I have 3 L2a Mohawks. These are probably my favorite engines. Nice detail and great runners. I’ve never been satisfied with what was offered as far as a caboose to go with it. The Mullet River probably being the best in kit form. High price and you get to build it. I’m up for a challenge. But it’s designed as a 2 rail scale model. The Williams brass is a good starting point. Frosted windows, trucks need to be moved inwards and changed out. Except for the lanterns. The details are more scale sized. The Lionel’s have the right look. Just everything way oversized. Was designed in the 80’s.
I saw a Max Gray 2 rail Brass caboose on the Bay. The detailing was good and the underside of the chassis wasn’t cluttered. Sometimes you get lucky and they navigate the layout as is. Well this wasn’t the case. After it was placed on the rails. The brass truck came apart. The simulated leaf spring is held in by tension. It popped out. Pretty much holds the side frame on. They weren’t very free rolling either. If it’s on the layout. It must be a good runner. I went to my go to Atlas trucks. My fear was. The Kadee coupler resides in a box that’s soldered on. The coupler unless you go to an offset. Can’t be shimmed. The height would have to be adjusted at the truck. The way the Atlas truck is designed. The top piece can be removed and left off. The screws holding the pickup roller on will keep the truck together. I used the ones in the picture as I wasn’t adding lights.
You need to file the truck mount down to lower the car. File a little at a time and keep checking. I used the stock screw and spring. I added a nylon spacer to take up the difference In size. It fits just right in the truck. The spacer is for a Lionel driver board. They are leftover parts if you’ve done an ERR upgrade.
Car navigates the layout well and matches the level of detail in the recent motive power offerings.
