Using those old “blue Box” kits to complete your roster ROLLING STOCK TUNE UP Using those old “blue Box” kits to complete your roster

DO YOU HAVE SHELVES LIKE THIS ONE? USING OLD CARS DO YOU HAVE SHELVES LIKE THIS ONE?

OR BOXES LIKE THIS?

A 50 YEAR OLD AHM BOX CAR Note large flanged plastic wheels Truck mounted couplers; old horn hook type Cast on grab irons, ladders, etc. Bought it used for about a buck Color and graphics are pretty nice So, Let’s get started!

TWO MORE OLDIES BUT GOODIES A Varney and an old Athearn “Blue Box” kit

SO, WHAT’S THE SECRET? There is no secret The key to a good running car is Couplers Wheels Weight All you need to know about these three important ingredients to a good running car will be found in the standards and recommended practices of the National Model Railroad Association

NMRA.ORG NMRA STANDARD S2 The coupler standard HO Scale; the coupler height measured from the top of the rail to the knuckle center should be 0.391 inches or 9.93 millimeters. The standard sets coupler heights for all scales. KADEE makes a coupler height gauge which is available in most hobby shops. Proper coupler height and operation is critical.

GOOD TOOLS ARE A MUST A good assortment of quality tools such as good screwdrivers, needle nose pliers, wire cutters and plastic nippers make life much easier

SOME SPECIALITY TOOLS

GIZMOS

DON’T FORGET THE GLUE!

COUPLERS ARE CRITICAL I only use KADEE couplers; good old #5s or the newer metal “whisker” type No car goes on my layout without quality metal wheels which have been checked on a standard gauge. Good metal wheels are also critical

PREPARING THE CAR Older Athearn coupler boxes have a little tab which was used in early horn hook couplers to hold a little spring. Remove this tab so that the KADEE brass spring plate will lie flat in the box.

INSTALL THE COUPLERS Follow the manufacturer’s direction Athearn cars have the metal clip to hold the coupler in place. A LINE has a new kit out which will convert the Athearn draft gear so that the plate can be screwed on. The ACCURAIL car on the left has a cover with a pin that fits into the draft gear.

Check proper height

WHEELS After you have checked your wheels for proper gauge and being perpendicular to the axle you might wish to prepare the journal box with the truck tuner. If you are going to weather the sideframes or wheels do so before this step

CAR WEIGHT The NMRA Recommended Practice for car weight is RP-20.1. Properly weighted cars will run much better and derail less frequently The weight for HO Scale is one ounce plus one half ounce for each actual inch of body length The recommended weight has been found to be ideal. Making the car super heavy will not add to performance.

WHAT TO USE

WHAT ABOUT OPEN TOP AND FLAT CARS?

WEIGH WITH ALL PARTS

GOT WOBBLES?

THREE POINT SUSPENSION

LIST PRICE $3.98

ENJOY YOUR FLEET OF OLDIES Dan Mulhearn; PIPESTEM WV Modeling N&W and NS eras 1968 and 2000