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naveenrajan posted:

I had to use Micro-Mark Kadee spacers to lower the couplers on these cars that I had converted to 2-rail as the couplers seemed a bit higher, when tested with the Kadee Height Gauge.

Also, using the spacer, also reduces the length of the screws (securing the Kadee coupler-box to the body of the car) that intrudes into the floor of the car but doesn’t completely prevent it. The screws that were shipped loose, with these cars, were slightly longer than 3/8” & that wouldn’t have solved this issue either.

Naveen, I've run into the "finding-the-right screw-length issue" several times in the past when working with Kadee coupler boxes and shims.

In cases where the screw is just slightly too long (and the next shorter-length screw is too short!), I've added a tiny washer (or two) under the screw head--between it and the coupler box.  

This serves to shorten the screw just enough to prevent it from protruding through the floor...or end platform on cabooses and engines.

I purchase the tiny washers from Micro Fasteners and keep a supply of various sizes (i.e. 2-56, 4-40, etc.) on hand at all times.

Last edited by CNJ #1601

   Just looking I know rhe position of that coupler tack would cause issues on some grade's transitions.

 On shorteng small machine screws: take a close look a some common plier type wire strippers. On many, you'll see threaded holes. These are for cutting screws to length and work surprisingly well. Often better than the wire sripper portion.

  I usually trim them two threads long and file or grind the cut's pinch on the tip properly, especially on fine threads, but not always. The cuts just vary a lot in how much the pinch changes the tips threads.  The screw's go into the threaded half of the pliers first. These threads keep the screws threads straight.Backing the screw out after the cut also ensures they are ok too. But the lead thread is often jagged and needs filing to start well.

It simplifies supplies too. When I buy hadware under 1/4" dia. I just buy one big box of the long ones for each number & thread, most in pan head, and some common V head sizes,, then clip and trim them as needed. If you search a bit, you can find metric pairss A sloppier cut is still possible in an oversized hole but likely needing fileing/grinding to get it to start into nut threads again.

The Lionel car is based on the Greenbriar Ind 66' mill gondola as built for CSX, the 66' designation is based on the interior length in 1/4 " that should be 16 1/2". The O gauge MFGs today pick a single prototype to build there models on and in most if not all cases they have a very limited number of paint schemes that are accurate for that prototype as a result a number of other paint schemes have to be offered to make the model a viable seller. In HOs much larger market we see a big growth in highly accurate prototype specific models. Today there are a small number of RR car MFGs who build these very cars all with their own engineering dept styles even Greenbriar  may make a noticeable design change in later builds.

Since the new mill gondola is 65' or 66' long then the 1968 scheme for the ILLINOIS CENTRAL's IC 97350-97499 65' gondolas built by Bethlehem Steel can be applied to these O scale models. If you can find builder's photos from 1968, then you can reproduce accurate graphics. 

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The CN/IC is still using these gondolas. Many have been repainted in the CN/IC scheme in Illinois. 

Andrew

 

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Last edited by falconservice

Nice cars, but I won't be buying any until Lionel goes back to installing their industry leading die-cast sprung trucks and couplers with the hidden uncoupling tabs on their freight and passenger cars. No cars for me with the cheap, ugly and less functional thumb-tack trucks and couplers. So disappointing to see a great company like Lionel take a significant step backwards regarding quality of the product. 

Last edited by irish rifle
irish rifle posted:

Nice cars, but I won't be buying any until Lionel goes back to installing their industry leading die-cast sprung trucks and couplers with the hidden uncoupling tabs on their freight and passenger cars. No cars for me with the cheap, ugly and less functional thumb-tack trucks and couplers. So disappointing to see a great company like Lionel take a significant step backwards regarding quality of the product. 

My thoughts exactly. Not buying anything with the new trucks. Definitely not an improvement.

BRIAN WHITE posted:
irish rifle posted:

Nice cars, but I won't be buying any until Lionel goes back to installing their industry leading die-cast sprung trucks and couplers with the hidden uncoupling tabs on their freight and passenger cars. No cars for me with the cheap, ugly and less functional thumb-tack trucks and couplers. So disappointing to see a great company like Lionel take a significant step backwards regarding quality of the product. 

My thoughts exactly. Not buying anything with the new trucks. Definitely not an improvement.

Yep I agree too.

It’s been so long, but I recall I was told earlier by David Olsen on the LionScale Modern Boxcar thread that the LionScale and these gondolas can be switched out with the hidden uncoupling trucks.

I just don’t know what part I need to buy unless it’s as simple as those trucks in the back of the catalog.

Dave, Lionel should consider changing the trucks back. The new truck has been the deciding factor in my decision not to purchase new freight rolling stock. Lots of other people have done the same. I left three gons with my dealer because of them and cancelled the rest of the freight cars I had on order. Lionel can and has done better than those trucks.

Dave Olson posted:
clem k posted:

Will the Weaver trucks work on these ?    I have a bunch of them. 

Matt Makens posted:

Don’t they come with Weaver trucks?

No. The bolsters for the Lionel Scale cars are different than for the LionScale cars. They also have different ride heights.

Thanks Dave: but now I'm confused,  What is LionScale and Lionel Scale ??

Clem

Matt Makens posted:

Dave, Lionel should consider changing the trucks back. The new truck has been the deciding factor in my decision not to purchase new freight rolling stock. Lots of other people have done the same. I left three gons with my dealer because of them and cancelled the rest of the freight cars I had on order. Lionel can and has done better than those trucks.

Matt - my feelings exactly and I know many others feel the same way. We are essentially shut out of the new products and will have to buy old new stock until Lionel reverses direction.

Dave Olson - Please come through for us and get Lionel back on the right track concerning this issue. Taking such an action will be a huge win for Lionel, your dealers and your customers!

Matt Makens posted:

Dave, Lionel should consider changing the trucks back. The new truck has been the deciding factor in my decision not to purchase new freight rolling stock. Lots of other people have done the same. I left three gons with my dealer because of them and cancelled the rest of the freight cars I had on order. Lionel can and has done better than those trucks.

Absolutely correct!!!   No question about it!!!!!

clem k posted:
Dave Olson posted:
clem k posted:

Will the Weaver trucks work on these ?    I have a bunch of them. 

Matt Makens posted:

Don’t they come with Weaver trucks?

No. The bolsters for the Lionel Scale cars are different than for the LionScale cars. They also have different ride heights.

Thanks Dave: but now I'm confused,  What is LionScale and Lionel Scale ??

Clem

Currently:

Lionel "Scale" cars are as described. Scale models produced for and sold by Lionel.

"LionScale" cars are currently cars manufactured with the old Weaver tooling Lionel purchased.

Matt Makens posted:

Then when they find the photos, they shoudl put the old trucks back on

Matt:

Are you referring to Lionel's prior longstanding industry-leading die-cast sprung trucks and couplers with hidden uncoupling tabs? Aren't they the ones Lionel abandoned recently, which disenfranchised most of their customer base and led many customers to stop purchasing their scale freight and passenger cars? Thanks.

Pat  

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