Keystone Details introduces 3 standard bolster heights for 3D Freight trucks

[Lemosteam]

Hello All,

The earlier freight truck discussion convinced me to offer all of my printed freight trucks in three bolster heights to allow folks to lower their cars:

High Medium and Low:
A/M-T or High is based on a standard A/M-T Bettendorf truck
K-D Medium, is based on a height based between A/M-T and BLMA
BLMA Low, is based on a BLMA 70 Ton truck

See dimensions below for Bolster height from top of rail:



The first truck using this concept, the ASF A3 50 ton truck, (PRR class 2D-F26) will be offered soon and may also expand to Passenger trucks where swing room permits. Existing freight truck designs will offer this concept and my latest axle rolling pocket design for improved performance without print modification and fit the M/T Bolster pin. YMMV.

All of my trucks are designed atop real truck images to define the sideframe.

If you reach out via keystonedetails@gmail.com, I will entertain custom bolster heights on current offerings for a small design fee, and entertain designs for existing unobtainium trucks for an additional design fee.

[nickelplate759]

Cool!  Gonna have to get some of the Medium bolsters to experiment (I know what I want to do with the rest).

[thomasjmdavis]

The first truck using this concept, the ASF A3 50 ton truck,

Hmmm... it looks like I am no longer going to have an excuse to run "Bettendorf" trucks on most of my freight cars...

Which bolster height will give the best fit to get IMRC boxcars to the correct height?

Oh, and thanks for providing the ASF A3 spec, in addition to the PRR designation.  Saves us time cross-referencing.

Hopefully my upcoming appointments with my car mechanic and my doctor leave me with enough capital for some more Bluford hoppers and a bunch of A3's.

[Lemosteam]

@thomasjmdavis ,

If you know the cars height off the rail, and you measure on the model from that point or surface down to the model bolster surface you might be able to choose which truck height would get your model the closest to the prototype roof height.

Keep in mind this will have an effect on ed.  body mounted coupler height as well.

[nickelplate759]

I tried the Medium height ASF A3 on an old Kadee B&M PS1, body-mounted 1015 couplers, and it came out nicely.



It'll never be a perfect PS1 but it's good enough for me, and I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for Atlas to do this scheme with their PS1.