Walthers O Scale Nystrom High Speed Trucks - Questions

Here are pictures of what I found in the box. 

are they needle point ended or flat?

What do the side frames (inside) look like?

I'm a big fan of installing roller bearings whenever possible.

I also like the MTH plastic bearing inserts for how easy they roll.

Obviously, I have no experience with these exact trucks. I have been modifying trucks to get better rolling when needed. I have bought some very nice ones from Protocraft.

 maybe their wheelsets would help?

Joe-

Thank you for the help. I am going to investigate the information and links you gave me.

"are they needle point ended or flat? YES Needle Point tips.

What do the side frames (inside) look like? Just cast to match the needle point axle tips

I'm a big fan of installing roller bearings whenever possible. How do you modify these to add bearings?

I also like the MTH plastic bearing inserts for how easy they roll."

This car was just about complete in the box. The previous owner did a excellent job thus far. The diaphrams where mashed up a bit, but I believe I can fix those...

This wheel set maybe my only saving grace... I will have to measure the wheel axles. Has anyone used these wheel sets for Walther's trucks?

J Daddy posted:

I'm a big fan of installing roller bearings whenever possible. How do you modify these to add bearings?"

 

You can get brass inserts to install in the sideframes from Q-car or Scale City Designs; just needs a little drilling out of the sideframe and then tap these inserts in with a little adhesive.

Interesting that the wheelsets are needle end though; almost all of the Walthers trucks I have use blunt end wheelsets

I believe you'd have to have thick enough side frames to allow for the bearings. You'd have to drill out the holes for them, the same way you'd drill for the bushings.

 In the case of needle point, I'd consider trying to install the delrin BUSHINGS like MTH uses. All this is just a guess as I haven't had my hands on these trucks.

Messing with them might ruin them. Maybe try making sure the holes are clean, polished, and lubed with something like graphite. See how that works before deciding to go deeper.

 When  I've run into bad rolling trucks, I haven't had much luck making them roll better. Maybe others here can help more. I'd be tempted to replace them.

Thanks Joe-

Yes the wall stock on these are thin, but maybe I could modify the bushings and superglue them with limited drilling.

I don't think anyone else makes these trucks for separate sale with today's modern Delrin wheel sets?

I meant to say the delrin bushings. I always run metal wheels.

J Daddy posted:

Thank you for the reply- these right?

Yup!  The former Keil-line trucks referred to are the old Walthers line....

"Interesting that the wheelsets are needle end though; almost all of the Walthers trucks I have use blunt end wheelsets"

Yes, these seemed to be different wheel sets, however I am not sure of their origin.

Wonder if someone swapped them out.........

J Daddy:  what a great find you made there!  I had only the Skytop Lounge car of that set, some years ago, but I was never able to finish it and finally replaced it with a K-Line, 21" set of Milwaukee Road cars into which I added correct interiors.  (The K-Line car body was that of a Skytop Parlor car but Maury Kline insisted on installing the Pullman interior.  that came out on my train.)  I'd love to see the completed trains when you get them done.

Those Nystrom trucks were considered to be the best riding trucks on any passenger train.  I hope that you can work out a way to use them for 3-rail wheels.

Paul Fischer

Thank you Paul. I am rest assured with the help of crew here I can achieve that. Thanks everyone.

And I will post more pictures as I go.

Step one is lay everything out and see what I am missing...

The observation dome is missing the most pieces... it will prove to be a challenge!

I will confirm all the wheel sets are the same, the ones that were "free" in the box,  had needle point axles. It will be confirmed with I take apart the assembled trucks for painting.

I found the instructions for all the cars hidden in the bottom of the box with yellowed newspaper dated 1982... doesn't that seem like yesterday?

I did some further digging and found that Keil Line products made by the late John Keil now has trucks available with the bushings pre-drilled in them. So the good news is I can purchase the above bushings,  drill them in with ? size drill bit and super glue them in, and if I really have an uh-oh... I can buy them already done.

The real questions is then what wheel sets are these made for, and will a 3 rail set work with these trucks? I sent Scale City Designs an email...

These are lovely kits and upgrades with psc detailing they are brass quality. State of the art back in 1977. 

That is good news. Thanks for the help... may have these on the Main quicker than I thought!

I use NWSL wheels in my Walthers trucks, Make sure you order the 36" dia wheels.

Mike Slater posted:

I use NWSL wheels in my Walthers trucks, Make sure you order the 36" dia wheels.

Thanks Mike can you confirm the Part Number is shown above at 8752-4 shouldered, or is the Part Number 8887-4 pointed?

double check everything before you order!

I got some wheel sets that the axles were wrong for my application once. Check the axle lengths too.

If you are buying the bushings, you need to get the axles to match. Either pointed or shouldered axle that match.

Thanks Joe - that's what I figured. Well lets see what the Scale City Design recommends... good news is I feel in good hands on this one.

Well I found a critical error in the previous build. At first I thought that the Nystrom trucks were incorrect for the Post office car. I could not attach the Bogies to the car because of the car's steps...

So I ended the night thinking these had different trucks...  but looking for some info... found that the steps were mounted on the outside of the body with an arch shape to clear truck side frames....

mwb posted:

J Daddy posted:

Thank you for the reply- these right?

Yup!  The former Keil-line trucks referred to are the old Walthers line....

"Interesting that the wheelsets are needle end though; almost all of the Walthers trucks I have use blunt end wheelsets"

Yes, these seemed to be different wheel sets, however I am not sure of their origin.

Wonder if someone swapped them out.........

I think so. Can anyone identify these wheel sets?

J Daddy posted:

Well I found a critical error in the previous build........ found that the steps were mounted on the outside of the body with an arch shape to clear truck side frames....

Not sure how you can correct that w/o some pain involved - how are the steps currently mounted - to the floor or to the sides?  Next, you have a pre-painted side to mount steps (replacements?) on to which tends to be a bit dicey on messing up the paint and/or not getting a very good bond to the paint surface. 

mwb posted:

J Daddy posted:

Well I found a critical error in the previous build........ found that the steps were mounted on the outside of the body with an arch shape to clear truck side frames....

Not sure how you can correct that w/o some pain involved - how are the steps currently mounted - to the floor or to the sides?  Next, you have a pre-painted side to mount steps (replacements?) on to which tends to be a bit dicey on messing up the paint and/or not getting a very good bond to the paint surface. 

The current steps are mounted into the side edge of the floor then the pre-painted sides are glued over it... yes it will be painful.

I am going to try to leave it  attached and bend them in an arched form to clear the bogie side frames. If they break off then I am going to have to cut them off flush at the base of the floor, then drill and attach them properly to the outside of the car...

your right though ... its going to get ugly... where is that mini vice...