trucks and couplers

[jguess733]

i have a quick question for all of you. i've got several roundhouse kit's i've not assembled yet. i want to start them right so i don't have to go back and redo anything. what type of trucks would be appropriate to replace the ones on the tenders of MDC's old time steam locomotives? also, what type of trucks would be appropriate for MDC's 50' old time passenger cars? the junky plastic trucks that come with the passenger cars have the couplers attached so would also like to know what type of kadee couplers to use. i've looked through the trucks and couplers section of the walthers catalog but there is so much to choose from. thanks for the help.

[TomDiehl]

First, what's wrong with the trucks under the tender that you want to replace them?

On the passenger cars, as with any talgo truck, you can simply cut off the truck mounted coupler and body mount a new one. The truck mounted ones were a compromise many years back for the tight train set curves. If you have wide curves on your layout, this should cause no problems.

The MDC trucks I have are free rolling and I haven't had any problem with them. If you desire, just replace the wheelsets with metal wheels.

[MisterBeasley]

For 50-foot passenger cars, you should be able to body-mount couplers even down to 18-inch radius curves. Any sharper than that and I would stick with the truck-mounted ones.

Check the Kadee web site at www.kadee.com to select the right couplers for your truck-mounts, usually known as "Talgo" trucks. If you plan to body-mount the couplers, get #5 couplers with the draft gear boxes. If you are doing a lot of these conversions, both the couplers and the draft gear boxes come in bulk packs.

[Anonymous]

Hi Jason
The MDC trucks are accurate for the period. However, if you want replace the trucks with better detailed trucks, then pick the same type that the model comes with. I do recommend that you buy the complete truck with matching metal wheel sets. Just to make life easier. Otherwise you will have to find the correct axle length and type for the replacement truck or for the MDC trucks if you decide to keep them.

Here's some more info about Trucks.

Special tools that will help build trouble free rolling stock.
Standards Gage.
Height Gage
Trip Pin Pliers
Truck Tuner
Kitchen Scale

If you are replacing wheel sets, you need to measure the axles you are replacing with a
Caliper