Hi, One question, I want to change the rapido couplers (and truck) on atlas and life like freight rolling stock i have, and change them to MicroTrains. can someone please give me the right MT#. is it like 1030? ect. I have been using accumate but are getting to expensive (in oz)
Depending on the era and type of car you might also use the MT 1000 which are Bentendorf trucks with friction bearings.
1033 is a roller bearing medium extension, 1030 is roller bearing short extension 1035 is Barber rollerbearing short, and 1037 Barber RB medium.
It's really not that simple. Some Atlas cars have no proper MT replacement truck as they have trucks which MT does not make. Each car must be taken case by case. Many of the larger box cars, tank cars and hoppers use a 100T truck with 36" wheels. MT finally has 36" wheels available but not a 100T freight truck yet. The double sheathed and rebuilt boxcars have a truck that is unique also if I remember correctly For most cars you want short extension couplers but if you are trying to represent a cushion coupler equipped car, then a medium or long extension coupler may be needed.
Here is my guide for light 70 ton trucks or smaller Atlas freight cars I use 1030 MT's (two spring trucks) for heavier 100 ton+ trucks on Atlas freight cars I use 1035 MT's (three spring trucks). Of course there are others like long extension coupler MT trucks or body mount couplers but I find these trucks with the short extension couplers look the best on the freight cars. The long extension coupler trucks can be used on bigger or longer freight cars like the older Con Cor center beam cars or others.
