Marty, What trucks did you use for this ribside cab? I am putting together a JNJ one right now and am puzzled as to what trucks to use.
Those look like BX Express trucks. Micro-Trains BX Express Trucks I just got a pair for a project caboose I am working on.
you might consider using Athearn trucks from their Milk Car. They look very similiar and have a longer wheelbase which captures the proto proportions better. Problem is that you would need to mount the trucks farther inboard and the Athearn trucks mount on a pedestal with a hole in the middle for a screw. They may be a bit of work. I have set the Athearn trucks under a ribsider I built, and they really change the look as compared to the MT BX trucks. The BX trucks tend to make the caboose look kind of long and narrow instead of the compact boxy look. I had already completed mine when I noticed the Athearn trucks, and have not reworked it for them. I figure someone is due to release a commercial version soon! Tom L.
Yep...I use the MT BX Express trucks on the ones I build. All of mine are modifield from either Model Power or Limas so I have to make them shorter and realighn the bays.
What I found on my JNJ rib was that with the BX trucks the bolsters will not line up. Well actually you can get the truck to mount to the bolsters, but the end of the trucks hit the porches on corners. So that forces one to cut the existing bolsters off and relocate them. At least that is what I found in my case.
The MTL Swing Motion Caboose Trucks I used on the NP 24' caboose look like they have roller bearings molded on them, and the only real fix would be to glue small square pieces of styrene over them to simulate journal boxes. Otherwise they look like Andrews swing motion caboose trucks.
Mr Boxcab, It is pretty much a pigs breakfast of stuff I had in the junk box. The body and underframe are from a Atlas EV caboose. The bay window is from an old Con Cor caboose, the endrails are from JNJ and the roof walk is from Gold Medal Models. I laminated alternating pieces of styrene strips and brass wire for the ribs. I think most of the Atlas caboose was cut or sanded away, so that was probably not the best place to start. I think If I was to do another one, I might start with a MT baywindow caboose. Tom L.
Definitely a few hours work, no matter the starting point! Hmmm. Milw or CGW, or Louie???? Boxcab E50
It's funny, I started out as a CNW Fan. As I learned more and more about the CGW and Louie through the CNW Historical Society, I lost interest in the CNW. I always liked the Milwaukee because my Grandparents had a farm near the Valley Line at a place called Finn on the old timetables. Nothing but a siding and a passenger shelter behind a tavern. It is south of Merrill WI. Maybe thats why I don't get much done, can't focus on one thing long enough.
I'm working on a project right now trying to improve (a little) a couple of the little Bachmann wide vision cabooses. They have rather large and crude looking roofwalks and mounts that I want to remove just to get rid of that unsightliness, and this is where I am at, so far. I'm trying to file down the large, round mounting holes, but it is doing some damage to the roof. Fortunately, I'm going to be painting the bodies a darker color, so hopefully it will cover some of my mistakes, but I was just wanting to know if anyone has a reliable technique for filing off the roof walk mounting rings without doing too much damage to the roof detail.
Narrow guage to standard... How possible would it be to convert a Nn3 caboose to standard guage? Is it simply a matter of changing out trucks or is there more to it than that?
You may have to make new bolsters to mount the larger trucks farther in so they will clear the steps. The couplers may need adjusting too.
