So I receive a box full of trainset junk which in includes two orange Bachmann ( I think ) Tropicana refers with Talgo trucks and horn hook couplers. I was wondering how I would mount car bodies on better chassis?
Hi Joe
I’ve done quite a bit of this type of thing in the last few years after discovering a box filled with old train set rolling stock…I also do this with locomotives as well. Rarely do I change out the chassis…but modify the existing chassis. For cars that the trucks are held with screws…I’ll trim and shim till I can get talgo Kadee trucks to work. Trucks with a snap in bolster pin, I fill the bolster hole with plastic epoxy. After curing, get the center then drill and tap for 2-56. Then I’ll mount better quality trucks. I’ll also clear an area for body mounted couplers, start shimming in .010" increments to get close to a Kadee coupler gauge…mount a box and coupler assembly then trim and shim to match the gauge.
In most cases I can get an old train set car back into service being a bit more compatible with new more expensive stuff…for around $10. each.
As for locomotives…chassis swapping is fairly common for me, and in a few select cases I’ve buit up chassis.
Mark H
See the link here, I use this method all the time, and it’s very easy. You will need a 2-56 tap though:
Just making the link to Georges excellent thread clickable.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/194011.aspx
Cheers, the Bear.[:)]