MP54 trucks

I just won this on eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/PENNSYLVANIA-M-U-COMBINE-ITEM-5526-IN-H-O-SCALE-BY-WALTHERS-IN-KIT-FORM-/131556141044?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1ea15b67f4&nma=true&si=LfKIv6sSWV0wDHW1ATwPEOgCQFw%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

It’s a less trucks kit, so I need to get some trucks! What I can’t seem to find though is what type would be appropriate? The most detail I could find was one had roller bearings and the other had friction bearings. Anyone know what I need? Because I don’t.[:)]

ConCor released various versions of the MP-54 fairly recently - you may be able to purchase suitable trucks from them.

There’s a review of those cars, with photos, here:

rrmodelcraftsman

Wayne

I agree with Wayne’s suggestion to see if Con-cor sells the trucks as replacement parts. Maybe you could even get a powered chassis, the motor is embedded into the floor. But now you’re talking some ca$h, compared to what you scored your kit for [:O]

A non-powered P-C MP54 at Klein’s is $104! Ouch!

I have about a dozen of the MP54s (half are powered) and I am still fussing with the power pickup on them. They are terrible. I want to wire in a keep alive capacitor to smooth out the running properties.

Otherwise, the Con-cor models are very attractive. I have sound decoders in two of them.

As a stand-in you could get away with the PRR 2DP5 truck from Walthers but these would have to be modified if you want to drive your MP54 (and I know you do!)

https://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/920-2213

Maybe you could find a Walthers RDC and work the PRR sideframes onto the truck frame? Just an idea?

Have Fun! Ed

Thanks, I think I’ll look into the Walthers trucks! Powering won’t be a problem. The US dollar is high compared to Australia’s right now, so I’m going to give the Bull Ant a try.

Here’s a link to some protptype information on MP54 trucks.

You’ll notice the power truck and trailer truck on the same car have different wheelbases.

http://prr.railfan.net/diagrams/PRRdiagrams.html?diag=mp54e5.gif&sel=motorpassenger&sz=lg&fr=

I hope this helps!

Eric

Thanks! I’ll have to look into finding more prototypical trucks eventually.