I always liked the massive Lionel postwar era 6418/6518 16 wheel flat cars, but they're expensive, and the modern era re-releases are overpriced. Along comes the K-line version with a huge transformer worthy of such a monster car, lettered for the Pennsy, and around $50.
The car is about 16 1/2" long coupler to coupler, and about 2 3/4" wide. It's equipped with four die cast sprung trucks mounted in the same manner as Lionel's, so the car will make it around 0-31 curves but with a lot of overhang. The cars frame is die cast, and the deck appears to be a plastic casting attached to the top of the car via screws from under the car. The corners of the car have seperately applied details - grab irons, steps, and brake wheels. The transformer load appears to be some kind of plastic or resin like casting, and rests on a "plate" that is screwed to the bottom of the car and keeps it from slinding around. The transformer is secured to the flat by four spring loaded chains.
Finally, a freight load worthy of such a massive car! When I received the car three of the corners of the mounting plate for the transformer where broken off; you can see the white areas under the bottom corners of the transformer. I glued them back on with plastic model glue, and they seem to be holding.
K-Line flat compared to a standard Lionel flatcar.
0-31 operation has a huge amount of overhang!
Chains are a nice touch.
For the money it's an excellent value. Those running on 0-31 may want to look at K-Lines smaller depressed center flat.
