Märklin Caboose Conversion

Because of the configuration of coupler and truck US-Cabooses from Märklin have strong disproportions to the prototypes. This made the common use with cars and locos of other manufactureres technical and optical impossible. Harald Freudenreich developed a reconstruction on which these models are based on. With the conversion the nice detailed and printed model gets Microtrains® -Bettendorf-trucks with Magnematic-couplers. Jens Wimmel (www.zettzeit.ch) make the conversion for me.



See the difference, this is a original Märklin Caboose:



This is a Model after the conversion:



This is a Tankcar Conversion (like Robert and Chris):


More pictures on my Website.

 

Jurg,

The wheel configuration isn't the only problem with these cabooses. They also use the same caboose for many roads that never had that style of caboose. The same holds true for the MTL cabooses.

I would love to see some manufacturer come out with some of the more common caboose types, like the three ICC designs.

Marklin's caboose fits for ATSF (and maybe a handful of others) and MTL's fits for a dozen or so railroads from the NorthEastern and Mid-Atlantic states.

I especially like the EVC that David F. did and the bay window caboose that Thom Welsch did.

I need to try this Marklin truck conversion myself, it does look good.

Randy

 

Randy, you'r absolutley right. Like on the F Diesels "one mold fits all." I'm happy that I'm soon will own one of David's Rio Grande Cabooses as he promised me.
About the truck conversion, have a luck at FR's Website he has pictures on the "how-to's".

 

Thanks Jurg, I've seen Harald's DIY page. I just haven't taken the time to try the conversions yet.

Does anyone have photos of the Marklin gondolas with this conversion done on them?

Thanks,
Randy

 

True about the caboose being a AT&SF prototype, but if your gonna have a "wrong" caboose you might as well spruce it up with correct trucks.

If my guy with a engraver ever gets around to it, I will have a Erie caboose. Here is the base for it with a priinted paper mock up:
http://zcentralstation.com/modules/xcgal/albums/userpics/10120/Zboose11.jpg
The frame is from one of Robert's laser kits.

 

Yes, it's definitely a problem with those Cabooses. They are not very prototypical but the Märklin Cabooses looks better then those from MTL. It's time that they release a new and better version.

 

The Marklin cabooses look better than MTL's for western roads perhaps. THe MTL cabooses are exactly right for about 2 dozen eastern railroad liveries.

I don't think we need a "new and better version", just more types of cabooses period. Cabooses like steam locomotives are one of those things that vary greatly from railroad to railroad so it's hard for a manufacturer to do one type of caboose accurately and get lot's of sales with it.

Randy

 

Randy I agree that we need more types but also the details must be better, if you compare the MTL Boxcars (newer version) with the MTL Cabooses you can see a big difference in details and prototypical look.

 

Jurg, great pictures! It is amazing how much better those cabooses look. It gives me some ideas for the few marklin cabooses that I have. you know it is great to see how much better existing products can be made to look!