Vision Line Reefers - Kadee conversion

Laidoffsick posted:

This is nothing new, just a refresher on how easy it is to convert these reefers to Kadee couplers. For 2 rail operation, just swap the wheel sets to NWSL.

Cars, Kadee 740 couplers, 3D printed spacers with pre-drilled holes and available in black from Shapeways, stick on wheel weights, cordless drill with #50 and #43 drill bits, screw driver and 1/2" screws

 

Remove trucks, make 2 cuts with your Dremel to remove the claw. I painted the trucks with cheap flat black.

 

Add 3 oz of stick on weights... this will be 1/2 oz over the NMRA standard at 16 oz total, but I would rather them be a little over weight than under.  

I tape the doors closed from the inside. they don't always want to stay closed.

 

Put the floor back in the shell, drill your holes for the Kadee and use 1/2" screws to mount with spacer. 

 

Spacers put the coupler at the perfect height.

 

5-10 minutes per car total. Easy, fast, cheap, and looks 100 times better! The spacers take all the guess work out.

 

Nice work, as always!! Would you give the Shapeways spacer part number and the spacer thickness?? TIA

https://www.shapeways.com/prod...im?optionId=57308346

Doug, 

Nice post

Doug, would you mind also giving the part number and location of where to purchase the piece that sets the height. I want to collect all the pieces of the puzzle prior to my first attempt.

Kevin 

The spacer from Shapeways sets the height and location of the coupler. Thats all you need.

Here's a video step-by-step, as well.

I will starting to convert some Lionel reefers to Kadee #740 couplers per your videos.  Prices for the 740's vary.  Who is your vendor for about 15 or 20 pairs?

Thanks for your help

Tommy 

I pay 7.99 a pack (2 pair)

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com...e-Head-p/kad-740.htm

Thanks Doug for the quick reply.  I shall order tomorrow and get an additional 5%  off on a BF special.

Best regards

Tommy

Awesome... get Priority Mail and you'll have them in a few days. Most bang for your buck.

Nice work!

Since most 2 railers don't care I have to lobby you guys to write Lionel and ask that in some future release they have that R-40-23 retooled with a diagonal panel roof to make the R-40-25 car.    It'd make for a great late ice age reefer car and a mighty popular one since there were a lot of R-40-25's and newer cars with the newer roof.  

Years ago I wrote Lionel and got a very nice response from Matt.. they would surely consider it for some future retooling if someone other than just me would request it.

I do my reefer conversions as Doug does, but use wood spacers and screws and use NWSL scale wheels. They work really well, look great and roll much better.

Ron do you have to modify the Lionel trucks to fit the NWSL wheels or are they direct replacements?

Doug, the NWSLs are a direct replacement. I also use Intermountain 33 inch steel wheels. they have to be blackened with neolube and the axles are a little thin for the journals, but they work fine.

Ron H posted:

I do my reefer conversions as Doug does, but use wood spacers and screws and use NWSL scale wheels. They work really well, look great and roll much better.

 

Ron, I assume you use the 0.145" wheels. 

Which part number are the drop axles/wheels?

thanks,

Mario

Laidoffsick posted:

https://www.shapeways.com/prod...im?optionId=57308346

Great job.

Do they have a spacer for the flat cars with trailers?

Mario, I use the 145s. I get the 1-8287-4 unassembled wheel sets. The NWSL wheels are $19.95 a set of 4 for one car. Intermountain's are less than $13.00 and come assembled. With the wheels and Kadees it gets expensive. I now buy 2 rail cars when I can for my 3Rscale layout.

Ron

Just want to say thank you to Doug (laidoffsick) and everyone else who takes the time to share with the rest of the board their work. Regardless of subject matter, it is not easy to always stop your work, take some pictures, complete the project and then go back write a meaningful summery, add pictures, and upload to OGR. Its time consuming and of course, the pay isn’t that great.

Guys like Doug, Mario, Ron, Norm C, Alex, and a few others that I’m sure I have missed my hats off to you for providing the content of the best part/reason of the forum.

Have a great day.

Charlie

Charlie, I agree with you 110%.  I am one of the many who have to ask questions to understand the learning process.  My thanks again to those that take the time and effort to answer simple and/or dumb questions.  Please stay with us.  The disciples must learn. 

My best regards

Tommy 

BobbyD posted:

Laidoffsick posted:

https://www.shapeways.com/prod...im?optionId=57308346

Great job.

Do they have a spacer for the flat cars with trailers?

I have not seen anything specific for those cars. I have one on order so maybe Mario can design something for it once we figure out exactly what it needs.

Laidoffsick posted:

BobbyD posted:

Laidoffsick posted:

https://www.shapeways.com/prod...im?optionId=57308346

Great job.

Do they have a spacer for the flat cars with trailers?

I have not seen anything specific for those cars. I have one on order so maybe Mario can design something for it once we figure out exactly what it needs.

I have only seen others' work with the Lionel PS gondolas, here: http://shpws.me/Jeon.

I don't think that they would be interchangeable.

I'm travelling the rest of the week, but I want to look into the flat cars.  It's going to be a very difficult design because there's very little under the deck.

Thanks,

Mario

CentralFan1976 posted:

Laidoffsick posted:

BobbyD posted:

Laidoffsick posted:

https://www.shapeways.com/prod...im?optionId=57308346

Great job.

Do they have a spacer for the flat cars with trailers?

I have not seen anything specific for those cars. I have one on order so maybe Mario can design something for it once we figure out exactly what it needs.

I have only seen others' work with the Lionel PS gondolas, here: http://shpws.me/Jeon.

I don't think that they would be interchangeable.

I'm travelling the rest of the week, but I want to look into the flat cars.  It's going to be a very difficult design because there's very little under the deck.

Thanks,

Mario

For the Lionel PS4 flats, I my have an answer to that one. One thing I know for sure is you are going to have to use epoxy to secure the spacer to the wood. 

Don't look now, but there's a new Steel Reefer Kadee mount design coming down the bunny trail.