Model Forum / General / Railroads / December 2003

I have one Amtrak Superliner and the trucks keep falling off. Either the
kingpin is too short, or too small. I haven't tried to figure it out yet.

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Quite variable, both from model to model and over time.  To make it more
confusing, Con-Cor has sold, under their brand, cars made by Kato, Rowa and
Rivarossi, in addition to what they make themselves.   For Con-car cars made
the past 20 years or so I'd definitely plan on replacing the trucks.

Here are my opinions:

The original smooth-side cars were marvels for their day (they were made by
what is now Kato).  Some later runs (no longer made by Kato) are just as
good, other have very poor trucks.  Paint is similarly variable in quality.
Note that the Diner and Sleeper (never made by Kato) are mirror images of GN
cars.

The Superliners are not as good as Kato's.  Put the side-by-side (they're
the same prototype), and you'll see.

The MHC cars are a different prototype than Kato's, but have the wrong
trucks.

The Viewliners also have the wrong trucks, and they are numbered
incorrectly, but other than that are pretty spiffy.

The bi-level commuter cars are decent, albiet a little too tall.

The new Budd passenger cars (not the old RDC, which was awful), are pretty
nice, but the trucks are still a problem (plus they're backwards!) , and the
new couplers are awful.  Unfortunately, they  glued the truck mounting
screws in, which makes changing the trucks a challenge.  I found that if I
dissemble the car and put 90% isopropyl alchohol in the truck mounting nuts,
after an hour or so I can work the screw loose.

George