The complete listing of Chinese prototype models is below. For model reviews, please scroll below the table or click here
The complete listing of Chinese prototype models is below. For model reviews, please scroll below the table or click here
The complete listing of Chinese prototype models is below. For model reviews, please scroll below the table or click here
The complete listing of Chinese prototype models is below. For model reviews, please scroll below the table or click here
MTC
YZ31
1:87 Scale
Rating
8/10
YZ31 Class Hard Seater Car
Prototype Information
The YZ31 are commuter cars designed for short distances which date back to the 1960's. They were produced in Changchun from 1964 until 1976 and Puzhen (Nanjing) after this date. They are easy to identify from other types with two large twin doors along the body middle of the car, unlike nearly all other Chinese cars of this era which had a single door on either end. Seating inside consists of benches along the walls which left plenty of standing room. These were out of mainline service by the early 2000's, however some examples survived for many years in private/industrial railways. The YZ31's are fitted with a single bathroom at one end of the car.
General Information
These are amongst some of my favorite cars to have run on China's railways due to their uniqueness and rarity in later years. They are a very welcome addition to the Chinese modelers who model the earlier era. MTC (Model Train Crazy) announced their YZ31's in 2023 and almost 12 months later, 12 versions were released. I don't have all the product numbers and they don't seem to have a particular order and the list goes up to 14, so perhaps some versions were cancelled. These are plastic models with etched brass details. As far as I can tell all versions have interior lighting and a basic interior, metal wheels knuckle couplers.
Packaging
Packaging is a thin two piece cardboard box with foam inserts. They are wrapped in a soft plastic sheet.
Details
These cars have very nice external details. Some of the more notable are the beautiful see-through door steps, colored handrails, electrical cables (car ends) and chrome and black window surrounds (plus frosted glass on the lavatory windows). They bogies are very nicely done with axle boxes numbered and they've cleverly fitted the generator wheel to the end of the axle of wheel #4 which turns as it rolls along.
The interior has basic details of cyan floor with the benches. I'm not overly happy with the interior as a whole as it is very obvious where the windows are glued into the walls with a very unrealistic appearance. The undercarriage is nicely replicated with brake rigging and equipment boxes.
The livery options are excellent with a number of variations. The lining and lettering is extremely sharp (even the tiny lettering on the doors). Those who wish to add the blue Sanmao livery versions should note that they are fairly different to Bachmann's YZ22 cars, which use pale blue as the main color rather than the light grey on MTC's cars. From what I have found, both versions are correct.
Performance
The cars have metal wheels and all but one of my (seven) samples roll exceptionally well. The other has unfortunately had one of its wheels forced inside the bogie during the manufacturing process and now flops about a bit inside its bolster. They have some very well hidden copper metal brush style pickups for the lighting inside and thankfully these don't seem to inhibit the car's rolling properties.
Lighting
The lighting can be turned on or off by simply touching the top of the roof of the #2 end of the carriage with your finger, thanks to a sensor switch cleverly tucked away. There lighting system seems to have been fitted with a small capacitor which should eliminate or reduce flickering as it travels over dirty track, rail joints etc. The lighting color is white with a good intensity.
Couplers
These cars are fitted with metal knuckle couplers which are compatible with just about any knuckle coupler brand, e.g. Kadee, Bachmann EZmates, etc. They sit nice and close and maintain a nice distance around couplers thanks to the spring mounted coupler mechanism. Unfortunately MTC have used a fairly unique coupler box which seems to only be compatible with their couplers (I need to experiment with a few other types to confirm). While I am happy they sit close, this could be very problematic if one gets damaged.
