Both cars represent prototypes built from standard 50-foot boxcar designs modified to transport troops across America during the latter days of World War II. Three versions were built and Micro-Trains offers two of them: the troop kitchen car and a troop sleeper from the second group of 1,000 cars (without the center step wells).
Model Railroader published articles and drawings of both cars: the sleeper in December 2001 and the kitchen car in February 2002. These models match the drawings perfectly. The models have styrene body shells covered with excellent detail, including the overlapping body and roof-panel joints, hundreds of rivets, and vents. The side doorways, window openings, and ends are well executed with flush clear window glazing.
Each end has a rigid, non-working diaphragm that includes the top buffer spring detail. A zinc-alloy floor casting provides weight low in the carbody. An acetal plastic center sill, which includes the dual air brake system details, fits beneath the metal floor.
Each car weighs just over an ounce, which matches the National Model Railroad Association’s N scale recommendation of ½-ounce plus .15-ounce per inch of length. Appropriate Allied Full Cushion passenger trucks are provided. They have needle-point axles with the common .033″-deep-flange N scale wheels and are extremely free rolling. However, extra wheelsets are included with low-profile .018″ flanges that can easily be substituted. The couplers are truck mounted at the proper height.
Our samples came neatly decorated in Pullman green with black roofs, trucks, and underbodies. They have sharply printed Dulux gold lettering, including the tiny notes on each side of the doorways that read:
caution
double brakes
release valves
both ends of car
The sleeper has a tan interior with seats that are visible through the windows. Three car numbers are available on the sleeper, but there’s only one for the kitchen car.
These excellent models will make great roster additions for World War II- era railroads. They’ll also be handy for many postwar layouts as the prototypes were later sold for conversion to head-end cars, maintenance-of-way service, and a variety of other uses.
Price: kitchen car, $17.70;
troop sleeper, $18.55
Manufacturer:
Micro-Trains Line
P. O. Box 1200
Talent, OR 97540-1200
www.micro-trains.com
Description:
Ready-to-run plastic passenger cars
Road names:
Kitchen car K-100, Pullman sleeper nos. 9010, 9153, and 9426
