Amtrak rosters two distinctly different types of MHCs. The first version, numbered in the 1400 series, was built by Thrall Car Manufacturing Co. in 1986. In 1989 Amtrak took delivery of a second version of the MHC, also from Thrall, which use trucks with a longer wheelbase. These 1500-series MHCs have a different roof and carbody, but their best spotting feature is the large hand wheel on each door that operates the door mechanism. Amtrak’s MHC-1s don’t have this feature.
Overall Kato has captured the prototype’s details very well, including the diagonal-panel roof, the wide plug doors, and the correct number of weld seams on the sides. The side ladders and door operating wheels are separate parts which I recommend you paint silver before installing on the car.
The end sills and accompanying head-end-power and communication receptacles have been omitted below floor level to provide clearance for the truck-mounted couplers to move from side to side. Kato’s magnetic knuckle couplers are mounted on the trucks and they are compatible with Micro-Trains couplers. This arrangement allows the models to easily negotiate a 9¾”-radius curve.
The couplers meet the National Model Railroad Association standards for height, and the chemically darkened, free-rolling metal wheelsets match the NMRA’s flangeway depth, gauge, and wheel-width standards.
Our model weighs 1.1 ounces, which is very close to the NMRA’s N scale Recommended Practice of one-half ounce plus .15 ounce per inch of length.
Kato has equipped this model with electrical pickups on each truck, which makes it easy to add an aftermarket flashing end-of-train marker light. These cars are often run on the rear of Amtrak trains, so the model comes with a cast-on marker light box on each end. All you’ll need to do is drill a suitable hole to match the LED you choose.
The sample’s silver paint was evenly applied and the lettering is crisp, although the white stripe overlapped the red and blue stripes, creating a pinkish and light blue tone rather than a crisp separation. Blue specks were also evident on the white stripe, but none of these problems are apparent under normal viewing conditions.
This good-looking model will make a fine addition on the end of any Phase III- or Phase-IV ear Amtrak train.
Price: $39.98 per set
Manufacturer:
Kato USA
100 Remington Rd.
Schaumburg, IL 60173
www.katousa.com
Description:
Easy plastic car kit
Features:
Kato magnetic knuckle couplers
Separately applied door-opening wheels and side ladders
Truck electrical pickup contacts
Road names:
Set C1: Amtrak Phase III
nos. 1524 and 1547
Set C2: Amtrak Phase III nos. 1508 and 1553
