ho car trucks question

[Anonymous]

I was wondering if there is a way to convert the railroad cars from the trucks that snap into place to the kind that you screw on?
Thanks help would be greatly appreciated!!
John

[dwick]

You can convert your snap-in trucks with trucks from Athearn, Model Diecasting or Walthers (to mention a few manufacturers) I presume these are the talgo style trucks you want to convert. You may have to dis-assemble the car and may possibly have fill the hole where the original king pin was inserted. If the hole is capable of holding a 2-56 screw with a nut to hold the truck, then you won't have to fill the hole. If the screw is sloppy and loose, then you may have to add a filler. Also, if weights are blocking the hole, then you may end up doing some drilling thru the metal plate. Good luck!
Don Wick-West Bend, WI [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

I'm looking at a Bachmann car and that's a BIG hole to accomodate a new truck. In addition when you change over from the talgo style I think you will have to add new couplers.
If so, then you will have to figure your time, truck
& coupler costs versus the original car cost.

[dknelson]

I did this on a number of cars and did it cheaply enough to make it worthwhile. You have to be mindful that you might be changing car heights accidentally.
What I did was take plastic tubing of the correct diamter and plugging the hole, glueing it in, filing it smooth, redrilling a new hole for trucks
Also I was able to find some tubing that was like a pipe -- the center was open -- and certain types of small wood screws would hold the trucks. At one time Menzies (now out of business I think) made a neat little insert for trucks that would hold a smaller screw more snuggly.
I found it easy enough to mount a Kadee coupler box on the floors of most plastic freight cars. Only a few hoppers and tank cars were challenges
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

My dad used to have a layout and has all these TYCO cars so I want to have new, better quality trucks, as we are making a new layout. What material do you suggest I use for filler? I thought about the nut and bolt idea too, but like you said, it will probably be wiggling around too much.
Thanks

[Anonymous]

Dave, this is only a comment for fun...but where would anyone ever find tubing that didn't have a hole through the middle...it just isn't tubing without one.
No offense...Happy 2003...regards / Mike