I can understand where changing a casting or physical part of the car might be more cost than the company desires, but failure to have the lettering correct is either very sloppy (no?) research, or they assume most modelers can’t read the fine print. On lettering, particularly with MPHS assistance, it would not have cost any more to do it right the first time.
Bill Pollard

This model is noted on IM’s site as ‘numbers 25-30’. In other words, the same inaccurate item that they’ve always sold. Looking at other similar models, it’s apparent that they don’t change the art on prototypes that carried several different paint schemes over the years, which is no doubt self-defeating. Evidently they don’t get that a different paint scheme would likely draw many more sales than just the same thing with different numbers.

We did receive positive responses and an updated design sheet from them on two others, one of which I believe is the former Red Caboose 40′ welded side boxcar that has not been released yet (a model that got caught in the collapse of the Chinese manufacturer). Time will tell if that’s what actually gets produced.

A look at that car on the IM site, stock number RR-38703, shows a riveted car whose prototype was a DeSoto-built car. The lettering is much better than the art that was first posted, which is what prompted us to offer comments in the first place. The stock numbers would indicate that this car has already been released once (stock numbers 1-6 would have been the first ones). I don’t remember seeing this one before, though.

RG7

Nate:

I tried digging for my emails with Intermountain from the original discussions, but haven’t come up with them yet. I might have conflated those with some others in the release. If they’d ever planned to do the ACF car (38875-39014), they’re not now doing it.

My main point is the fact that we contacted Intermountain and they did change the lettering, at least based on what’s now shown.

I have never seen any previous version of this model, to the best of my knowledge. In fact, I’d never realized this MP model had ever been done before. I don’t know If it had been done by Red Caboose. The original Red Caboose version actually had a number of problems, and I never built the one or two I’d picked up. Some have not been corrected even yet, but it’s closer. Incidentally, the website no longer lists the RR- prefix for these cars, and now it shows stock numbers -7 to -12, as if six numbers had been previously released.

I ordered a few undecs of that Intermountain Red Caboose re-release welded side 8′ door car, since I would prefer to decal my MP cars when the commercially printed version is substandard. I probably also ordered a couple of Wabash cars and a couple other welded side cars that have never been correctly done before, but any other riveted side 8′ door cars with 4-3-1 improved (banana-taper) Dreadnought ends I’d probably do from Branchline.

This car that’s on the website now appears to be riveted side, 8′ door, which fits with the numbers being announced. Those DeSoto-built cars (35350-38874) had a longer sidesill reinforcement than the one on the model (as is also true for the Branchline model of the same car). Still, the Branchline car is not going to be readily available, so this one is the next reasonable alternative.

RG7

I did buy a couple, to reward them for listening to us. Now that I have them, I might buy a couple more. That’s them in the middle, between a decaled and weathered one on the left and a Branchline one (different series) on the right.

[attachment=0:1nsa4tnk]P1150066.JPG[/attachment:1nsa4tnk]

These are early cars as 10′-6″ tall boxcars go, built in 1945-46. The number series are from the Texas lines, so these are painted as if they’d been shopped after 1956. But fairly common cars, being about 8% of the 40′ steel boxcar roster.

RG7

Andrew,
The cars would have been renumbered in the general 1963 fleet renumbering to the 6-digit series.

STLB&M 18000-18249 and STLB&M 18250-18449 were renumbered to 124540-125104.

STLB&M 18465-18599 renumbered to 126330-126456.

I-GN 18800-18999 became 125115-125307.

Nate

No problem. I forgot to add they would have been “MP”initialed cars – I believe since 1956.

Nate

@delisle wrote:

Thank you Nate