ttzw, i haven't look at this latest offering closely yet (just got two yesterday), but the turbine that came out last year did avail itself to coupler mounting. i trimmed down the hook/loop coupler extension and filed it flat and found the 905 MTL coupler box would fit at the right height onto it. there was still enough plastic on the truck/coupler-extention part to sink a screw to hold the coupler. looking at the wheels (briefly) they seem better made than last year's turbine sets, with better flanges. i'm wondering if they can be regauged and used without exchanging for MTL wheels. rob, i like your wheel exchange method. i tried something similar (without the shim) on last year's turbine tender trucks and it worked pretty well. i really only bought the cars for the trucks anyway, and left the PA sitting until i decide if it really is close enough for Z scale (according to my tastes). dave f.
Hi ttwz, Welcome to Trainboard. I found that you can file the bottom of the truck frame smooth where theit coupler mount is, and glue a piece of .020" or .030" styrene there to mount the couplers to. I took pictures of this a few days ago, but have not had a chance to upload them yet.
I haven't got that far yet, but was thinking I'll add a coupler to the first car and keep the loop and hooks on the others with the hooks modified I bit to get them closer. I'll try one first and see how bad it looks.
So how many out there are buying these to make into runners? I could post a few photos. Ran down to the mall to get one more diner today and there was still about 25-30 or each item left in stock.
I am making runners out of mine. Almost done with 2 of them: Making new carsides for mine as I rebuild them into runners:
Good stuff! I have 2 pretty much ready for paint now. Converting all those trucks over will take some time. A 4-6-2 is in the mail to take em on their first trip.
I just bought some over the weekend to build a Clinchfield excursion train. 3 sleepers and an obs. I might actually have a passenger train to run before I get a single Clinchfield hopper... I have them all pulled apart. What are you guys using to strip the paint? I've got a bottle of Chameleon stripper. Scott
Chameleon should work, I used 90% alcohol for about 1/2 hour and it came right off with a tooth brush.
I got lazy and did not bother stripping these 2 test cases. I sprayed the deluxe coach Pullman Green, then decided I wanted to try the 2 tone, so I just brush painted that on over the other. I just applied a white stripe to separate the colors, and it looks thick because the photo was taken while the dullcote was still wet, as I was on the way to bed.
Robert, those look great!! I just got mine and want to do the same for my GN. Thanks to everyone on the posts about converting these to be able to run 'em!!
I finally got all 7 of mine running: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdcydFpmYCA"]YouTube - Z scale passenger train[/ame]
Chris, Looks great. What do you mean, finally? I don't think I've been able to touch a Z project in over 6 weeks. You're moving at lightning speed. Dan S.
Nice work Chris! Looks like they roll just fine? Do you have all the wheels in or just 2 axles per truck? Haha! Funny song? Some 70's tv show, can't remember. Smothers Brothers, He Haw, or something?
They have all wheels installed and I did have a stock Marklin 2-8-2 pulling them, but my track was dirty. So I just chucked up the F7's that will run through anything. The B unit is a dummy, if I powered it as well I'd be able to pull a real 1:1 freight car with it : )~
