Does anyone have experience converting the MTH PS-1 boxcar to 2-rail?
I want to divert the truck frames. Left is Weaver's.
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I have found the easiest way to do it is to just bolt in MTH 2 rail trucks and use Kadee couplers. For a more prototypical appearance you can change the bolster and use a more accurate truck. Some people say that using MTH trucks will slightly lower the car giving it a better look. I don’t know how this works but it seems to be true.
I've done a few MTH cars using the MTH 2-rail trucks. They drop the car about 1/8" and using the Kadee mounts on the car (use 2mmx8mm screws), the couplers are the right height. For a while, MTH cars would come with a shim for use with the 3-rail trucks that put the couplers at the right height.
Some cars, like the Auto Racks and Center Beam flat cars, are set up with Kadee mounts, but those mount the coupler below the end sill, when it should be notched out. The early cars without the mounts are actually better suited for conversion, but there's more work involved since you have to build bolsters (in the right place as opposed to where they are as-sold) and notch the end sills. I've acquired three more Center Beam flats that I'll be converting when I can re-stock my supply of Intermountain wheels.
