Dale,
I think some of the NKP kits use the styrene trucks from Bethlehem. Those
bearings are made of soft styrene and with the crudely machined steel axles (
like Athearn's older wheels ) have too much drag to start (and after time wear
down) and are no better than the old Nickel Plate KMT trucks with the blunt
axels. The other disadvantage to those styrene assembly trucks is it is hard to
get the side frames in square with the bolster plate,so I don't recommend them.
The Walthers trucks are generally good rollers out of the package but I'm not
sure how correct they are.
If you use Branchline trucks with Intermountain wheelsets make sure the
sideframes are not too tight. Don't push the sideframed on to the spreaders'
bosses too tightly. Assemble the trucks without glue, get them to roll and then
use the glue. Some of the earlier coach and Pullman trucks needed about .020 of
slop for the wheels to spin freely. The Brake beams can be replaced by a
correctly trimmed strip of Evergreen Styrene. I test the wheelsets by giving
them a flick with my finger and if they continue to rotate without wobbling for
about 20 seconds thay are tight enough. Check to make sure all 6 wheels are in
contact with a flat true surface. You don't want the trucks to act like a
teeter-totter.
If you have trouble staying on the track check the accuracy of your truck pivot
centers and see how tight the trucks are to the bolster. You have to develop a
feel for the truck swivel. You have to adjust, watch and adjust some more.
Sometimes a move of a 1/8th of a turn on the bolster screw is all you need.
With the Branchline cars you'll probably end up cutting the ends of the brake
rods short so they don't interfere with the truck. Also look at the floor of
the car, is it level and square? That is a 12" long flat piece of styrene that
can develop a slight bow in the center and throw the trucks out of square to
the track. Keep that clevis end in your parts box for detailing your better
freight cars or use them for scrap on the floor of an empty gon. Try placing
the car on a piece of glass to use as a surface plate and check if all the
wheels are making contact.
Another problem I've run into is the steam lines and draft gear. Sometimes the
heavy weights are so detailed that the parts interfere with the coupler swing
and contribute to poor tracking. The Kadee "airhose" coupler trip pin can also
be an unseen contributor to derailment, I cut mine off. On the Midwest
Mod-U-Trak layout I don't have to contend with grades so my operating
conditions are gentler than yours.
Another truck to stay away from are the soft metal ones from Bethlehem. They
are the old Cape Line brand and although they look great, the journals wear
down and drag like sleds on concrete. I heard originally they were cast in
typesetters lead. I had 2 pair on a couple of Westerfield RI Fowler cars that I
just threw the trucks away. I even kept them lubed but they still wore out and
squeeked around the layout.
The Branchline trucks are styrene but the bearing inserts are engineering
plastic (delrin) so they roll quite well. I have a General Pershing Zephyr set
that I am replacing the awful original trucks with the Athearn streamliner
trucks. They are not correct but they will roll. The new wheel sets they are
putting in them might not need to be replaced but if needed I'll get the
Intermountains.
Sincerely,
Rob Manley
"Better modeling through personal embarrasment"
----- Original Message -----
From: Dale Reeves
To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, April 09, 2007 1:18 PM
Subject: Re: [CBQ] Branchline Heavyweight Single Window Coach
I built several of the NKP cars. Unfortunately, I'm not a good model
builder (especially lacking in patience) and live too far away to get to the
Q meets to get Tom's help. I struggled through and got the cars together,
but they aren't what they should be. I've had a lot of trouble with the
trucks. Spent many brutal hours getting the cars to stay on the track. In
my ineptness, I had some difficulty with his diagrams and instructions. All
in all, my experience with NKP cars was a great frustration.. I'm still
struggling to get a 5-car train over my 30" curves and 2+% grades. Need
helpers with either Challenger S-4 or OL O-5 (each with weights added).
E-5s handle the train ok, but I certainly like to run the weavyweight
equipment with steam. I'm willing to spend some more time on this. As a
boy, I road the Exposition Flyer from Hastings NE to California. Consider
it one of the great experiences of my life. I really want to have a small
version of the Flyer on my RR.
I would appreciate any advice available. I need to know more about what
trucks to use. I have tried to use the the furnished kits, but I've mostly
given up on those and tried others, which haven't helped much. Dale
Reeves---- Original Message -----
From: "Rob Manley" <robev1630@sbcglobal.net>
To: <CBQ@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, April 09, 2007 1:37 PM
Subject: Re: [CBQ] Branchline Heavyweight Single Window Coach
> Dear nyCBQ fan,
> I too looked at the Branchline alternative but after seeing the car kits
> from NKP Car Sides I decided I can't live with a stand in. I am primarily
> a Q modeler and love heavy weight equipment so there isn't an option for a
> low cost alternative and besides my Sunset S4 Hudson deserves it. Tom
> Schneld is the owner of NKP and makes it to most of the Q annual meets, Q
> spring meets and the RPM show in Naperville. Last year he was at the Joint
> ATSF / CB&Q / CRIP / NYC meet in Streator. I know he is local to the
> Chicagoland area so I don't know where else he attends.
>
> The 6161 - 6170 Mainline coach PB-21 &
> the Heavyweight Suburban coach PA-14 are each $60.00 and are composed of
> Brass etched sides, plastic core kits (?) and some resin parts depending
> on how the car was engineered. If you are a little daunted by the
> materials , don't be. His instructions are quite thourough and at the
> shows will spend the time to talk you through the assembly. Tom has quite
> a few of the assembled kits on display to prove they can be done. Actually
> they are about the same diffulculty level as the BLs, you just need to use
> some different adhesives.
> I believe Dave Lotz has some of the Q kits available through "Q
> Connection" as well as the paint and decals. Occasionally Model Railroader
> and RMJ have articles on building these type of kits and what techniques
> and adhesives you'll need. MR's latest was in N-Scale but basically the
> same as what you'd do in HO.
> Please see the NKP website @ nkpcarco.com for more info and e mail him
> with any questions. NKP also has a number of Q friendly RR kits like NYC
> sleepers.
>
> See if you can get the ball bearing wheelsets from Intermountain to fit
> into your Gallery car trucks and give those Life-Like Es a break.
> If you decide to keep the Branchlines try the Intermountain wheels in
> thier trucks as well They are more concentric and free rolling than the
> OEMs I've run into.
>
> Oh yeah the usual disclaimer about no known affilliation to Tom and NKP or
> Dave Lotz , we have never met prior to the show...
>
> Sincerely,
> Rob Manley
> "Model Railroading isn't fun, It's hard work."
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: nycbqfan
> To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Saturday, April 07, 2007 12:54 PM
> Subject: [CBQ] Branchline Heavyweight Single Window Coach
>
>
> Just received a pair of Branchline's new ready-to-run coaches in CB&Q
> (6100 series numbering). OK, I know they aren't perfect matches to the
> Q coaches (window count being one of the most obvious differences), but
> since the brass ones may never materialize and the cost difference is
> major, these Branchline cars fall firmly in the category of "close
> enough." Beautifully detailed, with interiors. And ready to run. Note -
> I have no affiliation with Branchline - just offering my own opinion.
>
> It would be great if Branchline would do these in the commuter colors.
> Probably not likely, but I can dream. And boy, would they be a lighter
> pull than my brass gallery cars - woo, hoo, do those put my Life-Like
> E's through a work out.
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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