Practice in Kitbashing on "Coastal Express" cheapie!?

[Anonymous]

I am going to practice the fine art of kitbashing on one of those "Coastal Express" trains that originally sparked my interest in G Scale. They are relatively inexpenive so I feel I can take the risk and not destroy good materials should something go wrong.

Any suggestions?

Vic, you one told me that you did some work on couplers and trucks. I would like to give that a try.

I need someting to do while I save money for that backyard wooden fence to keep out vandals. I think getting some practice in this manner sounds pretty good...

What say you...

[vsmith]

Capt C

For one thing if you are planning on mixing the cheapos with some good ones' then you'll have to change couplers, if you thinking of running it by itself, keep the original couplers. Dont forget, you can get other new bright type cars on ebay for real cheap.

I tried to repaint my engine to look less toylike but as I described the troubles I had with mine I just simply scrapped it for parts that now adorn several different projects.

If you want me to describe what I did to convert to bachmann (or standard Hook-n-loops) I'll try to add a new comment tonight as I have to look at the couplers to figure it out, I remember adding a styrene shim with CA adhesive, waiting for it to dry then CA the coupler to the shim, A small nut and bolt thru both into the coupler tongue is recommended as I have already had the CA only couplers snap off in a derailment.

Also if you plan to mix with stell wheeled cars you'll need to add some weight as the plastic wheels cant be replaced and the wieght difference will cause problems.

I'm also looking at grinding off all the grab irons and cast on details on the remaining two unscrapped cars, the boxcar and the gondola, and replacing with Ozark details.

I also replaced the single axle wheels on the boxcar and the tender, now a flatcar, with Aristo 2 axle trucks, did the same to the stupid 20' boxcar from AristoCraft, wow, does they look better. Will add details of that conversion later tonight.

[Anonymous]

Hi Capt Carrales
My thoughts would be first put good running gear under it.
Find a car you like one of the cheapies that is close too it and go the whole hog with the aim of succeding
All failures can have there orriginal runing gear put back and get tossed literaly down a bank some where as a mini scene with the wrecking crew trying to sort it out.
regards John

[vsmith]

John,

The trouble with the set Capt C has is that the wheels cannot be replaced with metal wheels. Thats why I said he'd have to add some weights inside if he wanted to mix.

I have found that standard plastic wheeled cars like LGB HLW mini-cars or even Bachmann perform badly with plastic wheels, the metal wheels add some heft to the cars but boy do they run better. This is especially so with small two axle cars, I have replaced almost all of my wheels, the only holdouts being my newest TOYTRAIN finds and these Echo set cars.

Also plastic wheels should NEVER be left on the track in the sun, they WILL melt if the rails are hot from sunshine.

If you want to know, I can explain what I did to the cars to replace the two axle set up with a 4 axle-2 truck set up using Aristcraft trucks. It was fairly simple and didnt take too much time, I just have to borrow a digital camera and I can then forward the photos of what I did.

[Anonymous]

Hi vsmith
Oops! I meant replace the lot wheels and bogies/axel gaurds what ever.
Plastic wheel I don't see as a problem I replace them no problem [:)]
Your description sounds interesting I am visualizing 15' bogied cars (8 wheels)
if this is correct.
I would be very interested in how it was done and where to get the wagons so I can have a bash at it myself (oh! dear terrible pun)[:I]
regards john

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

John,

The trouble with the set Capt C has is that the wheels cannot be replaced with metal wheels. Thats why I said he'd have to add some weights inside if he wanted to mix.

I have found that standard plastic wheeled cars like LGB HLW mini-cars or even Bachmann perform badly with plastic wheels, the metal wheels add some heft to the cars but boy do they run better. This is especially so with small two axle cars, I have replaced almost all of my wheels, the only holdouts being my newest TOYTRAIN finds and these Echo set cars.

Also plastic wheels should NEVER be left on the track in the sun, they WILL melt if the rails are hot from sunshine.

If you want to know, I can explain what I did to the cars to replace the two axle set up with a 4 axle-2 truck set up using Aristcraft trucks. It was fairly simple and didnt take too much time, I just have to borrow a digital camera and I can then forward the photos of what I did.

Thanks for your efforts, would like to see those image of the cars you mention.

I just feel I need some "cheap"medium from which to try a few things that would lead to the destruction of a higher quality item.

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by John Busby



Your description sounds interesting I am visualizing 15' bogied cars (8 wheels)
if this is correct.

20' actually, [;)]

I will do my best to get the camera so I can send some photos this weekend[8D]

[vsmith]

OK ALL - I HAVE PHOTOS [:D]

E-mail me and I'll forward them to whoever is interested.

[Anonymous]

I TOOK A BOBBER COBOOSE AND PUT TWO TRUCKS 4 AXLES ON IT,.IT WORKED OUT FOR ME. BEN -PA. [:D]

[Anonymous]

Hi Capt,

Enjoy your kitbashing, you will soon have a box of bits and pieces from the 'I shouldn't have cut that there' school of thinking! I must have bits of bodywork from most of the major manufacturers but they all come in handy for trying different adhesives, paints etc. Have you thought of buying in some styrene? The following site is good for basic details, http://www.sherwoodmodels.co.uk and it's great to work with.
Cheers,
Kim