PRR FD2 'Queen Mary' Depressed Center Well Car Kit - on T1 tender trucks N Scale

[peteski]

Nobody makes isolated axles that I know of.  Kato used to have 33" wheelsets for sale separately, which were the ones
from their tenders and lighted caboose, and were insulated in the middle with both wheels metal.  But those are gone.

Max,
couple of ideas:
1. Buy Bachmann tender trucks then just use the wheel sets.

2. Plazajapan sells lots of Kato Japanese-prototype trucks with insulated axles.  Then just use the wheel sets.  Here is a pair of trucks for $3.80. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Truck-Set-Commuter-Train-2-N-scale-Kato-11-097-/120788859257 That works out to less than a dollar per axle. I know that shipping is rather expensive, but if you buy 10 or 20 pairs then the shipping cost will be much easier to absorb.

[mmagliaro]

Max,
couple of ideas:
1. Buy Bachmann tender trucks then just use the wheel sets.

2. Plazajapan sells lots of Kato Japanese-prototype trucks with insulated axles.  Then just use the wheel sets.  Here is a pair of trucks for $3.80. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Truck-Set-Commuter-Train-2-N-scale-Kato-11-097-/120788859257 That works out to less than a dollar per axle. I know that shipping is rather expensive, but if you buy 10 or 20 pairs then the shipping cost will be much easier to absorb.

Hey, that's a very good idea.  Are you sure those are 33" wheels in there, not 36" ?
Be that as it may, I really don't have a lot of problems making the dual-pickup wheelsets. 
It only takes a few minutes to slice a few Fox Valley sets in half with a Dremel and stick them into a bit of
styrene tubing.

[Lemosteam]

Max, what do you use to ste the wheel gage?  Do you use the tube length?

[mmagliaro]

Max, what do you use to ste the wheel gage?  Do you use the tube length?

No.  Just the NMRA gauge.  You stick the ends into the tube, set with a gauge, and then put a drop
of epoxy (or ACC) on each end of the tube, flowing down inside, so the axles won't move in/out
anymore.

[nstars]

Just to make it clear for everybody, these trucks have been used not only for the T1, but also for the I1, Q2 and J1 (and possibly for the Q1). We have several of these loco's runni in model form and on all of these the tender picks up from one side only. This has never been a problem. Main problem has almost always been the (wire)drawbar between loco and tender.

Marc

[nstars]

For us these trucks will open up a range of possibilities. We have already some in mind.

Marc

[peteski]

Hey, that's a very good idea.  Are you sure those are 33" wheels in there, not 36" ?
Be that as it may, I really don't have a lot of problems making the dual-pickup wheelsets. 
It only takes a few minutes to slice a few Fox Valley sets in half with a Dremel and stick them into a bit of
styrene tubing.

I just measured wheels of  the Kato trucks part number 11-098 and 11-097. Both have wheel diameter (at the thread) of 0.202" (which is scale 32.3").
Actually it was EBIT from the Atlas forum who gave me this useful tidbit of information. And looking at Plazajapan listings, the shipping is only $4.80 (which is cheaper than many local online shops)!  I stocked up on those few years ago. It sure beats rolling your own isolated axle wheelsets! 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I don't know, I just can't get that excited over this oddball one-off car.

[Bob Bufkin]

But Ed, it did wind up a Conrail car in the end.  Have no need for one but you gotta admit from the photos that it was one hell of a large and different car which carried some large loads.  This was the largest car in PRR, PC and probably Conrail service.

[DMetz]

A few years ago, I built a car based on the Queen Mary, but with the Bachman 4 axle tender trucks.  The trucks are the wrong prototype, but I thought it would be better than nothing.  I found out the Santa Fe 4 axle trucks have a longer wheelbase than the Pennsy trucks.  It was about 1 scale foot between each axle.  There were other compromises in this car, so the coupled length is about 13 scale feet too long.  I made the depressed deck and end pieces from styrene, with full beam detail below.  Of course, none of that detail work shows up when it is on the track.  I never finished the hand rails, or lettered it yet.  The car is extremely light, so it is always near the end of the train.  It does track very well, and it never derails.  I would love to get one of the AC models to replace it!

Dan

[wcfn100]

Dan, try the 'Embed Image" code with "Image only" selected.





Jason

[Lemosteam]

FOr all you SPF's out there:  Yes I know it's O scale, BUT...

Feast ye eyes and make sure you hit ALL the links:

http://www.kohs.com/PRR%20Flat%20Car%20Pages/PRR%20FD_FW%20Home.html

Little did I know that this company is only 40 miles from my home!

[ai5629]

If and when this car comes to fruition, Mount Vernon Shops makes decals in HO for this car for Pennsy.  However, their web site mentions they will run any decal set in any scale if they have 15-20 orders.  I would be in for a Pennsy.  I thought I read somewhere that this car lasted in its original livery until approximately 1974.  I also read in the PRRTHS flatcar book that the first load went from Westinghouse Electric in East Pittsburgh, PA to Texas.  The western guys have an excuse to have this car on their layouts also.  Thank you.

Jeff

[prbharris]

Hmmmm....T1 tender trucks! Interesting timing!

Pictures now on this thread

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=27501.msg285160#msg285160

Peter

Peter Harris
N Scale Kits
www.nscalekits.com

[chicken45]

So...rumor has it that this is gonna be out for NSE convention in late June.

Anyone out there planning on making this generator load that wants to do a run of them?