Truck and wheel help

[Fred Seider]

Hi all. New to the garden railway game, but I am a model builder. I'd like to get trucks, wheels and coupler sets, for scratch building boxcars, cabooses, passenger cars, etc for my upcoming LGB build out. (Winter project for the rolling stock) Basically, I want to build the rolling stock, and would like to just somehow affix my 'non' rolling stock scratch build and make it rolling stock. Any advice on products - I am getting overwhelmed and have little detail knowledge. Or decent articles would be appreciated. I am not overly particular on prototyping, but targeting 'roughly late 1800's - early 1900's. Not critical at all.
Advice? Thanks in advance!

 

[Paul M]

Welcome to the forum, Fred. Have you scanned the auction sites for old wagon bases? Or even looked into 3D printing?

 

[dunnyrail]

LGB plastic wheels appear to be something that many want to get rid of after converting to metal replacements. The plastic ones can be had cheep and make a good starting point.

 

[JimmyB]

LGB plastic wheels appear to be something that many want to get rid of after converting to metal replacements. The plastic ones can be had cheep and make a good starting point.

I have a few dozen plastic wheels set, anybody want them

 

[Gizzy]

I have a few dozen plastic wheels set, anybody want them

Mizzy put mine on EvilBuy for 50 pence a piece.

They sold like hot cakes....

 

[dunnyrail]

Me too when I was ebaying big time, have a few in a box myself but this guy is Stateside. Sure there must be someone flogging them on ebay US?

 

[Fred Seider]

It seems like I need to get a chassis of some sort, along with trucks and wheels? I can build everything on top, but I'd like to have a start at the wheel level, so to speak. If a chassis is the way to go, any advice would be appreciated. Like - which chassis and trucks/wheel combonation would work together. I am just struggling to find good info around this.

Thanks in advance!
Fred

 

[dunnyrail]

There are quite a few chassis in the LGB range length wise so if you see any on Ebay well worth a punt and would likely come with wheels. But are you going to build a 4 axle bogie vehicle? Similarly LGB bogies and possibly Piko ones could be available on Ebay.

 

[Paul M]

It seems like I need to get a chassis of some sort, along with trucks and wheels? I can build everything on top, but I'd like to have a start at the wheel level, so to speak. If a chassis is the way to go, any advice would be appreciated. Like - which chassis and trucks/wheel combonation would work together. I am just struggling to find good info around this.

Thanks in advance!
Fred

Try looking at cheap flat wagon kits

 

[tac foley]

Unless you find a few Bachmann kits, there are no RTR US-style 'chassis' available. I build all my own, based loosely on this generic base. given your time period interest, this might be a good thing to emulate. Garden Railways magazine produced a whole range of different cars for builders - scratch or kit [using NWSL kits].





These trucks are the expensive Accucraft archbar style of you period.

Bachmann make them for around $10 - 15 - Accucraft's are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more.

Write me if you need to see a sample plan.

 

[Fred Seider]

Unless you find a few Bachmann kits, there are no RTR US-style 'chassis' available. I build all my own, based loosely on this generic base. given your time period interest, this might be a good thing to emulate. Garden Railways magazine produced a whole range of different cars for builders - scratch or kit [using NWSL kits].

View attachment 318928
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These trucks are the expensive Accucraft archbar style of you period.

Bachmann make them for around $10 - 15 - Accucraft's are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more.

Write me if you need to see a sample plan.

Tac - awesome! Yes, would love to take you up on your offer for for a sample plan. Thank you!

 

[Fred2179G]

Try looking at cheap flat wagon kits

Hartland made 4-wheel car kits very cheaply and they do come up on eBay and elsewhere. but not many 4-wheel US-style freight cars.

I agree with Tac that there is a dearth of basic chassis. You can buy junk cars and toss the bodywork, but making the basic frame as Tac did is a good start. Most flat, box and other freights were all built on the same frames.

I strongly recommend finding a copy of "Slim Gauge Cars" by Harold Carstens. It is full of plans of narrow-gauge cars and coaches. Out of print, but you can find used (pre-owned) copies.
Slim gauge cars - Harold H. Carstens: 9780911868722 - AbeBooks
Slim gauge cars: Harold H. Carstens: 9780911868722: Amazon.com: Books

 

[Fred Seider]

Hartland made 4-wheel car kits very cheaply and they do come up on eBay and elsewhere. but not many 4-wheel US-style freight cars.

I agree with Tac that there is a dearth of basic chassis. You can buy junk cars and toss the bodywork, but making the basic frame as Tac did is a good start. Most flat, box and other freights were all built on the same frames.

I strongly recommend finding a copy of "Slim Gauge Cars" by Harold Carstens. It is full of plans of narrow-gauge cars and coaches. Out of print, but you can find used (pre-owned) copies.
Slim gauge cars - Harold H. Carstens: 9780911868722 - AbeBooks
Slim gauge cars: Harold H. Carstens: 9780911868722: Amazon.com: Books

Thank you! Just ordered a used copy. Appreciate the advice (One Fred to another )

 

[tac foley]

Fred - see your email.

 

[Fred Seider]

Tac, unfortunately, nothing came thru. (I checked all of the usual suspects, spam, etc)

 

[Fred2179G]

nothing came thru.

Nothing for me either.

Tac + Fred - I think GSC only flags a message in the 'Alerts' [top right bell symbol] unlike MLS (Mylargescale.com) which sends an email. LSC (Largescalecentral.com) also only tells you when you are on the site.

 

[tac foley]

How many Freds am I talking to here? Fred Seider - I'm sending this again using your email. Fred2179G - I sent nothing to you. Was I supposed to?

Quote - 'I'm assuming that you have actually built stuff before - using wood sections, styrene section and sheets - Evergreen/Plastruct and so on. And that you have ready asccess to such wood - I use a local model airplane store that cuts its own wood and does anything I ask for. [Shameless plug for Inwood Hobbies of Huntingdon].

2. When I get home I'll email you some scans - but please use my other email address as noted on the response.

Thanks

tac