I’ve got some pretty old, limited run Athern BB passerger cars that I"m just now after 15 or more years assembling. I’d like to install trucks/wheels that are better quality than those supplied. I’m looking for sets for streamlined cars for the Texas Special and SSW. I’d appreciate any suggestions for both prototypical correctness and performance.
Thanks,
Mike
If that is the case, then you shouldnt start with Athearn passenger cars. They are not accurate models by any stretch.
David B
Yep. So please suggest a source for a complete Texas Special consist as well as one for the Cotton Belt in Daylight paint.
If you decide to keep the Athearn cars but want to improve their rolling qualities, I might suggest Intermountain 36" metal wheels. They’re very smooth rolling, and they have a nice ‘heft’ to them that also increases the weight of the cars just a bit. They do snap into the Athearn trucks with minimal work.
Tom [:)]
If you are willing to invest the time and money, I would suggest going with Union Station Products car sides (you are going to have to build them and paint em’). Otherwise, the best Texas Special cars released recently were those from Overland, but they may be difficult to put your hands on (not to mention the high cost).
If you just want prototypical trucks to install on you Athearn cars for the PS Texas Special cars, the following would be a good match: http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/732-419
If these are the plastic truck side frames; ream out the journal with a ‘truck tuner’ tool, and insert new Intermountain 36" metal wheel sets. I have some old Athearn HW baggage cars and that is all I did for the wheels. I did cut off the ‘talgo’ coupler mounting arm and body mount Kadee couplers as well.
If these are ‘really old’ and have the metal trucks - ditch the trucks and look at replacement Athearn plastic trucks or some of the Walthers streamline trucks. Be aware that this route may cost you as much as you have invested in the cars.
Jim
Thanks to those of you who took the time to offer helpful responses. I think I know what options to look at. I’m not going to persue the fine Texas Special set that is selling (if available) for several thousand dollars. This hobby is pretty much about imagination or making do with the best available options, so if my Athern BB has an observation car with one too many compartment windows on the left side, I’ll just have to live with it.
I always wanted to visit a rivet counters layout and discover that a stub-end siding of the CBQ at Everyman, Ill. (July 17, 1954) was 74 scale feet too short. Sorry, but while I do try to keep a larger historical perspective, some level of detail is just not worth the time and cost.
Appreciate your responses.
Mike
I was lurking on this post earlier because I don’t have access to the info. A friend has the Overlan set but had to replace the trucks as the ones supplied didn’t do so well even after tuning. I don’t know what he replaced them with but I will ask this week and post the answer. Not sure it it will be helpful but he was sure to get prototypically correct ones,
Rick
A man after my own heart!!! If you find him let me know, I’d like to bust too!![:-,]