Substitute for Kato's Budd Postwar Skirted Truck & Coupler Assembly

[motofavorite]

My understanding is that Kato's trucks for Budd postwar, skirted cars were discontinued and are not available. Can someone please recommend a suitable alternative truck for use with CB&Q sleepers, dome cars, and slumbercoaches? Thank you.

[bbussey]

That may not be an accurate assessment. Did you check the generic Budd passenger car page on the Kato Parts website?

[keeper]

Last time I looked, maybe 4 days ago, both the black and silver trucks for the skirted cars were sold out.

[motofavorite]

That may not be an accurate assessment. Did you check the generic Budd passenger car page on the Kato Parts website?

I could not be happier than to be wrong about that, but Kato USA has been sold out of that model of truck since I started checking last year. They did restock the Budd coach & dome car bodyshells recently, so I will keep an eye on their parts page.

Until then, I wonder whether anyone can recommend a suitable substitute?

[nickelplate759]

I can't think of a substitute.  I can think of two solutions:
1. trim away the skirts and use a regular truck (that doesn't have the top of the frame trimmed away)
2. trim the top frame of a regular truck to clear the skirt (like the unavailable Kato truck).

[thomasjmdavis]

How many do you need?  My thought is that there are probably some folks out there who have swapped trucks after de-skirting.  I probably have a few myself in parts left over from converting some domes for Wabash and adding truck access on 10-6s.

I guess question #2 would be whether the more recent production uses different specs- mine would be from runs of 20 or more years ago.

[nickelplate759]

How many do you need?  My thought is that there are probably some folks out there who have swapped trucks after de-skirting.  I probably have a few myself in parts left over from converting some domes for Wabash and adding truck access on 10-6s.

I guess question #2 would be whether the more recent production uses different specs- mine would be from runs of 20 or more years ago.

@thomasjmdavis What did you use for Wabash passenger decals?

[motofavorite]

How many do you need?  My thought is that there are probably some folks out there who have swapped trucks after de-skirting.  I probably have a few myself in parts left over from converting some domes for Wabash and adding truck access on 10-6s.

I guess question #2 would be whether the more recent production uses different specs- mine would be from runs of 20 or more years ago.

Thank you for your reply. Maybe enough for 4 or 5 cars.

[motofavorite]

I can't think of a substitute.  I can think of two solutions:
1. trim away the skirts and use a regular truck (that doesn't have the top of the frame trimmed away)
2. trim the top frame of a regular truck to clear the skirt (like the unavailable Kato truck).

Without wishing to be glib, what did you have in mind as a "regular truck?” Thanks.

[nickelplate759]

Any of the Kato trucks for passenger cars without full skirts can be made to work.
If your car has screw-on trucks, look at the trucks on this page: http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?cartid=s-1078&keywords=NSMOOTH&maxhits=100&go=List+Parts&bool=AND&bool=AND
If your prototype car has disc brakes you can cut off the brake shoes on the ends of the frame.

[motofavorite]

Any of the Kato trucks for passenger cars without full skirts can be made to work.
If your car has screw-on trucks, look at the trucks on this page: http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?cartid=s-1078&keywords=NSMOOTH&maxhits=100&go=List+Parts&bool=AND&bool=AND
If your prototype car has disc brakes you can cut off the brake shoes on the ends of the frame.

Thank you! I will give those a try.

[bbussey]

The newer snap-on trucks fit perfectly on the original screw bolsters once you remove the little lock-in nubs, and the bolster screws will hold them in place.  The old trucks won't fit on the snap bolsters, but most of those trucks have been retooled with the snap-ons.  Not the skirted-Budds unfortunately.

The old trucks are not discontinued per se.  They will get re-run when the respective models are rerun.  The last time I believe was the four-car Amtrak heritage set that included an ex-CZ Budd diner.

[fcnrwy23]

Any of the Kato trucks for passenger cars without full skirts can be made to work.
If your car has screw-on trucks, look at the trucks on this page: http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?cartid=s-1078&keywords=NSMOOTH&maxhits=100&go=List+Parts&bool=AND&bool=AND
If your prototype car has disc brakes you can cut off the brake shoes on the ends of the frame.

The above information is the only way to  go...

The "Skirted" trucks, (the top 1/4 of the truck is flat, to clear the car's skirting).  Have been out of stock for years.  I think I had purchased the last ones..
I sold off the last of my Corrugated cars a few weeks ago.  I needed the said trucks also, but had on hand a supply of the Smooth-Side trucks. And so, removed the car's skirting...


Jerry G.

[motofavorite]

The newer snap-on trucks fit perfectly on the original screw bolsters once you remove the little lock-in nubs, and the bolster screws will hold them in place.  The old trucks won't fit on the snap bolsters, but most of those trucks have been retooled with the snap-ons.  Not the skirted-Budds unfortunately.

Noted. Thank you for sharing that tip.

The old trucks are not discontinued per se.  They will get re-run when the respective models are rerun.  The last time I believe was the four-car Amtrak heritage set that included an ex-CZ Budd diner.

I am happy they are not discontinued and I hope another run comes soon.

[ncbqguy]

Given the Kato factory's tendency to change things that don't need changing I would not be sure that future issues of the original Budd Passenger cars will come with the same trucks or even the same bodies.

An immediate replacement might be the old Atlas Rivarossi four wheel lightweight trucks or even the Micro-Trains equivalent.  They did not have especially deep detail and, depending on the radii you operate on, might have sufficient swing behind the skirts.  A little bit of detail might be sliced off if they are a little tight.   The disadvantage to this is you will not have power pickup for lighting.

Charlie Vlk