Intermountain Kits to 3-rail

Weaver trucks are probably the best choice. I used lionel die cast trucks on my two imtermountain kits and they work but required considerable modifications to the floor.

Intermountain kits came with both 2 and 3 rail trucks. If your cars were built for 2 rail you will have eliminate some detail to run 3 rail trucks like air hoses and hand brake detail. if you can't find Intermountain trucks I suspect Atlas or Weaver trucks might work since they make 2 and 3 rail versions of the same car.

 

Pete

 

Not sure about the hoppers, but most IM kits come with both 3 and 2 rail wheels (plastic) for use with the IM trucks.

 

Allan

Weaver trucks are what you want.  Be aware that the details on these cars are very fragile.  The grab irons are very thin plastic and must be assembled carefully.  Once built, any rough handling of the car will result in broken parts.  The cars are also very light so you will need to add weight.

Intermountain kit with the kit supplied 3 rail trucks and couplers. The trucks are all plastic but work OK if you weight the car itself as I do. I like to replace them with metal trucks when I have some but not 100% required.

I really miss these kits and pick them up when ever I can.

I use Weaver trucks on the Intermountain kits,also I found the hopper kits to be some what difficult to construct.

James

 

After dealing with a few Intermountain or Red Caboose kits you might find that $62.95 each for Atlas ready to run cars suddenly seams like a really, really good deal.

 

http://www.atlaso.com/o55tonhoppers5.htm

Kinda depends on your own point of view doesn't it??? I'd much rather build a Intermountain kit any day over any RTR car. But that's why there is both in our hobby. Many folks have no desire to build. I do....but it's harder and harder to get kits....so I build my own from scratch. But since I pick up the Intermountain kits cheap many folks must have issues building them.....just send them my way!

 

The kits are no harder than scratchbuilding......modern or old time cars.....

 

Thanks for everyone's input sounds like Weaver is the way to go, good because I picked up a whole bunch this summer for next to nothing.  

 

 

AMCDave I'm with you.  I'd rather build, paint, and letter my own cars than just buy them ready to run.  I'm even started to build my own that aren't avaiable.  I'm in the process of converting some Weaver 3-bay ribbed side hoppers into NS RailGons.

 

James