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GE JOURNAL/BEARING BOX DETAIL PARTS IN HO SCALE

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  • Member since
    October 2011
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GE JOURNAL/BEARING BOX DETAIL PARTS IN HO SCALE
Posted by PGI123 on Monday, August 17, 2015 10:20 AM

I am detailing a set of Oriental Brass HO scale Union Pacific ALCO C-855A/C-855B/C-855A Diesels (UP road #s 60, 60B, 61).

But, the models do not appear to have journal box covers/bearing caps on the trucks that match those used on the Century 855 locomotives.

I am installing wheel slip modulation devices that will mask that issue along the fireman's (left hand) side of the locomotives.

But apart from the speed recorder on the second axle of the second lead truck on each of the two A units, there is nothing to mask the incorrect journal box covers/ bearing caps that appear to have been moulded into the trucks along the engineer's (right hand) side of the three units.

Can anyone suggest a source for HO scale detail parts that model the correct GE journal box covers/bearing caps for the engineer's side of those trucks?

Thank you  

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  • From: US
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Posted by wp8thsub on Monday, August 17, 2015 3:57 PM

I faced the same issue modeling a WP U30B.  The prototypes used EMD trucks equipped with GE roller bearing assemblies.

I cut the bearing details from Athearn AAR sideframes (the later plastic ones).  There may be other sideframe castings out there that could also work.  At the time I built this loco I couldn't find any such parts available separately.

Rob Spangler

  • Member since
    October 2011
  • 38 posts
Posted by PGI123 on Tuesday, August 18, 2015 5:55 PM

Hi Rob, Thank you for your reply and suggestion. I have not been able to find those truck sides on the Athearn site, do you have any further detail of the part# or model from which they come so I could email a request to that firm ?

Regards

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    November 2002
  • From: US
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Posted by wp8thsub on Tuesday, August 18, 2015 8:54 PM

Athearn shows the AAR trucks as discontinued (and a search of their site turns up nothing for me either - I found the part number via Google and linked back to Athearn from there http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH34028 ).  This site has a very few in stock http://hodieselsupply.com/products/athearn-ho-blue-box-style-aar-type-b-power-trucks , although it seems a waste to have to pick up the whole truck just to get the bearing details.

This site has some C-truck sideframes with GE bearing detail http://trainreadyproducts.com/products/locomotive-truck-sideframes/ , and some other stuff that might work including these strut assemblies http://trainreadyproducts.com/products/locomotive/ge-fb2-phase-1-struts-8-per-kit/ .

Rob Spangler

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  • From: S.E. Adirondacks, NY
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Posted by modelmaker51 on Wednesday, August 19, 2015 2:57 PM

Maybe some of these parts from Details West will  help:

BC-244, TJ-288, TJ-289.

http://www.detailswest.com/ 

Jay 

C-415 Build: https://imageshack.com/a/tShC/1 

Other builds: https://imageshack.com/my/albums 

  • Member since
    October 2011
  • 38 posts
Posted by PGI123 on Thursday, August 20, 2015 2:51 AM

Thanks, Jay. I will try those links.

  • Member since
    October 2011
  • 38 posts
Posted by PGI123 on Thursday, August 20, 2015 2:52 AM

Thanks, Rob. I will try those links.

  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: US
  • 2,455 posts
Posted by wp8thsub on Thursday, August 20, 2015 12:44 PM

modelmaker51
Maybe some of these parts from Details West will  help: BC-244, TJ-288, TJ-289.

TJ-288 and -289 are old style angled and square journal details suitable for early Blomberg trucks.  BC-244 may be useful.  I wonder what the diameter is and if it has the distinctive look of the 1960s-70s GE journals?

Rob Spangler

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