Question about Weaver boxcars

The regular Weaver boxcars are not as detailed as the Lionel PS-2 scale cars. They are scale size, but the detail is not as fine as the Lionel (or MTH or Atlas) and more of it is molded in rather than attached. The upside is that they are scale size and they are a lot more resistant to handling than the more detailed cars. I run a lot at a toy train museum, and I take a lot of Weaver cars in to museum open houses because they are rugged and not likely to be damaged in transit. The graphics are typically at least pretty good and often excellent, and they have been made in a much bigger variety than even MTH, let alone Lionel's rather small selection in scale size. 

Most older Weaver cars have plastic truck frames with metal wheels and axles. They do have needlepoint bearings. I always replace my Weaver plastic trucks with die-cast sprung trucks, adding to the cost. This is a question of taste; the plastic trucks work OK. 

The above applies to the Weaver PS-1, AAR, and woodside cars, all of which are made on older molds. The newer Weaver molds such as the B&O wagontops and the not-yet-shipped Milwaukee Road ribsides have considerably better detail. I have one of the B&O cars, and I have ordered a baker's dozen of the Milwaukee ribsides.

The Ultraline Weaver Freight cars are an older design some dating back to the 1980's. As stated above, most of the details are molded in the plastic and any add on details are plastic as well. they are OK for handeling but be CAREFULL of the Stirrup steps at the ends of the cars. they are really suceptable to breakage and are tough to repair. When transporting, I highly recommend you purchase from Weaver models the Plastic clamshell inserts because they are easy to lock the car into the Weaver box and prevent truck swiveling as well as give a cushion frame to minimize car damage from vibration.

Most older Weaver cars have plastic truck frames with metal wheels and axles. They do have needlepoint bearings.

This is any Weaver ultraline car pre 2006.

I always replace my Weaver plastic trucks with die-cast sprung trucks, adding to the cost. This is a question of taste; the plastic trucks work OK. 

Not just taste but performance-wise. IF you are using the Weaver plastic trucks and couplers, I highly recommend you weight the car to NMRA specs of 5 oz plus 1oz per car length. this is what's needed to prevent the car from easily derailing and giving poor performace. Otherwise, Replaceing the Plastic trucks with the die cast trucks and couplers is well worth the cost of the die cast trucks and couplers! 

FLash:  Same here.  You can't beat these Weaver cars for price.  And the detailing is, in most cases, quite close to the much pricier brands.  And of course from a few feet distance, extra fine detailing usually isn't noticeable.

          paul m.