Kitbashing help: Adding electrical pick-ups to MTH boxcar 20-98332

The magic is all in how you search. Granted, first check is see if there is an exploded parts diagram, but because so many things are not yet there and loaded or created, sometimes you just have to go straight to keyword search in the parts.

https://www.mthpartsandsales.com/shop/search

I tried "AutoTrain" and that brings up nothing.

So then I thought try keyword "carrier" and then refine that search with "auto"

The factory truck is this special extended coupler combination

However, note, it DOES have the "fork" provision and in theory could snap in 3r rail pickup roller.

So then now we have another search term to find similar trucks "TRUCK / FREIGHT / 70-TON"

I refined that search with the word "pick" because "pickup" came up with nothing.

I then went through that shorter list and looking at each picture found this'

Another part of your problem and I have run into this, there are 2 types of pickup rollers that snap in.

One has a metal rivet and this can short to the metal frame.

This one has the plastic rivet

Again, the way I found this was keyword search "pickup" and then refined with "plastic"

I'm just thinking, you should be able to just buy the plastic rivet roller assembly and snap that into your existing trucks.

That still leaves the potential problem of axles or outer rail pickup. I do not know if your truck has plastic wheel bearings and likely has no provision for the frame ground outer rail screw. That could be solved a number of ways or mixing and matching the long arm and coupler actuator with a truck frame that already has the pickup and was designed (likely with metal bushings for the wheel axles) and threaded hole provision for outer rail wire connection (AKA frame ground).

Again, you kind of have to ensure both- not just getting the 3rd rail roller right, but also getting the wheels and basically frame outer rail pickup right too.

Notice how the little long diecast ears have a threaded hole in this, that is for outer rail pickup (left and right of the 3rd rail pickup tab).

Again, 2 ways to attack this.

#1 just use the plastic rivet style pickup roller on the factory auto carrier truck. Yes, they just snap in, it's not easy, and might take some minor effort but can be done.

#2 If number one still doesn't work or has issues like plastic bushings and thus no wheel pickups continuity, well you can try to solve that witha  rubbing ground strap to the axles, or another option, play mix and match components and build your own trucks from the ones I found above. Either move the entire coupler system over to the new truck, or again mix and match parts to get the combination you need.

and again, trade parts with your existing trucks as required to get a truck with pickups and ground, and have the long coupler arm.

@Vernon Barry posted:

Again, 2 ways to attack this.

You've done an excellent tutorial for us!

Vernon, Thank you for the through response. I am looking for the center pick up with the plastic rivet. MTH parts

show it out of stock, so feel free to pass on any suggestions where to track it down. I need 4. For the side rail ground I was just going to solder to the metal truck. The center pick up should snap into the u shaped part of the truck that is facing the center of car, correct?   UnclePeteRR

It's not out of stock, the BD0000062 is the one that's out of stock.

@UnclePeteRR posted:

Vernon, Thank you for the through response. I am looking for the center pick up with the plastic rivet. MTH parts

show it out of stock, so feel free to pass on any suggestions where to track it down. I need 4. For the side rail ground I was just going to solder to the metal truck. The center pick up should snap into the u shaped part of the truck that is facing the center of car, correct?   UnclePeteRR

Yes, and I cite the example of the same basic truck with a roller snapped in.