Today I tried to order a Walther’s HO caboose in the Central Vermont scheme and the internet company told me that they were discontinued because of problems with the trucks/wheels that required the modeler to make some modifications. He said there was an article in MR explaining how to fix the problem. However, the same guy told me that the 2-pack of Walther’s cabooses were still available. I asked if the cabooses in the 2-pack had the same problem or were they okay and he couldn’t tell me. I can’t believe the single caboose was discontinued for problems and the 2-pack didn’t have the problem. Anybody out there know?
The two packs will have the same problem as the singles. The singles can be shown as discontinued and not in production anymore even though Walthers still has two packs available.
The two packs are always released at the same time as the singles. So you can get a total of 3 #s if you like. The two packs are also always a limited run, and once the original run is sold out - that’s it. Some sell out almost immediately, some take months or longer. So that’s why you may still be able to get the cabooses/cabeese in a two pack but not a single.
According to Walhers sales brochures they are still for sale i think they guy cant get them in the single pack or just wants to make money with the 2 packs.
Why be so quick to accuse an internet dealer of just wanting to make more money on a two pack when in less than 60 seconds you could’ve used your very own computer to see that the singles are indeed sold out?
I recently purchased a two-pack of the 30’ Wood Caboose (Cabeese) from Walther’s in the Maine Central scheme, so they can still be had. However, unknowingly the steps interfere with the wheels on curves and do need to be reworked. Iwas wondering how to best go about this and will have to look for the article mentioned in MR. In the meantime, if others have solved this problem would certainly like to hear how they went about it.
I think the problem is pertaining to models that are a couple years old. I have some of the older ones and recently purchased one of the new SP’s. The new one has no step/truck interference. Take a look for the MR article (May of 2003) on the fix for the older ones. I am in no way a master model builder and was able to fix mine rather quickly and easily. It involves removing the bottom frame, making four cuts and then reversing the section with the bolster on it in order to place the trucks inward away from the steps.
And it’s not just the Walther cabooses. The 46’ gondolas have similar binding problems around curves but for different reasons.
I ended up trimming the back side of the rear step of the cabooses to cut down on the interference problem. It helped somewhat but not completely. It’s too bad. The Walthers cars are very nice. I sure hope they finally fix the issue with their next run.