Interest in quality real bearing modern RB 2 rail trucks? divided market? (proto 48)

Engineer-Joe posted:

Why is it so tough to get modern O scale 2 rail supplies and proper equipment?

Maybe because the majority of O scale modelers (market place) are of an age where their interests pre-date "modern"?

mwb posted:

Engineer-Joe posted:

Why is it so tough to get modern O scale 2 rail supplies and proper equipment?

Maybe because the majority of O scale modelers (market place) are of an age where their interests pre-date "modern"?

Yes, and I think that is now changing.

You need to join forces with that shelf coupler guy.  He too is lamenting some fairly specific stuff.

Modern roller bearing trucks shouldn't be that specific!

bob2 posted:

You need to join forces with that shelf coupler guy.  He too is lamenting some fairly specific stuff.

maybe they are?

Roger Lewis imported them from Boo Rim for Protocraft some years back, why don't you ask him how many he would need for a re-order in 0 gauge, put me down for some if you go ahead, I have only a few pairs left.

The ASF ones also need to be done in O scale at some point. 

Limey posted:

Roger Lewis imported them from Boo Rim for Protocraft some years back, why don't you ask him how many he would need for a re-order in 0 gauge, put me down for some if you go ahead, I have only a few pairs left.

The ASF ones also need to be done in O scale at some point. 

 

Good idea. I just sent him an email to ask about quantity.

Engineer-Joe posted:

mwb posted:

Engineer-Joe posted:

Why is it so tough to get modern O scale 2 rail supplies and proper equipment?

Maybe because the majority of O scale modelers (market place) are of an age where their interests pre-date "modern"?

Yes, and I think that is now changing.

It's always changing, but you're also waiting for 1-2 generations of modelers to die,   Might take another 20 years or in my case, 40 more years!

Engineer-Joe posted:

Limey posted:

Roger Lewis imported them from Boo Rim for Protocraft some years back, why don't you ask him how many he would need for a re-order in 0 gauge, put me down for some if you go ahead, I have only a few pairs left.

The ASF ones also need to be done in O scale at some point. 

 

Good idea. I just sent him an email to ask about quantity.

250 pairs in an order!

ENGINEER-JOE:

I know what you mean as I'm modern too,can't help it just my age of interest. It does seem that the 60s&70s eras are well stocked on available freight cars, and if you're interested,GlacierPark Models were still selling double shelf couplers as well as the lower shelf coupler in the E style coupler as well as an interlocking H coupler for passenger cars,as of a couple months ago.

As Always,

Al Hummel

Did you stock up?  Glad you finally got your wish.

Got my first PSC truck of the kit together. Whoo hooo!

Thanks to all who posted the thread thru the spring trick. They were flying all around while trying to install them.

They look slightly crooked in the pic. They now roll fantastic! (real bearings inside)

Alan Hummel posted:

ENGINEER-JOE:

I know what you mean as I'm modern too,can't help it just my age of interest. It does seem that the 60s&70s eras are well stocked on available freight cars, and if you're interested,GlacierPark Models were still selling double shelf couplers as well as the lower shelf coupler in the E style coupler as well as an interlocking H coupler for passenger cars,as of a couple months ago.

As Always,

Al Hummel

https://www.glacierparkmodels.com/Index.html

I don't see any parts listed. I will have to contact them.

ENGINEERE JOE: No Glacier doesn't advertise them,why I do't know,maybe partly because there was a problem with their machine to make the coupler draft boxes,then when that got fixed other problems arose that required a lot of extra time,so at last word they were selling the couplers for $8 a pair. Jimmy said he' was selling couplers with no draft boxes with no complaints. I've found that using Kadee #740 coupler boxes,or any box with the same dimensions will work.

bob2: Thank you for the kindness. Not only did this wish for modern couplers get filled,but also the wish for working ground throws from ALL ABOARD TRAINS. The NEW CENTURY ground throw is in the development stage now,that's the 1 I'm waiting on.

As Always,

Al Hummel

Im interested in 100ton RB trucks.  O Scale wide 5 feet (Ow5), standard please....no interest at all in p48.  I want to run trains in my lifetime!

Dear Joe,et al,

My concern is the  future availability of obtaining 36" wheelsets as currently produced by NMSL soon to be out of business.

I enjoy O scale modern railroading as much as my postwar/early steam and have noticed a growth-albeit small- of 2 railers modeling in the late 60's to present  attending our Strasburg shows.

Our 3 newest members of the Cherry Valley have a strong interest in that late 60's to present era.

Thanks, John

Strasburg show 08/10 , 10-12/2019

Rick,

I been in OW5 for approximately 5 years now and am still a beginner in most areas,but I think that is what John is talking about in 36" wheels,but I could be wrong.

I've noticed a LOT of very nice Lionel covered hoppers I would like on my layout but have no idea how to convert the wheels or axles over to 2 rail and the same goes for converting to scale couplers. Anyone have any ideas short of using a chainsaw on the wheelsets and tapping and drilling carefully lined holes for coupler draft boxes?

As Always,

Al Hummel

Alan Hummel posted:

Rick,

I been in OW5 for approximately 5 years now and am still a beginner in most areas,but I think that is what John is talking about in 36" wheels,but I could be wrong.

I've noticed a LOT of very nice Lionel covered hoppers I would like on my layout but have no idea how to convert the wheels or axles over to 2 rail and the same goes for converting to scale couplers. Anyone have any ideas short of using a chainsaw on the wheelsets and tapping and drilling carefully lined holes for coupler draft boxes?

As Always,

Al Hummel

Here's a radical idea: Why not buy 2 rail equipment. If you are going to switch, then SWITCH. Check out Atlas 2 rail, look on the great auction (there's tons of 2 rail there), go to a 2 rail show like Indy and ask questions....bug Dan Dawdy! 

The boxes for couplers go on the bottom of the cars NOT the trucks.

Take note that 2 rail wheels are insulated. You cannot have a short across the the  rails in conventional DC 2 rail. If you are running RC Battery power, that is a horse of another color.

You really need to get some books on the fundamentals of the 2 rail hobby!

And forget about those stinkin' shelf couplers! 

Simon

PS: all of my freight cars  have 33" wheels.

What I have found out over the years is to never take YOUR HOBBY to seriously know your limitations.

I have never made any money out of my hobby it's just what it is a hobby and I use it to relax and to have fun I was fortunately once to be able to make serious money in other business's (not trains) I have always been a buyer, a hobby shop's dream customer, I still buy lots of items but not like I once did.

The point is throughout the years no matter what I was doing I always managed to have fun and actually build something one of the reasons why is I never took anything to seriously as I said above, know your limitations in both what you can build and what you can afford I am not wealthy by any means but I have a wife who between us raised four successful children while I  ran two business's, still built many layouts while all the time enjoying my trains at some level all on one single income my wife never worked in a job once we started to have children she worked harder than me at home. The average person (I'm one of them) should not aim too high unless he is prepared and confident he can go that far sometimes thinking small is not so bad at least you have more chance of realising your dreams. Roo. (Getting closer to running the layout again, Yippee!)

Alan Hummel posted:

Rick,

I been in OW5 for approximately 5 years now and am still a beginner in most areas,but I think that is what John is talking about in 36" wheels,but I could be wrong.

I've noticed a LOT of very nice Lionel covered hoppers I would like on my layout but have no idea how to convert the wheels or axles over to 2 rail and the same goes for converting to scale couplers. Anyone have any ideas short of using a chainsaw on the wheelsets and tapping and drilling carefully lined holes for coupler draft boxes?

As Always,

Al Hummel

Al,

In case it helps, here's my quick'n'dirty 2-rail fix for those nice Lionel 3R hoppers: Atlas 2R 100-ton roller bearing trucks fit right in using the Lionel bolster screw. Height is off by about 2mm, not enough to affect couplers. Kadee 8xx or 7xx series standard-shank couplers in Kadee boxes can be attached using one screw (add a dab of glue or silicone between the chassis and coupler box top plate if you feel you need it). You can drill and tap the existing hole 2-56, or you can just kludge a 1-72 in there with some superglue. Just don't tell anyone I told you that part!  

15 minutes' work tops per car.  

If you really want to be a cheapskate converting three to two rail cars and run the cars all day long my conversions are just that Cheap and easy, nothing fancy but then my trains are just B grade actors they come cheap!

Here is a sample I could show you many more but I have a Railroad to get up and running.

The grey car is Lionel using the original trucks and the black car is a MTH using original trucks all with Intermountain wheels and Kadees they are work horses not show ponies.  40% of my cars are converted 3 rail and used every Friday with no problems. I admit they need weathering when i get a spare minute or two but operation comes first.  Roo.

So are we saying that one cannot buy 36" wheelsets?  Have we checked, say, P&D?  NWSL may be still taking orders from existing stock; check there first.

And Simon - he got his shelf couplers, and is getting his turnout throws.  All boxes checked, he is now a happy doodle, remaining in O Scale.

bob2 posted:

So are we saying that one cannot buy 36" wheelsets?  Have we checked, say, P&D?  NWSL may be still taking orders from existing stock; check there first.

And Simon - he got his shelf couplers, and is getting his turnout throws.  All boxes checked, he is now a happy doodle, remaining in O Scale.

I don't think anyone wrote that 36" wheel sets were unavailable. I mentioned that all my freight cars had 33" wheels. Both sizes (33 and 36) are readily available. What he really needs is a guide to the basics of O Scale. You seem to have all the answers.....why don't you suggest something. OST had a couple guides, (The Modern Guide to O Scale 1 & 2) but they will be hard to find. 

Simon

Sorry, Simon.  I guess I mis-read something.  Glad to hear that 36" wheelsets are in good supply.

Dear Joe,et al,

My concern is the future availability of obtaining 36" wheelsets as currently produced by NMSL soon to be out of business.

Not sure what kind of "answers" you want me to come up with.  Nothing posed above is beyond the average modeler, and I am not sure I can add anything to changing trucks or wheelsets on freight cars.  If you are seriously having problems in that area, pose your question and I will try to answer.

Nobody listens to me maybe because I'm an Aussie and am not supposed to know anything about American trains or maybe members think I'm not neat enough with my modifications or maybe I'm just an average Joe Blow who has no qualifications or money. But anyway I won't give up, here are some photos of my "system" you have to have some kind of system if your going to do lots of 3-2 rail conversions. I keep all my parts in separate boxes (not all shown)  so I can do a conversion reasonably quick this comes about after doing this over a period of many years. Those alloy plates are for Atlas SW's conversion to Kadees I screw the plate on using original screws then screw the coupler to the plate it's not rocket science (notice the drill and tap in the same box) the Kadees I assemble in bulk and use clothes pegs to keep them together till I want to use them again this is day one fitting and turning practice you could even make those plates out of styrene. othere people could have these made in bulk I could supply the drawing on a PDF file but I know a lot of members just use other methods. You can start on the kitchen table you don't need a fully equipped workshop it's basic stuff. Get a car convert the wheels when your happy with the way it sits on the track measure for the kadee and make a spacer.

Wheels.

This obsession about wheels amuses me. years ago my friend that helps me on the railroad scratch built some diesels he needed wheels he made some on his lathe but making one wheel at a time can send you to an early grave so he consulted an engineering firm and had some made maybe 200 it cost a lot but he did it he sold some off to help with his finances but he had them made and this is Australia you know that little island down south. So what is stopping some other engineering firm in America if you supplied a sample from doing the same thing? Are we all helpless nowadays where is the pioneer spirit gone!

I'm trying to be nice here and offer some help I don't want any  accolades just a thank you for trying to help would be enough. Roo.

ROO,

Well my friend,(you now know you've got 1 American friend),you've ALWAYS been a real inspiration to me!! I think your layout is a DREAM LAYOUT and wish I could come close to having 1 like it. As for your way of doing things,we're identical in thought. The simpler the better has always been my way of doing things,also.

Keep up the good work and please keep posting on  here as I get real enjoyment and inspiration from you! I know there are modelers on here that I "throw their switch" the wrong way whenever I post,but that's never my intent and it's who  I am.

Have a great day!

As Always,

Al Hummel

Pete M and ROO:

Thank you both VERY MUCH for the help on the Lionel conversions- your explanations were simple enough that even "I" can grasp them. 

Thanks again!

Al Hummel

You're wlecome Al!

Roo: I wanted to say that despite me being a whinging Pom (less whinging since I moved to Canada 20+ years ago), I have been impressed and motivated by your great work in the hobby since I saw your first magazine article many years ago. Thank you!   

John,

Thank you for the pic's also. It looks like you use the same 2mm screws on your Protocraft couplers that I do.(?) I only use 1 as I've found they couple just fine. i don't have much rolling stock up as I'm still working on trackwork,plus am short on funding right now. I might add the other screwif,like you mentioned,I ever get around to it. I don't know how many times I've adjusted the main yard trackage only to find I think other additions or subtracttions might be more useful. I make those changes then find that doesn't work like I thought,only to change things back to the way they were before.Lol But that's what keeps things interesting,I suppose,but I would like to get things more stabilized in areas before I'm too old to see or lose my memory,whichever comes 1st.

Nice rolling stock gentlemen!

As Always,

Al Hummel

jgtrh62, What trucks will you go to now that the Protocraft trucks are only available in P48?

Alan Hummel posted:

Pete M and ROO:

Thank you both VERY MUCH for the help on the Lionel conversions- your explanations were simple enough that even "I" can grasp them. 

Thanks again!

Al Hummel

Thanks Al and Pete for your kind words.

John. The conversions you do are very nicely done.

We ran some Lionel "Metro" cars on the layout this week and they seem to be going fine our plans are to run them in three car sets the conversion to 2-Rail was a massive time consuming job something I would never recommend and impossible to describe I will take some photos though. This has been an exercise in time and money and patience, we are still wondering whether it was worth it!  I hope my layout little people appreciate their new commuter trains! 

My good friend and YVRR operator Bruce Temperly did most of the work without the Mill and lathe we could not have done it as the trucks using Intermountain wheels had to be made by hand the powered trucks are Stanton Drives from NWSL we still have to pull them apart for some passengers and driver maybe some weathering the second set is still to be finished then the next part is building the station platforms and trackwork (The easy part) .

Roo.

Regarding 100 ton, and 70 ton roller bearing trucks for that matter,  keep an eye on Kadee.  Last November at Trainfest, the owner Sam, informed me that they are "real close"  to doing some o scale roller bearing trucks.   I made the suggestion to do both the 100, and 70 ton versions, and like their HO versions, they most likely will be the ASF style.   Hopefully he was not blowing smoke to make me feel good!

R Nelson posted:

Regarding 100 ton, and 70 ton roller bearing trucks for that matter,  keep an eye on Kadee.  Last November at Trainfest, the owner Sam, informed me that they are "real close"  to doing some o scale roller bearing trucks.   I made the suggestion to do both the 100, and 70 ton versions, and like their HO versions, they most likely will be the ASF style.   Hopefully he was not blowing smoke to make me feel good!

Sam is now the owner at Kadee? Years ago,yes MANY years now that I think about it,lol,Sam saw to it the projects were developed,but back then he had someone over him. GREAT fellow to talk to though,very kind and knowledgeable.

Aside from this,a few years back,before Glacier Park came out with O Scale shelf couplers,Sam said a plan was in place for shelf couplers but other things were ahead of them. So maybe the trucks are ahead of them.(?) I sure would like to see Kadee get more involved in O Scale as well as other manufacturers. G scale is moving ahead in sales,so,in my opinion,O scale SURELY  is in good shape yet,as far as numbers of modelers. I remember Walthers having some nice kits in waffleside boxcars in the '70s,I still have 1. And Intermountain was into O Scale-what happened? Just my opinion.

As Always,

Al Hummel

I prefer well detailed correct trucks with real bearings inside. That said, I bought some of KDs G scale RB trucks. Even without bearings they roll fantastic. So I would be open to try them in O scale.

 I know that many of my cars may not have the correct trucks in use. I have settled for whatever I could get my hands on. I just put more power in the consist to deal with the poor rolling trucks in use. Outside on my G scale, even that may not work. I break couplers, have them drop out, throw traction tires, etc. I have made it my mission to install bearings where possible. They make a huge difference in a big consist up my grades.

Kadee HO trucks are definitive.  I have always thought that, if the market were there, Kadee would be the best to fill it in O Scale.

Happily, I have enough O Scale trucks.  But Kadee metal does not disintegrate, so maybe I would replace the Athearns?

Well heck, I am assuming Sam is the owner....at least that was the way he was talking, LOL.   Get on the horn, and send them comments on wanting O scale trucks.  If we keel bugging them maybe they will finally produce.  Sure can't hurt at all!

https://www.kadee.com/contact_us.htm

I just sent a message that I am interested in O scale 2 rail roller bearing trucks.

Joe, did you ask for rotating r/b spinners like US Hobbies/KTM trucks from 40 years ago and, more recently, Atlas and Lionel(!)

Jason

R Nelson,

I hope Sam is the owner,because when I talked by phone with him years ago,what he told me,could be "cashed in the bank," so-to-speak.as fact. Yes it took a while,but if he said it was on the way,it ended up on the market. 

Engineer Joe,thank you for the Kadee link!.

As Always,

Al Hummel