Micro-Trains Depressed-Center Flat Car Improvements

[BCR 570]

Good Morning:

Some time ago I acquired a Micro-Trains heavyweight center-depressed flat car in CN colours which will be useful for he occasional dimensional load up to Chetwynd or Fort St. John.  The hydro-electric industry in the area occasionally received generators or transformers by rail.

I want to be able to convert the car to body mount couplers and am wondering if anyone else has done this, and if so, which couplers they used. 

I recall in the past reading about efforts to improve the car in terms of ride height and would appreciate any comments on how this was done.  It also appears to me that the trucks are somewhat inset as they are too close to the center portion of the car and not centred underneath the end platforms as I think they should be (or do I have that wrong)?

I recall a magazine article on this topic which I am currently searching for.

Finally, I am looking for a nice transformer or generator model to place on the car as the one it came with is largely devoid of detail and looks too large to fit through a tunnel portal, which would be a requirement for coming north on the Chetwynd Subdivision.  I remember an old European car (smaller d/c flat) with a decent transformer model on it (Arnold or Roco)?


Any help appreciated,

Tim

[bbussey]

Tim, I wrote an article on exactly that for N Scale Railroading, issue #026, Nov/Dec 2004.  It has a step-by-step process of what I did to lower the model, push the trucks outward, and body-mount the couplers.

[wcfn100]

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=34236.msg396035#msg396035

Jason

[BCR 570]

Tim, I wrote an article on exactly that for N Scale Railroading, issue #026, Nov/Dec 2004.  It has a step-by-step process of what I did to lower the model, push the trucks outward, and body-mount the couplers.

Thanks Bryan; the article is from a much earlier date than I recall but I was able to locate he issue and read up on what you did.  i should have mentioned that I do not want to get into repainting the car which precludes to many changes to the body.  Looking at the photo of the CN car I sent MT, the general arrangement of he model is actually not too far off; it has the correct trucks and they are indeed inset past the side sill steps, and vertical brake wheels.

I will begin by installing FVM 28" wheels and MT #2004 couplers and see where that gets me in terms of better ride height and what sort of coupler height it gets me.  I could also remove the bolster hub underneath the car but need to make sure that the inset trucks don't hit the depressed portion of the deck.

I actually have some FVM 28" wheels left over from another project, but no #2004s so off to the LHS . . . . .

Thank you for your help,

Tim

[bbussey]

Tim, I think you’ll find that the trucks will still need relocation. You can make the same bolster and body-mount mods that I did while retaining the stock MTL body deco and end decks. I needed new end decks because the MTL model deck arrangement doesn’t match either of the NYC (PC) or NH prototypes I based my models on.

One other note — back in 2004, I used NWSL 28” wheelsets as they were the only option. I converted both models to FVM 28” wheels when they were introduced, which roll better and track better.

Also, I’m working on a transformer load. I created a 3D model based on the Walthers HO model, but I haven’t been happy with the way Shapeways has rendered it. I might change it into a flat kit as I did with the subway portals and try again. Once I can get a viable print, I’ll let you know. Ironically, The stacked radiators 3D print without incident.

[bbussey]

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=34236.msg396035#msg396035

You have an excellent memory, to recall that such a discussion occurred years ago to prompt you to search and find.

[BCR 570]

im, I think you’ll find that the trucks will still need relocation. You can make the same bolster and body-mount mods that I did while retaining the stock MTL body deco and end decks. I needed new end decks because the MTL model deck arrangement doesn’t match either of the NYC (PC) or NH prototypes I based my models on.

One other note — back in 2004, I used NWSL 28” wheelsets as they were the only option. I converted both models to FVM 28” wheels when they were introduced, which roll better and track better.

Also, I’m working on a transformer load. I created a 3D model based on the Walthers HO model, but I haven’t been happy with the way Shapeways has rendered it. I might change it into a flat kit as I did with the subway portals and try again. Once I can get a viable print, I’ll let you know. Ironically, The stacked radiators 3D print without incident.

Bryan:

Back home with #2004s; disassembled the car, drilled out the holes for body mounting, mounted the #2004s, drilled new truck mounting holes half inch in, re-wheeled the trucks with FVM 28" wheels.  So the flat portion of the truck is now going to rest up against the underside of the frame?  Now to file away the bolster hubs . . . 


Tim

[BCR 570]

P.S. A better transformer load would be nice.


Tim

[bbussey]

Bryan:

Back home with #2004s; disassembled the car, drilled out the holes for body mounting, mounted the #2004s, drilled new truck mounting holes half inch in, re-wheeled the trucks with FVM 28" wheels.  So the flat portion of the truck is now going to rest up against the underside of the frame?  Now to file away the bolster hubs . . . 

Yes, because unlike the other MTL trucks, the six-wheel Commonwealth and Buckeye truck frames have that extra hump in the bolster.  If you're worried, add wheels to one of the truck frames and place it upside-down on a tabletop.  You'll see the flanges won't touch and the wheels will spin freely.

[bbussey]

P.S. A better transformer load would be nice.

Definitely.  Of course, it doesn't stop there.  To go the whole nine yards, you need the radiators stacked and framed, three sets of four; wood crates that theoretically contain various extra smaller components, drum barrels, probably some other stuff I'm forgetting at the moment, and an extra 50'-53' flatcar to carry the components that won't fit on the end decks of the depressed center flat. I have a Model Railroader photo of a pair of Soo Line flats loaded with a transformer and its components, and the associated diagrams.  I'll look for it and email it to you, so you'll know what you're up against.    At some point, I'll pair my PC depressed center with InterMountain's PC 53' AAR Flat and load them accordingly.

[BCR 570]

OK got the bolster hubs filed away, MT bolster pins drilled and tapped for 00-90 screws, trucks mounted in new holes.  Couplers come out a little high, not much.

Car does not roll well.  Upon examination, it is rocking around on a tiny amount of bolster pin protruding up through the truck, so it is not sitting on those flat surfaces on top of the trucks.  I am also wondering if the centre axle in each truck is rubbing on the screw heads.  I used a flat head 00-90 screw which is very low profile but the FVM wheels have thick axles.  Need to countersink the bolster pins but don't know how to go about doing that; can barely hold onto the damn things.  Addressing the length of the bolster pin trough the truck is a bigger issue.  So close, and yet so far . . .

Tim

[BCR 570]

P.S.  With car sitting on trucks without bolster pins, coupler height is good, so little extra bit of bolster pin length is causing two issues.

Tim

[Mark5]

Hmm, the bolster pin issue makes we want to consider a screw here - is that feasible?

Mark

[bbussey]

P.S.  With car sitting on trucks without bolster pins, coupler height is good, so little extra bit of bolster pin length is causing two issues.

That's definitely annoying.  You don't need the bolster bushing to be flush against the bottom of the body, so one option is to cut some of it away with an X-Acto.  Second option is to reverse the screw until inside the bushing, use pliers to hold the screwt and file the end of the bushing until it sits flat against the top of the truck bolster or slightly below it.

Hmm, the bolster pin issue makes we want to consider a screw here - is that feasible?

He is already.  He drilled a hole through the bushing and treaded for the insertion of a #00-90 screw.

[BCR 570]

I already have a screw going through the bolster pin, you are likely thinking bigger screw without the pin.  The problem is keeping hte screw head low enough so as not to foul the centre axle.  I dealt with this before on a work coach I built so I will have to go back and see how I did that; it rides on six wheel trucks.

Tim