HO Scale Maxi-IV Side-by-Side Comparison
Kato and Intermountain/A-line Maxi-IV's.
Allowing you to compare the two models on the market as of late 2008, and pick which one you want, in an educated
manor.
Gunderson/Greenbrier Maxi-IV: http://www.gbrx.com/PDFtecbulletins/StackCarsMaxiIV.pdf
The Maxi-IV is a 3 unit, articulated intermodal "stack car", with 53' wells. It rolls in a A-C-B set, with 70T trucks (33"
wheels) on the ends, and 125T intermediate trucks (38" wheels).
Major carriers include BNSF & TTX, with others such as NW Container, Pacer, AOK & IAIS also running some.
Kato USA, and Intermountain Railway Company both have released assembled, painted models on the Maxi-IV in late
2008 for the HO scale market.
As of Early November 2008, Kato has released TTX & BNSF cars, IMRC has released BNSF Early & Late, and NW
Container so far, with plans to release Pacer, AOK, IAIS, & TTX in December 2008.
Side-by-Side Comparison:
Composition: | Metal well sides, plastic floor, plastic details | Plastic well, plastic & metal details |
Weight Provided by: |
Metal well sides | Metal weights at ends of wells |
A unit weight: | 2.9oz | ?? |
B unit weight: | 3.3oz | ?? |
C unit weight: | 2.7oz | ?? |
Wheels: | Metal, code 110, 33" ends, 38" intermediate | Metal, code 110, 38" all around |
Trucks: | Plastic, 70T ends, 125T intermediate, off center bolster pin | Plastic, 125T all around |
Coupler: | Kato knuckle | Accumate knuckle |
Draft Gear (coupler box): |
Kadee compatible | Scale sized, fits Accumate, or Sergent EN87 |
End detail: | Molded on grabs | Separate wire grabs, plastic air hose |
Walkways: | Plastic/molded on IBC access | All Etched metal |
Container guides: |
Molded into metal well sides, separate plastic end guides | Separate etched metal details |
Intermediate |
Nifty locking pin system, small, and very prototypical looking | Standard A-line Male/Female system, larger, and less prototypical looking |
Ladders: |
Slightly oversize molded plastic | Close to scale molded plastic |
Paint & |
Black 125T ends missing paint in places, some small text blurry |
Well printed, all words legible |
Extra details to |
Coupler magnetic trip pins | None |
Packaging: |
Standard Kato foam box insert, loose square foam chunk in wells |
Clear plastic, press together halves |
MSRP (2008): |
$80.00 | $89.95 |
Final Thoughts:
The IMRC car is MUCH better in the detail department. Etched walkways are almost a must in today's
modern RTR market. The IMRC car having scale draft gear will anger just about anyone who is a Kadee only
user, as Kadee does not make a scale width draft gear coupler.
I have no clue what IMRC was thinking when they included 38" wheels all around. One visit to
Greenbrier's website would have indicated that the end trucks are 70T! My IMRC wheels are VERY poorly
turned, causing the cars to rock violently, and make loud clicking noises.
Kato had it right with the wheel sizes, but then included some funky off center bolster, and a press fit Vs.
a screw.
Kato's intermediate connector LOOKS far superior to the IMRC/A-line version, however only time will
tell if its smaller size will be sufficient for constant use.
Kato's TTX paint is lacking some good quality control, though the IMRC TTX version is still not out, so I
cannot compare their work.
Kato's metal well sides effectively double the weight of the cars when compared to the IMRC/A-line
cars. I cannot get a specific weight for the IMRC cars yet, seems my scale decided to stop working correctly.
Larger Photos:
© 2008, 2019, Josh Baakko, https://www.modelrailroadtips.com