'Quick' Proto:48 Conversion: Atlas O Trinity 5161 Hopper

[ednadolski]

I haven't had much time for modeling lately, but I did manage to get in a quick Proto:48 conversion of a Trinity 5161 from Atlas O using a conversion bolster & coupler pocket part from Shapeways.   The part is a drop-in replacement for the Atlas factory bolster and Kadee coupler. The only modification I did was to cut off the printed bolster pin.  The pin is designed for the Atlas trucks, but as part of my conversion I installed the Protocraft P:48 100-ton roller bearing trucks.   The pocket is designed to take the Protocraft brass couplers.   

















(If you look closely, you can see that the unmodified hopper still has its OW5 trucks, which do not fit into the correct-to-scale P:48 track gauge -- so the far wheel is actually riding on top of the rail head )

The Shapeways part does show some printing artifacts.  Not too noticeable, but I'll probably sand them flat before final paint & installation.  I'm also planning to do some additional detailing, but for now the main goal was just to get something that would roll down the track and couple onto another car.

Nice to see that P:48 conversions are getting easier 

Cheers,
Ed

[Iain]

How well does it stand up to use?

[tom mann]

Those trucks are amazing.

[ednadolski]

How well does it stand up to use?

The coupler operates fine.  WRT durability, I have no idea how it would hold up in a big heavy train on a club layout tho it seems strong enough. (But if that's your thing, maybe P:48 isn't the best way to go.)   Anyways it's definitely plenty strong for the small switching layout that I have in mind.

Those trucks are amazing.

The Protocraft parts are really nice.  I'm still waiting on the 70T RBs to come out.

Ed

[GaryHinshaw]

Very nice.  How about an overall shot of the hopper itself?  It looks really well done compared to a lot of O stuff.

[ednadolski]

Yes, I think it's one of the best O scale models available in plastic:








Side note: the 3-rail 'lobster claw' versions are a bit cheaper, so if planning to do the P:48 conversion then that's a way to save a few $ and get the same car.


Ed

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Oh man, those are hot.

I love those Protocraft couplers so much. In N, I'm not a huge coupler stickler, but in O, oh baby!

[GaryHinshaw]

Thanks Ed.  Those cars look great.  Can't wait for you to start your P:48 layout engineering thread.   

Side note: the 3-rail 'lobster claw' versions are a bit cheaper, so if planning to do the P:48 conversion then that's a way to save a few $ and get the same car.

O is a funny scale: it's either 3-rail toys or hyperfine P:48 models.  Is there much available in the middle?

[riogrande491]

Great job, Ed!

Gary - There is plenty in the middle. Here's one example in Northern Colorado:

http://www.aorailroad.com

Bob

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Oh yeah. And some of it on quite a large scale too.

Dave Vaughn's NKP layout isn't P:48 finescale, but it IS might fine!

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[ednadolski]

Oh man, those are hot.

I love those Protocraft couplers so much. In N, I'm not a huge coupler stickler, but in O, oh baby!

This is just a recycled old clip, but it does give a look at how these are in operation:

Definitely a different experience compared to the traditional modeling array of magnetic ramps, wands, and uncoupling picks.  I have a goal to make working lift bars, tho it's going to take a bit of fiddling methinks.

Ed

[ednadolski]

http://www.aorailroad.com

Hi Bob yes, there are some great threads on his GP9 builds on the forum there.

Ed

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I dig it.

Have I talked about my crazy idea for making working air brakes?