Vincent Massi posted:ALCO-C628 posted:I just picked up my first Lionel cars to convert to 2-Rail! A D&H Centerflow Hopper and a C&NW PS-2CD. So far I haven't strayed far from Atlas, Intermountain and Weaver for converting over to 2-Rail if needed. So, needless to say I'm excited and a little nervous, but I've heard nothing but raving reviews on these cars. I'm looking forward to getting some Lionel PS-1 Boxcars to convert someday soon!
Alco, this is an interesting, informative post. But help out a beginner, if you would.
Why are you converting perfectly good three-rail O gauge cars to two-rail?
Scale body, but not scale couplers ("big lobster claws") or prototypical mounting of couplers (most 3r is "Talgo" type, on the truck vs body) ;wheels have a different profile with rounded or fast angled treads and transition to flange differs; and hugely oversided flanges ("pizza cutters") are the norm on 3r for better performance on tubular track lacking the edges of T head rails.
Scale wheels end up thinner too. Look close at your HO wheels and you can likely note similar differences. Some use more toyish set ups than others to improve performance on less than perfect trackwork.
2r folks of all scales tend to attack their issues resulting from more prototypical scale with better track, better gauging, and more prototypical weighting (heavier)
