Weekend Update 8/15/21

[up1950s]

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%C5%A0koda_gauntlet_track1.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%C5%A0koda_gauntlet_track2.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/%C5%A0koda_gauntlet_track2.jpg

http://forum.modelldepo.ru/showthread.php?t=12175&page=2

[dem34]

How many frogs do you think it takes before just putting in some turnouts becomes cheaper? 🤔

[peteski]

How many frogs do you think it takes before just putting in some turnouts becomes cheaper? 🤔

But that wouldn't solve anything.  Obviously multiple gauge trains share the ROW and some of the rails (they are not supposed to switch between tracks). Each gauge train is supposed to stay on their track. That sure is a strange puzzle though.

[jagged ben]

Judging by the 'Skoda' in the filename -- they are a big manufacturer of European light rail vehicles --  maybe this is part of their testing facility.   

[eja]

The first link provided by our esteemed host of the Weekend Update indicates that this is a:

Mixed gauge test track for 1000, 1435 and 1524 mm gauge in Škoda Plzeň.

It seem to me that switches are not necessary.

[altohorn25]

I spent the last few evenings installing Gold Medal Models windshield wipers on some of my E units.

I also discovered that quite a few of my Kato E units and PA's must be the original runs as their wheels bump on the ties on Atlas code 55 flex track. I ordered new trucks directly from Kato parts and will start the remedy that as soon as they arrive. Not a cheap undertaking (each truck is between $12.00-$15.00 and I have about 10 locomotives to retrofit), but it will be worth it in the end. The small Pennsy layout that I have set up in the basement is all code 55, and I don't want them bumping along the main line....

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[ns737]

you could have just got the wheel sets. as they will work in the trucks. I did it to all my older kato engines.

[jjb62556]

I wish they would done wheel sets for the older passenger cars...Ordered some to replace my Canadian Pacific cars and the replacement were the same size.

[peteski]

you could have just got the wheel sets. as they will work in the trucks. I did it to all my older kato engines.

Yes, 6 wheelsets for about 8-9 dollars. Those wheels also look really nice!  Small flanges, narrow tread, and nicely machines wheel faces.

[peteski]

I wish they would done wheel sets for the older passenger cars...Ordered some to replace my Canadian Pacific cars and the replacement were the same size.

I'm also disappointed that they have not upgraded their passenger wheel offering.  I asked Kelley at Kato about it, but he never answered my questions. Kato would probably have to sell the new wheelsets under a new part number. Maybe that's the reason for not doing it?

[ns737]

my older sd40's ,sd40-2's and my c30-7's look so much better with the new wheels

[altohorn25]

I wish they would done wheel sets for the older passenger cars...Ordered some to replace my Canadian Pacific cars and the replacement were the same size.

I've been ordering the new trucks for the 20th century to get the wheels with the smaller flanges - you can get extra cars worth of wheels if you order the 6 wheel baggage car trucks.  These have the smaller flanges, and I've been retrofitting all my older Kato trucks with them.  Not cheap, but as was stated before, if you order just the wheels, they send you the older ones with the larger flanges.......grrrr......

Nate

[peteski]

I've been ordering the new trucks for the 20th century to get the wheels with the smaller flanges - you can get extra cars worth of wheels if you order the 6 wheel baggage car trucks.  These have the smaller flanges, and I've been retrofitting all my older Kato trucks with them.  Not cheap, but as was stated before, if you order just the wheels, they send you the older ones with the larger flanges.......grrrr......

Nate

Well, the only part number available is for the older wheels.  Kato still makes those (probably for the Japanese market).  Maybe if all the modelers who want the newer wheels contact Kato USA and request the new low-profile wheels (like I did), they will start offering them for sale.

What you are doing is depleting the the truck inventory. I hope that you aren't tossing out the wheel-less trucks themselves. I suspect some day someone will be looking for those (wheels or no wheels).

[nkalanaga]

Here are a few pictures to show how I lowered my Boeing Skybox cars.  It really is a quick and dirty hack job!  If you have some scrap styrene sheet and a couple 00-90 screws you're all set.


Top view, lengthwise:  Glue the new styrene blocks on top of the ledge.  I reused the supplied weights in this one, stacking them in the middle.  I used 0.06" styrene, because I have a bunch of it, but you could probably go as thin as 0.02", and anything thicker would also work.  Wood or metal would also work, but would be harder to glue, and metal would be overkill! 



Bottom views, lengthwise and from side:  Cut the end of the floor loose, trim the sides and inner end so it fits back in easily, and glue it to the new blocks, making sure the bolsters are still centered.  If you cut very neatly, and don't need to trim much, they should go right back in.  Note that I cut from the top, so part of the sides of the floor are still in their original place, leaving a ledge on the underside.  That shouldn't bother the trucks, but if it does, it can be trimmed after the glue is dry.  This also shows how I trimmed the coupler boxes for wheel clearance.


Side view, not as clear unfortunately, showing the ride height after surgery.

[altohorn25]

Well, the only part number available is for the older wheels.  Kato still makes those (probably for the Japanese market).  Maybe if all the modelers who want the newer wheels contact Kato USA and request the new low-profile wheels (like I did), they will start offering them for sale.

What you are doing is depleting the the truck inventory. I hope that you aren't tossing out the wheel-less trucks themselves. I suspect some day someone will be looking for those (wheels or no wheels).

Not to be a jerk, but I'm not really worried if I'm "depleting" the truck inventory.  The parts are there to buy, and what I do with them is my business.  If someone else wants/needs them, they can buy them just as easily as I can  (for what it's worth, I do keep all the trucks that I'm taking the wheels out of).  I understand Kato makes a limited supply of extra parts, but I'm buying what I need/want.  Anyone else can do the same thing.

Nate