I had to go to the hobby shop after work today for some .06" rod for my GP9 Torpedo Tube mod, and next door, the Hallmark store was busy as can be. I remembered the new releases today, so I decided to take a look. There was a PA, Heavyweight Sleeper, and Heavyweight Observation car on display, and after taking a closer look, I think the Heavyweights look ok! mg: So I snapped up 4 sleepers and an observation car for a small train. I pried off the Freedom Train logo from one of the sleepers, and thye look OK. I need to work out a truck solution, but for $12.50 a car, they are well worth it. The lady said that people are saying they are sold out at many stores already, and are expected that they will be gone this weekend, so if you are interested in them, you really can't go wrong at this price. They really do look Z Scale to my eyes, and are about a scale 60 feet long.
Scalers run to the Hallmark stores This year's Hallmark ornaments need to be seen to be believed. In addition to the Freedom Train collection, look for the Miniature B6 PRR steamer. Excellent paint on a diecast body. The only bad part may be the loop & pin "coupler" system. Trucks are too shallow to operate on any track. If you go to the Hallmark website, they can take you to some online retailers that would be happy to sell older models if they are still in stock. Some items in the catalog won't appear till October. You may need to ask the clerk if they can help you get/find the items you need. Also nifty is a "Train in the Window" ornament. It may give some N/Z scalers some ideas for how to display the trains. I'm not sure what scale any of these ornaments are.
I got my set today, I don't have the mesurments, but the freedom train set, PA and two Pullmans + 0-6-0 B6 look to be in the ballpark, at least as close as last years turbine. I'll try to get a shot up yet tonite, if not then in the morning.
here's a couple, I included the turbine for a reference. album link http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f123/river_eagle/hallmark/
River eagle, Could you please measure those coaches for me? They should be about 80' long or 4-1/2" in Z scale. They look to be about 3-3/4" long, but I can splice 2 cars to get one. Can you also measure their width. These look really nice!
These cars measure 4.15" long x .6" wide and .85" above the rails, That scales out to 76'L x 11'W x 15.5'H Not perfect by a long shot, but bash fodder at $12.50 a shot... If you can still find them! I was able to remove the Freedom Train logo and that left some ugly holes that need to be filled with putty. No problem, as I got to fill the hook ring hole in the top anyways. What I have been working on is the trucks. I think I have them just about figured out. They take a bit of work, but the first one rolls real sweet, and looks good still. I had to discard the original wheels and use .015" plastic inserts to hold the MTL wheels in place. Those will be trade fodder, since they are laser cut. If I get far enough I will post pics.
Hallmark Heavyweight Ornament Truck Mod Here is the truck mod so far: #80 holes are drilled through the truck sideframes as a pilot hole for axle alignment: The interior of the tucks are Dremeled out to look like this. Also the wheel flange slots need to be narrowed so the backside of the wheels don't rub. Use a .050" twist drill in your fingertips to twist axle point cups about .020" deep, using the #80 pilot holes as your guide. Superglue the .05" Acrylic sideframe inserts in place then insert the MTL wheels, and test for free rolling, and if resistance is found, file away whatever rubs the wheels. Place on a piece of track and verify free rolling before moving on to the next truck. Hallmark Heavyweight Truck free rolling test video
Thoose trucks look wery detailed. Good job on the truck mod. I have found one internet site that sells the PA but they are 10$ over regular price, plus that they only have 3 left. I have a friend i vancouver that might buy one for me
Awesome Project!! Your modification of the Heavyweight Trucks is superb!!! How do they run? Can any sense of friction be seen once the mods are completed? Question: Being that you have to add the thin acrylic to accommodate the MTL wheels, does this mean the actual width of the trucks are slightly wider than they actually would be in Z scale? Just curious!!!! What if a resin casting of the side frames was added to a etched/bent brass frame to make a truck? Is this feasible? Great work Robert!!! :thumbs_up: Hobo Tim
Robert, Those measurements sound good. Being a tad bit short will help them look better on curves. I think I will leave them as they are as far as length. Are the bodies cast from metal? Since there is only 2 cars we need to take the sleeper and make new sides for it so we have a baggage and coach, etc...
Do Marklin metal wheels happen to fit in the stock trucks? Just curious, didn't passenger cars have bigger wheels. I'm trying for a 7 car set with a 4-6-2 to pull them. Erie had a bunch of heavy Pacific's with the feed water tank mounted up high. Here is one at the Youngstown, OH terminal in 1948: http://picasaweb.google.com/ErieChris333/ProtoPhotos/photo#5087516819082831010 I'm not really a passenger train guy, but this has got me all excited ! :w20z6q:
You have to cut the bottoms off the trucks, then unscrew them. Next unscrew the body from the underframe, screws are hidden under the trucks. There are 2 super slugs of metal inside, the top one falls out, and two 1/4" pieces of tube hold the bottom slug captive. Cut the slug to a length that fits between the crew posts, and that is enough. Everything is plastic. Drastic Plastic!
Here is a video of my first car running: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzBQVvKsRfM"]YouTube - Hallmark Heavyweight Car[/ame]
Wery nice Robert! Already repainted to NP I see that all gp9 are standing in line to be prepeared fot the paint stripper do i guess that all of them will be repaintet to SP? Hahahah just kidding! Man i have to get a PA1 BTW: The car derailed in the end of the movie
Photos of the Real Freedom Train http://www.northeast.railfan.net/1947freedom.html Found this site with some photo & description of the real Freedom Train. It appears Hallmark did an excellent job on these models, with a few nits. Joe MTL may be busy finding a way to get the PA to fit under the new SD40 units? It may be one way to swap both trucks & couplers & have a powered unit?? A true FT would need a baggage car, 3 coaches with the windows plated over, 3 sleepers & 1 Observation.
