I have been using MDC box cars and hoppers with Bachman metal wheels for a long time and they have worked fine. Now, the platic trucks seem to always need to be tighten'ed. Anybody out there know of some metal trucks or better plastic one's out there?? /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/whistling.gif I just had to use some of these new cool faces.
Better car trucks
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
Steve you might try using a dab of E6000 glue on the side frame and bolster before re-tighting the screw on each side. I've done this to every one of my freight and passenger cars and it really makes a difference. The glue is avaliable at most craft shops and of course wally world. This stuff even glues Pola and Piko plastic, it is a pretty amazing product. Try it, I'll think you will like it. Sells for about $3 bucks for a good sized tube.
Chuck K
Chuck K
Joined
·
653 Posts
If you're looking for simplicity more than strict accuracy, USA Trains trucks are very close in size to the MDC trucks. On the other hand, if you're looking for a true 1:32 scale truck, Ozark does several different truck types in 1:32 in white metal. I'm using their 5-foot wheelbase trucks on my MDC ore cars with AMS wheels. They look great and add a lot of weight to the car, but it does take a fair amount of work to put them together. If you do decide to replace your MDC trucks and need to send them off to a good home, let me know! I'm always in the market for more MDC truck sideframes.
Joined
·
1,078 Posts
Steve, The ones that Paul has are the ones we talked about, they need a little machining/DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/blush.gif I have also used Garilla glue and the wifey likes that E6000 that was mentioned.
BTW has anyone has sucess with the spell check? I went to down load it and my puter crashed.!!
Also looks like photo posting is different.
It takes about 20 seconds to load pages thru this server. all other sites like Aster home page load at normal speed. This is a pain in the butt, I'll check back later and see how its working.
BTW has anyone has sucess with the spell check? I went to down load it and my puter crashed.!!
Also looks like photo posting is different.
It takes about 20 seconds to load pages thru this server. all other sites like Aster home page load at normal speed. This is a pain in the butt, I'll check back later and see how its working.
Joined
·
150 Posts
I've just done the patterns for T-Section Bettendorf in both 1/32 and 1/29 for Ozark. They are all metal. I'm working on a much better 1/32 Bettendorf for them.
John
John
Joined
·
1,492 Posts
Steve,
You can take a look at Accucraft's different truck offerings at their website under Parts.
You can take a look at Accucraft's different truck offerings at their website under Parts.
Joined
·
653 Posts
You can also buy the AMS trucks direct from Accucraft through their online store (part # AP-13039). Unless they come fitted with ball-bearing wheelsets (not specified on the website), or they have switched to making them out of some sort of gold alloy, I can't see how they can justify charging $40 a pair for these things though.
Joined
·
653 Posts
I would imagine the wheels are included (they'd better be for that price, and the other trucks listed in their online store are shown with wheels), but it doesn't specify whether they're plain wheels or the more expensive ball-bearing wheels. Considering the trucks aren't sprung and the level of detail just isn't up to Accucraft's usual standards (visually they're weakest part of the PFE reefers), it seems odd that they'd cost so much more than other 1:32 truck offerings like the Ozark kits (which are sprung but come without wheels), or the MDC-style trucks now available again from Mainline America.
Joined
·
1,500 Posts
Richard
I just checked the link you posted. The description is "MDC style freight truck with Bettendorf side frame (2), bolster and loop and hook coupler. Completely assembled" Price is $7.95.
Most of us would immediately pich the couplers. So we have for cost for one pair of trucks with metal wheels: 2x $7.95 = $15.90 + 4 Sierra Valley [or similar] wheelsets for $17.00.
TOTAL cost $16+$17 = $34 per pair. Neither of these solutions meets Steve's original request for the "metal truck" replacement.
Check with Royce, sponsor of this Forum. I think he has some of the PFE trucks in stock and has "favorable" pricing.
It is really too bad the metal Accucraft bettendorfs went through the roof. They were made to go with the Barrett Railways USRA brass box cars that Accucraft produced for Lee Barrett. Originally these all metal, fully sprung trucks were $44 per pair. I think they are now priced at $70 per pair.
I managed to get some MTH trucks through their parts department. they are metal bolsters, sideframes, and fully sprung. They were a pain to mount on MDC bolsters because the hole in the truck bolster is much larger than the boss on the MDC frame bolster. I dislike the "mudcutter" flanges on the MTH wheels. Looks like they came of a model of a farm disc harrow. Gary Raymond now offers replacement wheel sets for the MTH stuff.
So... as usual, it comes down to personal preference and detail vs price. Like I said above, AMS had a great product, they just priced themselves out of the market [possibly by choice?]
Steve, Good luck in your search.
Jim
Jim
I just checked the link you posted. The description is "MDC style freight truck with Bettendorf side frame (2), bolster and loop and hook coupler. Completely assembled" Price is $7.95.
Most of us would immediately pich the couplers. So we have for cost for one pair of trucks with metal wheels: 2x $7.95 = $15.90 + 4 Sierra Valley [or similar] wheelsets for $17.00.
TOTAL cost $16+$17 = $34 per pair. Neither of these solutions meets Steve's original request for the "metal truck" replacement.
Check with Royce, sponsor of this Forum. I think he has some of the PFE trucks in stock and has "favorable" pricing.
It is really too bad the metal Accucraft bettendorfs went through the roof. They were made to go with the Barrett Railways USRA brass box cars that Accucraft produced for Lee Barrett. Originally these all metal, fully sprung trucks were $44 per pair. I think they are now priced at $70 per pair.
I managed to get some MTH trucks through their parts department. they are metal bolsters, sideframes, and fully sprung. They were a pain to mount on MDC bolsters because the hole in the truck bolster is much larger than the boss on the MDC frame bolster. I dislike the "mudcutter" flanges on the MTH wheels. Looks like they came of a model of a farm disc harrow. Gary Raymond now offers replacement wheel sets for the MTH stuff.
So... as usual, it comes down to personal preference and detail vs price. Like I said above, AMS had a great product, they just priced themselves out of the market [possibly by choice?]
Steve, Good luck in your search.
Jim
Jim
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
