So I receive a box full of trainset junk which in includes two orange Bachmann ( I think ) Tropicana refers with Talgo trucks and horn hook couplers. I was wondering how I would mount car bodies on better chassis?
Joe Staten Island West
Hi Joe
I've done quite a bit of this type of thing in the last few years after discovering a box filled with old train set rolling stock...I also do this with locomotives as well. Rarely do I change out the chassis...but modify the existing chassis. For cars that the trucks are held with screws...I'll trim and shim till I can get talgo Kadee trucks to work. Trucks with a snap in bolster pin, I fill the bolster hole with plastic epoxy. After curing, get the center then drill and tap for 2-56. Then I'll mount better quality trucks. I'll also clear an area for body mounted couplers, start shimming in .010" increments to get close to a Kadee coupler gauge...mount a box and coupler assembly then trim and shim to match the gauge.
In most cases I can get an old train set car back into service being a bit more compatible with new more expensive stuff...for around $10. each.
As for locomotives...chassis swapping is fairly common for me, and in a few select cases I've buit up chassis.
Mark H
Modeling in HO...Reading and Conrail together in an alternate history.
See the link here, I use this method all the time, and it's very easy. You will need a 2-56 tap though:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/194011.aspx
Modeling whatever I can make out of that stash of kits that takes up half my apartment's spare bedroom.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."