Have a "what-I-did" about putting Tahoe Model Works 5' Wheelbase archbars on the Bachmann HO Oldtime boxcars:

http://www.chainsawjunction.com/1879/car...ar_trucks/



Thank you if you visit
Harold

Thanks for sharing Harold the tip! Alywas good to see you making old time model railroading possible.

My only problem with the old time boxcars (Mantua, Bachmann, etc.) is that they are so crude it takes much more time to improve them than outright scratchbuild them since they have very basic designs. If you take in account the need to remove and replace the grabirons, fix up the doors, replace the trucks and install new couplers if you want them to look decent, it's extremely time consuming for very little reward. Sure if the body is kept intact, that's another thing thought.

On the other hand, kitbashing the old 4-4-0 and other vintage locomotives makes more sense to me! I still have to remotor one of these old AHM/Rivarossi Genoa.

Best regards,

Matt

The only thing I would do for cosmetics is add a Tichy brake wheel , add some NBW's on the buffer block, new truss rods and replace the lower door slide with spikes.

It is all a matter of Level Of Detail and what is "good enough". Operating on the layout most is added by the eye.

Harold

hminky Wrote:The only thing I would do for cosmetics is add a Tichy brake wheel , add some NBW's on the buffer block, new truss rods and replace the lower door slide with spikes.

It is all a matter of Level Of Detail and what is "good enough". Operating on the layout most is added by the eye.

Harold

I totally agree with you. I once modified a Mantua boxcar in a similar fashion and the result was extremely rewarding.

Matt