Weaver 20 inch Aluminum Cars nice... however

The only four cars I have of the earlier vintage, I first cut off those stupid thumb tacks. When that didn't work, I then up-graded them to body mounted Kadee couplers. In fact, even the later Weaver lobster claws didn't seem to work very well on my Pullman Bradley SP cars, so I had to up-grade them to Kadee couplers as well.

Do these cars have the Kadee mounting pads built in.

Unfortunately, no... you would have to fabricate up a base for them to mount on.

Correct. I have always used various thicknesses of Evergreen styrene for shims.

Here are some pictures of the cars. Weaver put nice paint and graphics on these...

Any ideas  guys for upgrading the interior?

 

 

By the way, here is the modification I needed to do to get them to run on the layout...

You have to cut off the dreaded "button" and then wrap a wire around the neck of the coupler to keep them from opening...

 

 

Use orthodontic rubber bands to replace the ugly wire wrapped around the coupler and you'll be able to use the uncoupling tab.

Easiest to just buy the Third Rail versions, and eBay these.  I would say your chances are excellent to make a profit.  Then you get full interiors, more realistic trucks, Kadee pads, and LED lights.

       
       


Great idea. will the bands dry out ?

I,ve used these on a couple bashes. And was wondering why the button was so low. Its 2-rail isn't it? What I found was the tip of the coupler, of the next car, would scrape the edge of the metal, tripping an uncoupling. So first I disassembled, and ground them down a bit on the end (picture). I added wider and stronger spring, and a finishing washer for the spring seat (larger than the C-clip). 

 

The Weaver cars, while attractive, in addition to body shortfalls have a prominent lettering error.  The sleeping cars in the set (those with car names) should have PULLMAN on the letter board - not PENNSYLVANIA. 

 

Historical background:   During the years 1938-48 the PRR’s top named trains featured cars styled by Raymond Lowey in a beautiful two tone Tuscan red scheme. In railroad advertising the trains were referred to as The Fleet of Modernism (FOM among PRR fans).  Sleeping cars running on US railroads at that time were owned and operated by the Pullman Co.  As part of operating agreements between the railroads and Pullman the latter would paint the assigned sleeping cars per the railroad’s standards.  Reflecting their ownership “PULLMAN” was carried on the letter board of sleeping cars.  Railroad owned cars (coaches, diners, baggage, and RPO’s) carried the railroad name on the letter board.  Lettering practice markedly changed in the postwar era as a result of an anti-trust settlement between the railroad industry and Pullman.  Under the settlement the railroads purchased Pullman’s roster of lightweight sleepers (and most heavyweight sleepers).  As cars came in for scheduled overhaul most railroads re-lettered them to reflect the new ownership.  In the case of the PRR the ownership based lettering change was coincident with repainting the cars in the 3 stripe Tuscan scheme.

 

For those looking for protypically based PRR Fleet of Modernism passenger train, consider reserving Golden Gate Depot’s  The Broadway Limited.  GGD is designing the exteriors and interiors of the cars (6 different bodies) using Pullman Co. car plans.  Painting on the cars is being guided by era specific information found in PRRT&HS’s  Pennsylvania Railroad Passenger Car Painting and Lettering by Charles Blardone and Peter Tilp.  For postwar modelers, the cars are also offered in the 3 stripe Tuscan red scheme.  After being displaced on the Broadway Limited by new cars delivered in 1948/49, the prewar built lightweights were repainted in the new scheme and assigned to other PRR trains, and notably The General.  This will provide O scalers the opportunity to to choose from 3 very different looking PRR passenger trains – 1938 Broadway, 1948 Broadway, and 1949 The General.  Way to go Scott..

 

Ed Rappe

Jack,

 

Which Kadees did you use?

 

Dave

I have always used Kadee #805. But, now that the new 700 series "type E" Kadee couplers are out, you should look into the long shank version for passenger cars.

As to the ugly bulbs, look for a thread on the DCS post about all the power being sucked out of a transformer (the originator's term).  In there is some discussions about LED lighting.  It can go on ceiling of car, so is not visible.  I suggest getting warm white LEDs, not cool white.  I've redone 9 of my cars plus station platforms.

The GGD's are probably the set to buy, but maybe out of the price league of a few operators like me. This set is a low entry level to very nice painted aluminum cars.

The trucks are less detailed and have cast molded one piece side frames.

I purchased these because there where at a give away price, and I believe with a few modifications they will look stellar. I am going to look into LEDs for the rear observation lights and maybe a end car sign. RJR do you have any photos of your upgrades?

 

JDaddy:  Check this thread:

 

https://ogrforum.com/t...t-of-the-transformer

 

I have pictures there of the voltage regulators I assembled, and another forumite has posted pictures of his cars.  The LEDs come on 10-foot (?) strips, with peel offs the adhesive (which is poor adhesive--I have to go back and reattach much with double-sided tape.)  I put two strips per car, but they are too bright; one strip the length of the car should do it.  They are absolutely invisible through the windows, unless you look up from under the car.

I like to run the WEAVER aluminum passenger cars on prewar all Pullman trains. The WEAVER cars fit right in with the GGD and K-LINE 21" passenger cars

And they run great, never had any major problem with the couplers and run conventional at about 11 volts in this video.

 

Take a look

 

.

 

Weaver: great people, good stuff, perennially bad couplers, regardless of the era or

material - though the problems may change (plastic "springs" in the past; knuckles

that don't open far enough; now, die-cast couplers with thumbtacks that hang too low...).

 

I have actually avoided Weaver rolling stock if an equivalent K or L or M or A product

was available - because of the couplers. Too bad; just buy 'em from RMT; great

K-Line tooling.  

J Daddy,

 

If you are still interested in putting interiors into your Weaver passenger cars, I would be very interested in buying the green plastic "glass" window inserts from you.  I would email you privately, but I cannot find your email address.  Please respond via email to the address in my profile if interested.  Thanks!

 

Price

Green tint is cool. Reminds me of the old tinted glass in vintage automobiles.

A poke around JC Studios will likely get you all the LED ideas you need.

Polishing the axels, and if you can, bearing seats, along with some graphite powder after helps. Whatever makes contact with the outer(side frame) and inner(?) thrust surfaces of the wheels, may benefit from some polishing and/or dressing too. 

Dallee has passenger car LED kits

 

http://www.dallee.com/LED_lighting.htm

That's just the problem, there are no bearings in the journals. the axles ride in an oblong hole similar to post war trains. Taking the axels out is going to take some doing as well.

Charlie - Thanks for the heads up the Dallee kits... I will take a look.

If you are interested in LED lighting for your passenger cars, check out www.royztrains.com.  His LED strips are a lot cheaper than Dallee and provide constant brightness that is end user adjustable.  Quick installation, too.

 

Overheard a conversation that indicated the LEDs from Royz Trains work well with both DCS and TMCC.  Have fun and remember to stay on track!

Thanks Mr. K4 - these look a little more plug /play as well.

 

Check the axle tips too(if you get them apart). If there is too sharp a cut, with poor edge dressing done, the edge of the axle tip may be grinding into a "round" at the bottom of the "bearing pockets", or creating steps.

 

We wanted scale length North Coast Limited cars so when Weaver came out with them they ended up on the layout.  The second issue, with interiors, also ended up on the layout.  Looks great with the domes from K-line .... green shades ... some of the cars had green window shades ... they don't come uncoupled.