Hi "The S.",
Do you happen to have the axle width of the Micro-Trains trucks you prefer handy? I can ask our engineering team if it's feasible to adjust our wheelsets to meet this standard so that our models come with the optimal wheelsets out of the box.
Tyler
Bachmann R&D
Hey Tyler,
Missaberoad beat me to it, Micro-Trains is "standard" and its .540" the .553" is another for Atlas IIRC. I noted you stated wheelset change, but to make sure we're talking the same language it's the truck that needs to change first and then the wheelset axle width.
May also consider making the bolster completely flat and change the truck pin to include the bolster "post", this would probably give the best functionality and flexibility to truck availability on the market. This would minimize retooling trucks and wheelsets (ie. business cost) and allow the modeler freedom to choose their preferred truck/wheelset combination with minimal effort.
Another consideration would be to provide a flat coupler mounting point on the chassis vice integrated (molded in) coupler boxes on the underframes. Without modification of the car, a modeler has to remove the coupler box walls, post and in some cases create a flat plane to mount a coupler of their choosing. The alternative would be instead of a flat lid, a pocketed lid with walls and posts that mounts to the car with screw. Effectively this allows standardization across models, instead of designing a coupler pocket for each model.
Out of the newer N scale cars being produced the Bethlehem hopper, single dome tank car and Northeastern caboose are big winners. Hopefully Bachmann will do the NE caboose in the Red-White-Black Western Maryland scheme in the near future, crosses-fingers. I mean you guys already did it in HO!
Humbly Submitted,
The S.
