ExactRail will have an all-new N scale announcement next week

[jpwisc]

Maybe they will finally release the N scale metal wheels with realistic rear profile they promised back in 2012.

[peteski]

Maybe they will finally release the N scale metal wheels with realistic rear profile they promised back in 2012.

Didn't BLMA produce such wheels?

[jpwisc]

Didn't BLMA produce such wheels?

Yes, on the 100 ton trucks. I don’t think they ever released them in bulk packs. ExactRail did release some wide wheelsets fairly recent, but nothing I’d use on my rolling stock.

Here’s the 2012 video of what I’m hoping they release someday.

[ljudice]

The stirrups on a stock FVM PS 5344 are high enough from the roadbed for an N scale figure to use them as chin-up bars.

I know. And I'm perfectly willing to do the work to lower them, but after filing down the bolsters. replacing wheels and trucks, etc. they still sit too high.

[cjm413]

I know. And I'm perfectly willing to do the work to lower them, but after filing down the bolsters. replacing wheels and trucks, etc. they still sit too high.

One problem is that the bolsters were designed for MTL trucks with offset kingpin holes...vs the centered kingpin holes on BLMA trucks...

Filing down the bolsters to use MTL trucks with offset kingpin holes and frame mounted couplers does lower the car a bit while providing the correct coupler height, but as you point out, it still isn't enough.

I don't have one in front of me, but the body should have tabs on the inside that limit the distance that the underframe could be pushed up into the body. I suspect the solution is probably a matter of modifying these tabs, modifying/replacing the underframe, or some combination of both.

[squirrelhunter]

Thread drift alert- I've had some luck with putting Athearn/MDC bodies of MT frames, specifically with 50 FMC rib side cars. I've got a 5344, I could try to do the swap this week and see if it helps.

[nkalanaga]

CJM413:  Modifying the body tabs is exactly what I did on FVM's Soo Line boxcars.  The floor was about the right height for mounting couplers, and changing that would be a big pain.  So, I carved out the stops in the body, glued in new styrene strips, and it sits at the right height.  The underframe details now sit too far into the car, but they're not easily seen anyway, as long as the car is on the track.

[unittrain]

I know. And I'm perfectly willing to do the work to lower them, but after filing down the bolsters. replacing wheels and trucks, etc. they still sit too high.

MTL will have their low slung trucks soon I think, Shipsure said in another thread that the test shots looked good. So these may help a ton with the FVM boxcars, I have a lot of the Soo Lines to lower.

[wcfn100]

Exactrail just teased the new car in their latest email.  There's a part if the image that could be coal.   

Jason

[lock4244]

Here's hoping for the Berwick 7327cuft or PS 7315cuft waffle boxcars.

[EspeeGoldenState]

Exactrail just teased the new car in their latest email.  There's a part if the image that could be coal.   

Jason

I would put money on a Johnstown America AutoFlood II Coal Hopper, which honestly I would be happy for. Definitely pulling for a UCEX train with 2014 and 2015. (Even if both are outside my era of modeling)

Chris

[Mark5]

Here's hoping for the Berwick 7327cuft or PS 7315cuft waffle boxcars.

+1

[asarge]

Exactrail just teased the new car in their latest email.  There's a part if the image that could be coal.   

Jason

Yep, unless they are faking us out that's coal at the bottom. Deflated here.

[unittrain]

Here's hoping for the Berwick 7327cuft or PS 7315cuft waffle boxcars.

Definitely wanting to see these, being a 70s era modeler there is a serious need for properly portioned 60' Hy cubes!

[Gozer the Gozerian]

P 47 Thunderbolt in S scale