Looking for Con-Cor J3a tender trucks

[bbussey]

Folks,

I'm looking for Con-Cor J3a tender trucks.  If anyone has a surplus set or two, please give he a shout.  Thanks.

[u18b]

Folks,

I'm looking for Con-Cor J3a tender trucks.  If anyone has a surplus set or two, please give he a shout.  Thanks.

Does the version matter?

Sekisui, Kato, China?

There is a Sekisui on the bay in the Arnold category.

[mmagliaro]

The Sekisui are the 1st gen ones that have no pickups.  So if you need pickups, don't get those!

[Chris333]

Last set I got were right from Concor, been a while though.

[spookshow]

If you can't find any Con-Cors, James Norris sells trucks like that via Shapeways -

http://www.shapeways.com/model/1500426/up-water-tender-spare-trucks-4x-n-scale-1-160.html?materialId=61

Cheers,
-Mark

[bbussey]

I need the Kato version, with the pickups. I believe the China version is similar. Con-Cor doesn't list them on their parts page.

[spookshow]

I think you can still get them if you call Con-Cor directly, but IIRC they're crazy expensive.

Cheers,
-Mark

[mmagliaro]

Con-Cor never listed them, but I have bought them by calling them.  The last time I did it, they were
$20 for a pair, which wasn't too bad, but they are a massive pain to deal with for parts and they take forever to
fill parts orders.  So be prepared to wait.

Otherwise, they do list the complete tender (and the tender for the S2 and 4-8-4, all of which
will have those trucks in them).  Spendy, however, about $50.

You might also scour around eBay and train shows for Kato GS-4 tender trucks, or
Bachmann Heavy Mountain tender trucks, both of which are 6-wheel with axle point pickups that
are better than the older ConCor/Kato style with the pickup plates (although those are still way better than
wipers and are all-wheel).

None of these things shows up very often nowadays, I'm afraid.  They used to be all over at train shows, and one used to be able to pick up a junked Hudson for under 40 bucks.  But those days are long gone.

[bbussey]

Max, thanks for the tip regarding a phone call.  I will do that today.  I need the CC trucks, as I've already designed and milled a pair of I-5 tender floors for them because the J3a truck sideframes are the most accurate to the prototype.  I need an extra pair so I can build two.

[mmagliaro]

Max, thanks for the tip regarding a phone call.  I will do that today.  I need the CC trucks, as I've already designed and milled a pair of I-5 tender floors for them because the J3a truck sideframes are the most accurate to the prototype.  I need an extra pair so I can build two.

That's right... I remember you showing that tender floor project.   Yeah, give them a call and see what happens.
They can be annoying to get parts out of, even when they have them.  They seem to like to take your information,
including a credit card number, and then promise to call you back when they actually fill the order and have a total.
I think that's ridiculous that you have to give them the number when they can't tell you the total, but
that's what they did to me the last time I called.

I did get my trucks, however.

[bbussey]

I called and spoke with Donna.  She said the person who would know if they have them available is Morgan, who is out this week.  She took my information and said she would have him call me on Monday.  So maybe the pace has picked up regarding parts.  I'll find out next week.

[victor miranda]

that response is much the same as what I got.

you will get your parts......

I hate to say things like 'surplus,' as I like the parts I have gathered.

I'll look tonight.

btw, what is an I-5?
I assume a steam engine?

victor

[Chris333]

I-5:
http://www.railpictures.net/photo/320822/

[wazzou]

I-5:
http://www.railpictures.net/photo/320822/

That's a pretty wild stairway on the side of that Coaling Tower.

[mmagliaro]

Ohhhhh... .THAT I-5....

Okay, I'll bite.  How are you going to make those drivers?