This project began about 8 years ago when I purchased two sets of these cars. They looked pretty bad and ran worse. These cars were boxed up for another day. A couple of years ago I reworked the two sets into one 5 packer, changing the articulation joints by building new ones out of strip styrene with holes drilled to accept a styrene rod which I then melted with a sodering iron to hold the pin in place. The car was pretty ugly at that point, I painted & decalled it anyway. It ran better than before, but still not good enough. Then came along Alan Curtis with his 48' all purpose spine car. I bought several sets and retired the concor car. Last year I came across a couple of out of production N-Scale of Nevada upgrade kits for the concor fuel foiler. It supplies a new articulation joint & extra weight. I decided to pull the old fuel foiler out of retirement and toss it in the paint stripper. I stripped off all of my previous attempts to rectify this car. I even added extra weight in the form of lead wherever I could. The car was fitted with body mounted MT couplers and wheels. I tested the car extensively running it empty in the middle of trains and backing it through complex trackwork. To my suprise it ran extremely well. I added styrene L brackets to the sides of the wheel platforms to act as wheel guides. I painted & decalled, added etched stainless steel walkways from NJ International custom cut to fit, brass grabirons & stirrups. Finnally I added left over hitches from an AC Models 89' flatcar. Not the best pictures but enjoy, Brian http://bria-n-scale.freeservers.com/images/concor_impack_04.jpg http://bria-n-scale.freeservers.com/images/concor_impack_01.jpg http://bria-n-scale.freeservers.com/images/concor_impack_02.jpg http://bria-n-scale.freeservers.com/images/concor_impack_03.jpg
Yeah, I probablly spent way too much time & money on this car. (Could have bought 2 AC models spine car kits for the$$$) Anyway it is done and I don't have to mess with it anymore. Brian
