O Scale boxcar upgrades?

[SirTainly]

I recently came by this old Atlas car, and I'd like to replace the ladders and steps (some of which are missing) with more scale parts - where do I go to find such stuff in O? Also are there better wheelsets that drop into the standard trucks? I'll be cutting of the couplers and body mounting Kadees.

thanks in advance

Simon

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[strummer]

Simon

I think P&D Hobbies would be a good start...and of course there's always eBay for parts for vintage items such as your car.

I can't recall if there is a drop in replacement for the wheel/axle sets. I've usually just pulled the trucks, filled in the resulting hole with a dowel, and put on a pair of either Athearn or Weaver trucks.

Although the die work on the '70s vintage Austrian Roco-made models is of the highest quality, my theory as to why the line never really caught on was that Atlas tried to be "all things to all men": very nice F9 and cars (but too light weight) for the scale modeler: and only (somewhat) compatible with Lionel, so neither camp really bought into it, so they just kind of went away...

Mark in Oregon

[SirTainly]

thanks Mark, P&D do seem to have ladders and steps, I'll make an order shortly.

I had considered the truck swap option, and may yet go that route, I was just trying to not have to throw out reasonable side frames. This is for my garden layout, and I'm not so I'm not as hot on good details as I would be for the indoor stuff, and those Atlas parts as you say aren't that bad all things considered. Talking of the old Atlas line, the switcher that I own is powered by a carved up F9 mechanism (previous owner's work) which ran pretty well until the plating on the wheels failed (at which point I changed to NWSL ones) and it carried on nicely.

[strummer]

I'm not surprised. I have (3) F9s, and all of them run as well (if not slightly better) than the Weaver diesels I own.

I think the design for the F9 (which is really just an O scale version of your typical HO or N diesel), is very sound; the only weakness, in my opinion, are the axle gears and wheels, which as you mention, are easily replaced with NWSL items.

Good luck in your hunt for parts!

Mark in Oregon

[Spikre]

 
   Atlas O used to have replacement RP25 wheels with metal rims in the 70s.
   they also had magnetic knuckle couplers that mounted to the floors.this was before
   Kadee made their plastic O couplers.
   the cars do need weight,so add what You feel is a good amount.
    Spikre