| Milton Train Works |
| A proud member of |
| Kits of Distinction: Designed by Craftsmen, Built by Connoisseurs |
Item Description:
This is an instance of my custom hopper car. This is my first custom model, going back to the Gary Louie Memorial Auction when I made my first one. It's an oldie but a goodie, with over 25 copies now sold to happy fans world wide.
Previously, this car was sold assembled, and was shipped carefully packaged. I have now created instructions for this set (and all MTW sets) and I can ship it assembled if you want, or disassembled, so you get the joy of putting it together. These instructions, while not TLC quality, are thorough and accurate, and will allow you to quickly and correctly assemble this set. You will received a high quality printed or photocopied set of instructions, as well as all the required parts to create one car.
This item is essentially identical to Serious Collector lot A1289 (long since sold)
NOTE: All black is my most popular color and is usually in stock and ready to ship. Gray also available and in stock. Versions in other colors can be created, email me for more information. (Limited stock of red/black, yellow/black and blue now available)
This hopper can be seen on my Freight Cars page. A few views are shown below, but go there for more descriptive text.
I feel this car is in my top 5 "best work".It features:
A photo of an actual instance of the model, side view.
A photo of the bottom, and the number of 1x2's that the hopper will hold. 110 1x2s is A LOT for a model to hold!
An image from the instructions you get with the set. Note that the instructions are 20 pages long! The steps are very detailed, and you also get a partslist. (You do NOT get the letter bricks spelling out the copyright, those are decorative only)
For a review of this set, see this lugnet.reviews post by Paul Foster.
Here's a picture in gray:
At least one seller likes it a lot better, and I admit the grey brings out the details better. However, we all know coal hoppers are black.
You get the same great instructions with this version that you do with MTW-1001-bk. These instructions, while not TLC quality, are thorough and accurate, and will allow you to quickly and correctly assemble this set. You will received a high quality printed or photocopied set of instructions, as well as all the required parts to create one car.
Other colors may be available depending on parts availability. (Limited stock of red/black, yellow/black and blue now available, contact me for details. I am considering developing one with a yellow end to simulate unit train service)
For a review of this set, see this lugnet.reviews post by Paul Foster.
The item is available for purchase. Here's a picture in red:
Please note: the item does not come with the <-O-> sticker. At least not at this time.
Other colors may be available depending on parts availability. Please contact me if you're interested.
As with all Milton Train Works models, you get a fantastic set of instructions, featuring cropped views, cutaways, rotations and other nuances to make this a fast and fun build. These instructions, while not TLG quality, are thorough and accurate, and will allow you to quickly and correctly assemble this set. You will received a high quality printed or photocopied set of instructions, as well as all the required parts to create one car.
MTW-1001-gy Custom Four Axle Hopper
Gray
This item is also available in gray. Sorry, slightly higher price, due to the added expense of obtaining the required parts in gray.
MTW-1002-rd Custom Bulkhead Flat
Red
I completed development of this set in early August 2000, have made an initial production run of 10 units in red/black as pictured. A small modification was made to the trucks to enhance realism. I also added "tie down rails" (LEGO tubing) to the clips running from one end of the car to the other.
MTW-2001 Custom "SW" Diesel Electric Switcher
|
This handsome custom kit builds a mid to late 20th century US prototype Diesel Electric Switcher.
It does not follow any specific prototype exactly but I was heavily influenced by EMD and to a lesser extent, Alco, switchers.
The design of a switcher has remained relatively unchanged for 60 years, so this model can represent both early and late model units. Further, since switchers tend to last a very long time (even by railroad standards where 30 year engine lifetimes are not unheard of) this unit will be at home in settings as diverse as on a transition era layout, a second generation engine facility, or even a modern hi-cube/container flat yard. |
 Instruction Cover shot (note: Sorry, you only get parts for one switcher) |
Three Quarters Nose View (unit runs this way for road work) |
Switchers have a long and glorious (?? grin) history. Many railroads bought switchers before they bought any other sort of diesel, figuring that a unit that never strayed far from home and that did not have a heavy workload (and thus did not need a lot of power, some units were as small as 600 hp) would be a good test of this new diesel technology. By the mid 1930s many roads had them, and switchers that looked essentially like this model were available from EMC (later EMD after GM bought it).
Switchers varied in power from 600 hp to 1500 hp or so. Many were fitted for road unit duty with additional classification lights. MU hoses,anticlimbers, etc. but many lived out their lives shunting cars on large industrial estates, working flat and hump yards and performing other sorts of switching duty. I know you'll enjoy building this model and operating it on your layout. |
Some of the features of this diesel electric switcher include:
|
Instruction Source Image
|
As with all Milton Train Works models, you get a fantastic set of instructions,
featuring cropped views, cutaways, rotations and other nuances to make this a fast and
fun build. These instructions, while not TLG quality, are thorough and accurate, and will
allow you to quickly and correctly assemble this set. You will receive a high quality
printed or photocopied set of instructions, as well as all the required parts to create
one unit.
Time permitting I intend to include additional parts to allow you to model a single notch version, an MP1500 with front bump, and a notchless hood version. The instructions will include alternate images to suggest how these versions can be achieved. |
The instructions and documentation feature:
| |
| These instructions were created with MLCad, an LDraw compatible CAD modeling program especially designed for use with LEGO® and compatible elements. After the painstaking transcription, I checked the instructions for accuracy, generated the parts list and printed them on my HP 2100 Laser printer, ensuring that you get the sharpest instructions offered by any limited run custom LEGO® kit producer on the market today. | |
|
You will be the person that decides on the final color scheme of your model. I will be offering MTW-2001 in at least 5 "canned" color schemes. I decided to start with the UPish model, although the yellow windows it needs make it the model with the smallest production run unless I can source more. For that reason I expect it to be the most popular.
But the way this actually will work is that you will choose the color you want for the upper, stripe, and lower portions of both the cab AND the hood (6 choices in all) which will allow almost infinite variations. You will visit a link to select what you actually want after you've bought your unit from BrickLink(tm). You will need your BrickLink order number and your preferred email address. |
Stablemates |
||
Some other color schemes that you can create (or order by shorthand) are shown here:
| |||
|
This picture shows a stable mate (the not currently available CNW color scheme) to show how well these units look MUed together. The SW has been designed to look and operate well on the tiny radius LEGO® curves we all use. You'll have a lifetime of operating fun with this baby. | |
UP/C&NW units in tandem (must be right after the merger) |
| This handsome custom kit builds a mid 20th century US prototype streetcar or interurban. I've styled it to resemble a "PCC" car but I'm not claiming it's a completely accurate depiction, even within the limits of the LEGO® medium. |
|
Some of you may have seen a brown and white version of this interurban (with a yellow roof)
on the ready track at the recent Pacific NorthWest LEGO® Train Club
(PNLTC) Guinness World Record breaking attempt.
I had loaned that model to the PNLTC for their use, and was delighted to get it back recently, prompting me to ready this model for production.
It's been a favorite of mine since I built the first version over a year ago, and now that Soccer buses make train windows readily available, it's practical to bring it to you, the connoisseur LEGO® hobbyist. Some of the features of this trolley car include:
|
| As with all Milton Train Works models, you get a fantastic set of instructions, featuring cropped views, cutaways, rotations and other nuances to make this a fast and fun build. These instructions, while not TLG quality, are thorough and accurate, and will allow you to quickly and correctly assemble this set. You will received a high quality printed or photocopied set of instructions, as well as all the required parts to create one car. |
| These instructions were created with MLCad, an LDraw compatible CAD modeling program especially designed for use with LEGO® and compatible elements. After the painstaking transcription, I checked the instructions for accuracy, generated the parts list and had a fellow Bricksmith print them, doublesided, on a color laser printer, ensuring that you get the sharpest instructions offered. (B&W instructions available. Substantial discount if substituted for color, modest increase if included "in addition", inquire for details) increase by any limited run custom LEGO® kit producer on the market today. | |
|
Other colors may be available depending on parts availability. Please contact me if you're
interested. Blue would be easy if you could accept a black or gray nose.
This streetcar contains over 400 parts, a new high for a Milton Train Works kit. Bidding on the first production unit (on eBay) could only be described as "fierce", and the closing price was 202.49 USD. |
|
This handsome custom kit builds a mid 20th century US prototype Gas Electric railcar.
It does not follow any specific prototype but I was trying for the much beloved "doodlebug"
look.
If you're wondering what the heck a doodlebug is... Some references are at the bottom of the section. However, it's a nickname for a gas electric or diesel electric railcar (a single unit train). It's not clear how the nickname originated, but it may have something to do with how "cute" the prototypes are, and with their tendency to "waddle" on poorly maintained trackage. |
|
These were developed by several manufacturers at
the behest of lines who were tired of the expense of a full steam train (with at least 5 crew,
lots of operating expenses, etc...) on lightly patronized branch lines that they were petitioning
the ICC to abandon anyway.
Doodlebugs have historic significance, because their early development (in the teens and twenties) led several of these manufacturers (notably GE and EMC, later the EMD division of GM, and for a time the largest loco manufacturer on the planet, although now eclipsed by GE) to try their hand at diesels based on the experience they gained. And the diesel is arguably the single most important railroading development of the 20th century. But that's not why I did one. I did one because they're so darn cute. I know you'll enjoy building this model and operating it on your layout.
| |
|
Some of you may have seen a red version of this model at the '99 MindFest. That's the original
prototype model, built in the early spring of 1999. I also built a very close copy for the
GMLTC and it's been exhibited at some of their shows.
Some of you may have seen a black and blue version of this cute gasser on the ready track at the recent Pacific NorthWest LEGO® Train Club (PNLTC) Guinness World Record breaking attempt. I had taken my 'bug out to Seattle to show off, and they loved it and asked me to build a copy... so we did one in the colors available. Black doors and blue windows... but with some trickery in the baggage area due to lack of parts. It's been a favorite of mine since I built the first version almost two years ago, and now that Soccer buses make train windows readily available, and now that Lego Direct (Shop At Home) makes blue and grey doors and windows available, it's practical to bring it to you, the connoisseur LEGO® hobbyist. |
|
Some of the features of this gas electric railcar include:
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| As with all Milton Train Works models, you get a fantastic set of instructions, featuring cropped views, cutaways, rotations and other nuances to make this a fast and fun build. These instructions, while not TLG quality, are thorough and accurate, and will allow you to quickly and correctly assemble this set. You will receive a high quality printed or photocopied set of instructions, as well as all the required parts to create one unit. |
| These instructions were created with MLCad, an LDraw compatible CAD modeling program especially designed for use with LEGO® and compatible elements. After the painstaking transcription, I checked the instructions for accuracy, generated the parts list and printed them on my HP 2100 Laser printer, ensuring that you get the sharpest instructions offered by any limited run custom LEGO® kit producer on the market today. (color instructions available for an extra charge, inquire) | |
|
Other colors may be available depending on parts availability. Please contact me if
you're interested. Black with yellow trim would be easy if you could accept grey
engine compartment shutters. (however, the cost will be a little higher)
This doodlebug contains around 487 total parts, a new high for a Milton Train Works kit. Bidding on the first production unit (on eBay) will surely be described as "fierce". Doodlebug References:
|
|
Errata:
|
