Intermountain 12-panel boxcar observations

[bbussey]

Change the couplers from the current #1015 clone to MTL #2004, which should fit in the cloned coupler box.  That should offset the coupler and compensate for lowering the car to the correct ride height.
 

[nkalanaga]

If you mean the reefer, it still has the truck mounted MTs, so no cloned box to work with.  I got it lowered, although it took some work, and a few minor repairs.  The stirrups are separate plastic pieces, glued on, and one came off.  No damage, though, and it didn't get lost, so I'm satisfied.  And the crossover platform is easily bent, but a little damage there is explainable as "weathering".

Thanks for the tip, though, as it will probably be useful somewhere else.  There's no such thing as "useless" information!

[bbussey]

I didn't know the model had truck-mounted couplers.  Then a standard MTL #2004 should work in the future if you decide to lower more of them.  It also might be easier to slap on a pair of BLMA or Atlas ASF Ride Control 70t trucks, as the lowered bolster arm may automatically lower the car to the proper height.  Either version is a better-looking option also because the width of the truck overall and the thickness of the sideframes are closer to scale than the MTLs.

[nickelplate759]

Just got mine as well.   Overall I'm pleased with the changes.     At a bare minimum, I replace the wheels and body mount Micro-Trains couplers on the older runs of these cars - if they come with Micro-Trains trucks I replace the entire truck, as I can't bear chopping those up.  Nice to have this already done at approximately the same price.

I will try the MTL #2004 trick w.r.t. lowering the car.  Sounds promising.

I'm still hoping for an aftermarket 50T "bettendorf"-style truck with a lowered bolster like the ones BLMA does.


George

[bbussey]

I'm still hoping for an aftermarket 50T "bettendorf"-style truck with a lowered bolster like the ones BLMA does.

Atlas has the 50t S-2 truck on the PS-1.  While they are not available separately as of yet ... for any PS-1 cars you have, check the prototype to see what trucks they ran on.  A large percentage of the prototype ran on ASF A-3 trucks.  The bolster beams of the BLMA trucks and the newer Atlas trucks (PS-1, TOFC, coil car) are the same height, so they are interchangeable.  By swapping in BLMA A-3 trucks on your PS-1 boxcars, you free up the S-2 trucks for other use.

[garethashenden]

Atlas has the 50t S-2 truck on the PS-1.  While they are not available separately as of yet ... for any PS-1 cars you have, check the prototype to see what trucks they ran on.  A large percentage of the prototype ran on ASF A-3 trucks.  The bolster beams of the BLMA trucks and the newer Atlas trucks (PS-1, TOFC, coil car) are the same height, so they are interchangeable.  By swapping in BLMA A-3 trucks on your PS-1 boxcars, you free up the S-2 trucks for other use.

What is the best way of finding out which cars had which trucks?

[bbussey]

Good question.  You can start here to get the roads, reporting marks and builder's lots:

http://www.trainlife.com/magazines/pages/145/10464/march-1993-page-10

You then have to research the roads in question to see what they rode on.  New Haven PS-1s rode on ASF A-3 trucks, but I know that because it's the road I model and I researched it eons ago when trying to make the MTL cars more prototypical.  I thought we collectively had found the link and posted it in one of the PS-1 threads in the last year or two, because my B&M, Rutland, LV and silver WP models also ride on A-3 trucks and I don't remember extensively researching those roads.  You'll have to search the archives for that thread, unless someone remembers where the info is.

UPDATE:  Here's a link that Scott (skm) posted back in July that has the truck info:
http://steamerafreightcars.com/prototype/frtcars/PullmanStandard40ftPS1boxcars.xls

[nickelplate759]

While we are on trucks - the BLMA solid-bearing A3 is listed as a 70T truck.   How different is that (in appearance) from a 50T truck?  (Please don't say "20T"  )

George

[PGE_Modeller]

While we are on trucks - the BLMA solid-bearing A3 is listed as a 70T truck.   How different is that (in appearance) from a 50T truck?  (Please don't say "20T"  )

George

Typically, a 50-ton truck had a wheelbase of 5'-6" while a 70-ton truck had a 5'-8" wheelbase.  The castings and springs of the 70-ton truck also had a slightly heavier cross-section, but this would not likely be apparent on an N-scale model.  Some will question whether the 2" difference in wheelbase would be seen on an N-scale model as well.  Journal size was also different but that was hidden from view.

Cheers,

[bbussey]

Typically, a 50-ton truck had a wheelbase of 5'-6" while a 70-ton truck had a 5'-8" wheelbase.  The castings and springs of the 70-ton truck also had a slightly heavier cross-section, but this would not likely be apparent on an N-scale model.  Some will question whether the 2" difference in wheelbase would be seen on an N-scale model as well.  Journal size was also different but that was hidden from view.

If you compare the BLMA ASF A-3 truck to the Atlas Barber S-2 truck, you can see the wheelbase difference.

[nkalanaga]

Bryan:  Looks like I'll need to order some 2004 couplers.  Thank you.

George:  I've been chopping MT trucks since their first release.  As many of the MT (then KD) freight cars I bought in the 70s still came with Rapido couplers, I had to change the couplers on them.  In early 2012 I finally got busy and body mounted all of my KD/MT boxcars, and ordered just the draft gear boxes for the 1025 couplers.  Take the truck-mounted couplers apart, put the parts in the new draft gear, and cut the box off the  truck.  A lot cheaper than buying new couplers!  If you try it, do the disassembly BEFORE cutting  the box off the truck, as it's a lot easier with something to hold on to.  Just push back on the top of the box, the catches slide free, and it all falls apart.  MT doesn't usually sell the 1025 boxes separately, but I asked nicely, they quoted me a price for a hundred.  I ended up buying several times that, so have a lifetime supply.