Bargain? Add It Up

Fotheringill Mar 31, 2006

  1. Fotheringill

    Fotheringill TrainBoard Member

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    As ever, I left a few steps out in my thought processes.

    This is by no means a bad reflection on the seller.

    MBKlein- sale on wood reefer by MDC $5.19 each Reg Price $10.50 or so. I ordered 6 pieces. Delivery was swift- 3 days, no damage all sealed and pristine.
    Now the bargain-

    Rapido couplers were on the cars. Now the cost of 12 Z couplers. Q- cut down the truck coupler attached to the Rapido or replace 12 with new wheel sets and trucks. Now, add the cost of labor since the Z coupler had to be shimmed to be at proper height. The shims and Z had to be carefully CA'ed to the bottom of the frame since the frame itself is metal and I don't want to start drilling through 12 times.

    BTW- It did not appear that 1015's permitted enough clearance for either the existing or new wheel sets. A relatively simple operation on a bargain turned into a small project.

    Next time, I will wait for a sale on MT cars.
     
  2. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    You aren't alone. In my distant past, I learned this same lesson.

    :rolleyes:

    Boxcab E50
     
  3. Powersteamguy1790

    Powersteamguy1790 Permanently dispatched

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    Mark:

    I always change out the couplers on MDC cars to Z scale couplers which I bodymount.


    Stay cool and run steam..... [​IMG] :cool: :cool:
     
  4. verse2damax

    verse2damax TrainBoard Supporter

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    Hi gents may I see a photo of what this looks like after the conversion.

    verse
     
  5. FiveFlat

    FiveFlat TrainBoard Member

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    I just go the easy route and replace the entire trucks...
     
  6. Pete Nolan

    Pete Nolan TrainBoard Supporter

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    Oh yeah . . .

    Like FiveFlat, I replace the trucks with MTs.

    Then I replace the MT wheels with Lo-Pros.

    This could certainly drive me madder than I already am.
     
  7. J Long

    J Long E-Mail Bounces

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    Are MT cars easy to convert to Z couplers?

    [ April 01, 2006, 09:26 PM: Message edited by: J Long ]
     
  8. Powersteamguy1790

    Powersteamguy1790 Permanently dispatched

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    You can body mount MT Z scale couplers to MT cars or any manufacturer's car.

    Stay cool and run steam....
    [​IMG] :cool: :cool:
     
  9. Chris333

    Chris333 TrainBoard Supporter

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    Here is a MDC boxcar with Z scale couplers:
    [​IMG]

    Used the same car for a April Fools prank over at Atlas by mounting a link-n-pin coupler:
    [​IMG]
    ;)
     
  10. brokemoto

    brokemoto TrainBoard Member

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    I usually just put the MT truck/coupler onto the cars.

    For the MDC freight cars, the MT archbar trucks with the short extension work acceptably. For the passenger cars and cabooses, you must body mount. I use 1023s.

    The Z scale couplers do look better, though.

    But to the point, adding MTs to your equipment will quickly make the bargain turn into a pricey animal. So you can keep the bargain, use Rapidos and be less happy, or you can make the adjustments.

    Still, the manufacturers have been getting away from the Rapidos for some time. Not all of them have fallen into line, but more and more are. There is still a large amount of older stuff out there that is finding its way to, or has been in cutout bins, so many of the bargains will still have Rapidos, but in a few more years, most of the stuff in the cutout bins will have knuckle-type couplers.

    I have noticed that much of the MDC stuff has been appearing in the cutout bins, which has proved to me a real boon at shows and while I am cybershopping, as I have found an interest in nineteenth century railroading.

    It is a good thing that the equipment is so reasonable, because those PECO ELECTROFROG switches will eat you alive, even for a small pike.
     
  11. FiveFlat

    FiveFlat TrainBoard Member

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    Chris,
    What makes that link-n-pin coupler an Apr. Fools joke? I've never seen that type of coupler before, just curious.

    Also, that picture looks great. It look like a real piece of 1/4" steel stock!
     
  12. Flash Blackman

    Flash Blackman TrainBoard Member

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    I'm not a big link and pin coupler advocate, but that is a heck of a good model of that item. (And a great picture, too.) Nice work! [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  13. Chris333

    Chris333 TrainBoard Supporter

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  14. chris mears

    chris mears TrainBoard Member

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    Great looking couplers (hope I too have not been a victim of the prank )

    What can you tell me about the couplers?

    Chris
     
  15. Chris333

    Chris333 TrainBoard Supporter

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    Oh they are just dummied up to look real. Some square brass tube and .010" brass wire for the link. The pin is a broken #80 drill bit, got plenty of those!

    It's all glued together so won't work. You could make them work if you like, but would be a pain to couple and un-couple.
     
  16. Powersteamguy1790

    Powersteamguy1790 Permanently dispatched

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    Chris:

    That MDC car with the MDC Z scale couplers looks great.

    Stay cool and run steam..... [​IMG] :cool: :cool:
     
  17. rschaffter

    rschaffter TrainBoard Member

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    I bodymounted the coupler boxes that I clipped off MTL trucks on a bunch of MDC meat reefers a couple of years ago-I don't remember having any problems. I kept the original trucks and didn't need to shim or file. They go around a 9 3/4" curve.
     
  18. chris mears

    chris mears TrainBoard Member

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    Good morning Chris. I've got a little carried away with this idea. First of all, I know this stuff is going to be small, but since seeing that picture I have been thinking how neat it would be to have these on some old rolling stock (I too have been thinking about 1800-1900's modelling alot lately).

    I'm working on some myself just to test some theories. Pictures to come soon....

    Chris
     

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