Fun with Foobies...defending the not quite right

[Lemosteam]

Is this a foob? You be the judge.

@Dave V , here is an MT paired window coach in PRR livery class P70fR sporting a KD Arch roof, and newly minted PRR 2DP5 Friction Bearing trucks with FVM 36” wheel sets.

[Dave V]

John,

That looks fantastic...

Dug out my Liljestrand & Sweetland book on PRR coaches and yes, P70fRs got arch roofs as early as the late 30s, so this looks great!

[towl1996]

I put my new favorite combo in there, a Digitrax DZ-126 and TCS KA-N keep alive. 

This is excellent! I would like to do the same to a couple of Trix  0-6-0's, can you share where the KA bk/wh and blue wires attach to on the dz126? Thanks

[nickelplate759]

At the risk of provoking the ire of some Pennsy folks, I'm going to broaden the topic to another road.

NKP acquired some 100-ton plug-and-sliding-door boxcars in 1964.   Microtrains offered their 50' PS1 in this scheme, even thought it wasn't entirely accurate.

Here's the prototype, built by General American in 1964.


Here's the first Microtrains release.  Note the standard 50T trucks, corner grab-irons instead of short ladders, lack of black ends, and also some missing lettering in the upper left corner.  Also, of course, the roof, and ends are Pullman, and the sliding door is too small, but it does give the general appearance of the car.


Here's the second Microtrains release.  New number, different shade of brown, same lettering, but now has more appropriate 100T RB trucks with extended draft gear to mimic the cusion underframe.  This release also has the later underframe with plastic details.


Here's the second Microtrains release, but with body-mounted 1016 couplers and BLMA 100T RB trucks.   Close enough for me!

[Lemosteam]

And here is another “P70fR”. It’s a Bachmann pared winndow coach, with a newly minted, snap on arch roof replacement for the OEM roof, and swap-in 2DP5 trucks with OEM electrical pickups in them.

[Dave V]

So the Bachmann roof does come off? Sweet!

I was examining my Bachmann coach next to a BLI P70, and there aren't a lot of major differences. The only one I really noticed was that on the Bachmann car, the rivets extend into the letterboard.

Given that Bachmann's HO scale heavyweight is a P70, I'm kinda surprised they took liberties with the N scale version. Even if BLI hadn't come along with a correct P70, the Bachmann cars are pretty close.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Here is one I just finished.  I picked up an Atlas 0-4-0 at Altoona last year (in that estate firesale) for $20.  It ran and had been converted to MT couplers. 

I swapped out to a new Bachmann slope back tender to get all wheel pick up with the tender.  While a bit large, this tender is nice because the frame is metal so it doesn't need additional weight.  I put my new favorite combo in there, a Digitrax DZ-126 and TCS KA-N keep alive.  In the course of tearing apart and cleaning the locomotive, I was able to polish the drivers and the rim pickups.  Since I went to that trouble, I went ahead and wired back to the tender for all wheel pickup.  This arrangement is sort of interesting since the front driver has a traction tire (which I "renewed" by scraping it with a sharp blade) so if the flange is in contact with the track, there might be a hint of contact.  With some tweaks to the CV's it runs amazingly smooth and has no problems with unpowered frogs.  Because of the metal shell, it pulls like a horse, way out pulling my Bachmann 0-6-0. 

The most fun was the headlight.  I cut off the original and drilled a hole through the boiler to come out right beside the front screw.  The headlight was salvaged from a BLI M-1 shell that arrived in that infamous parts package.  A pre-wired LED was installed and the wires ran down the hole and along the boiler under the running boards and back to the tender. 

B&O 96 was originally a tank engine, one of the famous "Little Joe" Pratt street locomotives.  It was later given a tender, the saddle tank removed. It was scrapped in the 1940's. 

There are all sorts of various minor things wrong with this, but for me, they are good enough.  This will mostly see service on N-trak layouts where no one can get close enough to see all the problems.  With the large flanges, it won't see service on FreemoN layouts where the height is such that people observe details more closely.

This has the original motor.

Ooh, she's a beauty.

[Lemosteam]

So the Bachmann roof does come off? Sweet!

I was examining my Bachmann coach next to a BLI P70, and there aren't a lot of major differences. The only one I really noticed was that on the Bachmann car, the rivets extend into the letterboard.

Given that Bachmann's HO scale heavyweight is a P70, I'm kinda surprised they took liberties with the N scale version. Even if BLI hadn't come along with a correct P70, the Bachmann cars are pretty close.

Bingo, and yes, very, very close, especially the split window doors.  I think these look even better than the MT cars. They have a very odd "floating" coupler attachment too that seems to allow for some very tight curves.  Test printing the Bachmann 2DP5 trucks soon.  I have four of these.

[Dave V]

Once everything's ready for commercial printing, you'll see a decent-sized order from me... Trucks, roofs, I1sa and steam locomotive parts, and dwarf signals!

[Lemosteam]

My three Bachmann “P70” paired window clerestory roof coaches with KD PRR vents added to the roof, and brand new KD swap in replacement friction and roller bearings 2DP5 trucks.

[Dave V]

Those kinda look better than the BLI ones, and they shouldn't! Nevertheless, I have new love for my Bachmann car and I'll be ordering the trucks. I just never know if I should do the friction bearing or roller bearing versions.

[Lemosteam]

Yep! I hunted those down like a madman some time ago from Doodlebug sets. The first model is a repaint using MT paint with @CodyO 's decals.  Note that it has one friction truck and one roller bearing truck!

3CP1's coming soon and I have been successful printing the Hellgate trucks for the B60b and R50.

[apudelek]

Those kinda look better than the BLI ones, and they shouldn't! Nevertheless, I have new love for my Bachmann car and I'll be ordering the trucks. I just never know if I should do the friction bearing or roller bearing versions.

Dave, *I think* friction bearings were being phased out on PRR varnish by the mid-40s.  Maybe there was still some equipment with friction bearings in use in the 50s, but I'm not certain and I usually stick with roller bearings for 1955.

[Lemosteam]

Dave, *I think* friction bearings were being phased out on PRR varnish by the mid-40s.  Maybe there was still some equipment with friction bearings in use in the 50s, but I'm not certain and I usually stick with roller bearings for 1955.

Methnks you are correct. The book mentioned above shows no friction bearing P70??? after 1951.

[Dave V]

Methnks you are correct. The book mentioned above shows no friction bearing P70??? after 1951.

LOL, guess I should read it rather than just look at the pictures...

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I would probably do friction bearing on the MTL car I have with no stripes being that it represents an earlier scheme. Otherwise, roller bearing. Got it. Soon as those 3CP1s hit the spreadsheet, I'll be hitting you up with an order!