I have managed to convert six of the O27 Auto Carriers to S gauge with the addition of S gauge trucks. The trucks are altered scale wheel trucks taken off cylindrical hopper cars and now sport SHS high-rail wheels. They run smoothly and the rotating bearing caps are a nice addition. All the cars have been given added weight with the addition of six thin fender washers to the underside of the floor. The six cars play nicely together in forward or while backing up around r20 curves.
The biggest drawback I found to the looks of these cars (other than the oversize dimensions) was the push-on ladders at all four corners of the cars. While they might be a sort-of close approximation of the real thing they look cheap. The minuscule stirrup at the base of the ladder looks way too small. The lack of definition of the rungs against the solid back just looks silly.
So I purchased some O scale boxcar ladders to replace the factory supplied ladders. While these new ladders certainly aren't prototypical to these cars they look way better in my view.
I also added some wire stirrups made out of insulated solid core wire. I'm no scale modeler by any stretch but I was able to bend the wire to "look right" in my eyes just below the ladders. The two ends of the stirrups are inserted into the pair of holes that were designed to hold the base of the factory ladder. Then I added a little hot glue to the ends of the stirrups where they entered the floor on the back of the side sills. The ladders were trimmed to the needed length and also hot glued to the car. If I change my mind I can easily remove all the changes and reinstall the factory ladders.
The ladders are Part# 48-207 Brand: SCALE CITY DESIGNS (Formerly KEIL-LINE PRODUCTS)
I purchased them in quantities of 12 .
I also decided to add an F.R.E.D. to the UP car. I selected a flashing 3 mm LED and wired it to a 9 volt battery inside the car. An inline mini switch allows me to turn off the light when not in use. Wires to the battery enter the car through the original O gauge truck mounting hole.
It's certainly not prototypical as the real device is clamped to the knuckle and hooked up to the air hose on the car. But the flashing light effect is good enough for me!
If you buy some of the 2017 Auto Carriers and like these changes give it a try. The dots hot glue used can be removed from the car if you change your mind and want to go back to the as-delivered look.
The following video shows a slow moving KCS mixed train rounding a curve with a string of Auto Carriers on the rear. Don't need no caboose when you got F.R.E.D. on board. Hope you like the way they look and buy some of the new AF cars. Bottom line will keep Lionel's interest in S gauge. I've ordered 1 of each roadname. So with four on order, six on the train table, one just delivered O27 BN car I bought and one more O27 car I have my eye on I'll have a 12 car Auto train at the end of this year!
Mark
