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Athearn bombadier coach&cab

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  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 259 posts
Athearn bombadier coach&cab
Posted by Christian H on Saturday, July 26, 2014 10:41 AM

Hi,

I have the bombadier cars of Athearn and to the first release the wheels are to small compare to other companies. My question: Who make exchange wheels and trucks for this Ath3earn cars to solve the wheel problem and to pick up current for the ligths(for future install)

Christian!

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 26, 2014 1:30 PM

What scale are the cars?  N or HO?  Athearn makes both HO and N scale products.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 259 posts
Posted by Christian H on Monday, July 28, 2014 11:14 AM

Hi,

these cars are HO!

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Mount Vernon WA
  • 968 posts
Posted by skagitrailbird on Monday, July 28, 2014 2:51 PM

Christian,

I am unclear about exactly what you are asking.  I doubt that there is anything wrong with the wheels on your cars.  They are smaller than most rail cars so I do not believe you need replacement wheels.

Picking up track current is another issue, one that I have not yet tackled.  When (if?) I do I will start by looking at wheel wipers by Streamlined Backshop.  You can find them at the link below.

http://www.sbs4dcc.com/hoscalewheelwipers.html

Good luck!

Roger Johnson
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Monday, July 28, 2014 3:09 PM

 The prototype have 33" wheels, which are more the size you typically see under smaller freight cars. Most passenger cars had 36" wheels, so these will look smaller. And MOCH smaller than a typical 42" loco wheel. In the only picture I caould find quickly of the Athearn model, it doesn;t look liek they attempted to replicate the disc brake, which would look like a much too small wheel.

              --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 28, 2014 7:50 PM

Are your current wheels metal or plastic? Are the trucks that they are mounted to metal or plastic?  Do you have the Athearn part number for your cars?  You may be able to contact Athearn, and ask them if they have a lighting kit for your car.  You will have to provide them with the part number:  Example

HO RTR Bombardier Cab Car, Metrolink

[ATH25520]

^That is an Athearn part number, not necessarily yours.  You will find a similar number on the packaging or in the paperwork that came with the car.

 

Also, how does the coupler height compare to a coupler height gauge?  If it is in specification now, putting larger wheels will cause a coupler height mismatch.  If it's too low now, you can shim the bolster (where the truck mounts) with a fiber washer, one or two usually does it for low couplers. 

 

 

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