QUOTE: Originally posted by newusername Hello everyone! I'm new to this forum. I recently acquired a set of Rivarossi "1930's era" 85' streamlined passenger cars. I want to replace the crummy trucks/wheels/couplers that came with these models. Does anyone know if someone makes a one-piece easy-to-replace set of trucks with wheels and coupler unit that accepts Kadee couplers? Thanks much! ... Al
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
QUOTE: Originally posted by rrinker Weight it very important. Since the cars come apart very easily, it's not hard to do. And you can keep it low - the underbody detail is open to the inside so you can fll those spaces with weight and still not obstruct possible interior detailing.
QUOTE: Originally posted by psngrtrn Train Station Products offers replacement trucks that would work and look much better. Their trucks are Talgo as well but, can be easily converted to body mounted.
Mike WSOR engineer | HO scale since 1988 | Visit our club www.WCGandyDancers.com
RJ
"Something hidden, Go and find it. Go and look behind the ranges, Something lost behind the ranges. Lost and waiting for you. Go." The Explorers - Rudyard Kipling
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"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45 CSmith, Thanks for that tip on Train Station Products. In my case, I'm not too worried about being "exactly" prototypical as long as I can capture the "overall flavor" of appearance. I'm modeling passenger trains in the 1960s which is why I cut off the skirts on Rivorossi cars. If these replacement trucks will work, I'll buy a set and try them out. On the layout I'm building the curves well be 22" radius, so I'm debating as to whether to go body mount or Talgo. Don Gibson indicated on another thread that cars with body mounted couplers may yank talgo truck equipped Rivorossi cars off of the rails on curves. I would like to run my Walther Budds coupled to Rivorossi's, so that's what has me pondering. My Rivorossi's are weighted down with BB's in the floor's pockets. High Greens
RIVAROSSI 85' and IHC cars have problems:
1. They are too long for short curves.
2. They have 31" wheels
3, cheap plastic trucks.
3. Insufficient weight to follow the the track.
4. Talgo (truck mounted) couplers.
ANSWERS cost money.
36" wheels raise the car, require modification, + sidefeame plastic is poor. KD 'talgo' conversions are $$ Body mounting requires skilled work - height - assembly.
BEST to sub IHC metal trucks - adds weight - good rolling - maintaign original height, replace couplers. Work + money.
ON THE CHEAP replace with McHenry couplers and set aside for looks, not running ability.
Don,
Currently I have the shells removed on 4 of my cars.
I filled their floor pockets with BB shot pellets and smothered them with glue. What a difference!
Just to try it out, I changed out the stock 31" wheels and compromised by installing P2K 33" wheels instead of 36" wheels. So far these undercarriages roll much, much better than stock . I know the prototypes used 36" wheels, but in this case the difference doesn't seem to be very noticeable.
I will take the extra steps later and change out the trucks. But for now it seems that once I get the bodies paint metalized and install the interiors I'll be able to run them at my club's layout along with my Walther's Budds.
As for the railroad name decals, I'll like to use a company whose stainless steel cars ran on SCL trains back in the late 1960s. ( L&N, RF&P, Penn Central, Central of Georgia, and CB&Q)
newusername wrote: Thanks for all the info, fellas. My layout is 5x9 with 18" radius curves, thus sounds like I should stay with talgo trucks. Can you give me the Train Station Products item number for these replacement trucks, and do you know if the coupler box on these accepts Kadee's? I couldn't find a website for Train Station Products and Walthers website had very few pictures of their items. Thanks again! ... Al
Thanks for all the info, fellas. My layout is 5x9 with 18" radius curves, thus sounds like I should stay with talgo trucks. Can you give me the Train Station Products item number for these replacement trucks, and do you know if the coupler box on these accepts Kadee's? I couldn't find a website for Train Station Products and Walthers website had very few pictures of their items. Thanks again! ... Al
With an 18 inch radius and this long of a car, I'd recommend against body mounting the couplers. The Kadee conversion kits (they make different ones for the 4 and 6 wheel trucks), with either Kadee or Proto 2000 36 inch wheelsets (see note above about trimming the brakeshoes) in the existing truck frames will do nicely until you're ready to move up to a wider minimum curve. I have several that I converted like this and still run on the club's 36 inch minimum radius with no problems. I even mix them with Rivarossi cars with body mounted couplers with no problems.