they cause too much grief for me and the idea of soldering little resisters for block detection makes my brain hurt. i get why people do it - it's definitely the most realistic way to signal, but man - i'm settling for some basic IR units and calling it a day.