Coming a little late to the party but just purchase Sept/Oct S Gaugian.
Nice article Matt! I have one "scale" hopper and will never have another.
Big letdown for $60 bucks.
Matt's remedy is a good one!
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Yes, that is great work by Matt on a very well designed remedy. I believe he posted some of this information before, but it's great that it was published for a wider audience to see. Thanks, Matt!
I know Matt and others have used the American Models roller bearing trucks as a replacement and they are available at a great price. MTH (former SHS) just released the 70 ton RB trucks; the AM truck is only 50 tons. I believe the ones that Lionel put on the car are supposed to represent 70 ton trucks. I don't know if there is much of a difference visually between the two sizes, but the MTH version is another alternative, albeit at more than twice the price of the AM ones.
Smokey Mountain Model Works also makes both 50 and 70 ton RB trucks, but I think they come in kit form and are only available with scale wheels. Their prices are about the same as the MTH ones.
Mike A.
Originally Posted by Mikeaa:
MTH (former SHS) just released the 70 ton RB trucks; the AM truck is only 50 tons. I believe the ones that Lionel put on the car are supposed to represent 70 ton trucks. I don't know if there is much of a difference visually between the two sizes, but the MTH version is another alternative, albeit at more than twice the price of the AM ones.
Smokey Mountain Model Works also makes both 50 and 70 ton RB trucks, but I think they come in kit form and are only available with scale wheels. Their prices are about the same as the MTH ones.
Mike A.
I'm not into the weeds about visual difference on the roller bearing trucks, but the one difference I know about is 36" wheels for the 70 ton vs. 33" wheels for the 50 ton.
In my case, I had the AM trucks handy so that's what I used. Once the 5 foot rule is activated, I don't see a big difference.
I finally got around to regauging the Lionel trucks, but there's still that funky bolster arrangement to deal with in order to lower the bolster. I don't see an easy solution for that right now. So, I'll hold on to them for any mad science projects.
Rusty
