About a year ago I obtained a 50ft Tyco/Mantua car similar to this. I was actually after the load and didn’t really care about the car, but I set it aside and forgot about it. Recently I gave it a second look. It has decent detail for a flat car and a nice amount of weight. I disassembled the car and did a rebuild very much like you described. I did mount the couplers with screws, but pretty much used the same method you used. One inexpensive additional thing I did was this. I got about 1000 coffee stirrers off of Amazon and used a chopper to cut them down to the width of the flat car. Stained them with a little India ink and then used double sided tape to glue the pieces onto the car. The last thing was to install the brake wheel. I drilled a small hole in any acceptable brake wheel and used a simple wire staple to attach it to the car. I’m sure some “rivet counter” would pick it apart but hey, for a few dollars you have a decent looking and running car. Nice video.
I have converted all of my old Tyco freight cars to Kadee couplers. I body mounted them as well. Also - overset and underset couplers WILL come in handy, as not all Tyco freight cars have correct ride heights. I basically start with a standard #5, and change to either an underset or overset if the coupler height isn't quite correct.
@@shaunwilliams4231Yes it is, especially when it comes to backing up the trains. Talgo-type trucks are notorious for derailing when backing up a train.
Great tutorial. Thanks! Kadee also makes "overset" and "underset" couplers so you don't have to shim the box if they don't line up from one car to another.
Instead of gluing them I would have drilled and tapped for a 2/56 screw and then if needed painted the screw hole later. Why a screw stronger hold and less likely to pull off and break.
Everyone worries about coupler heights, but has anyone notice on real railroads difference between loaded an unloaded car .some couplers actually bigger.
Nice video, but part numbers for the equipment would be nice. I know they are Kadee #5 for the couplers, but what about the metal wheels? Also, Tyco is spelled wrong in title.
Being that I have worked on these cars in the past I found I would have to trim the the sides off the Katy coupler pocket and file down the locking pins on the under frame of the car so the trucks would not hit when running on curves.... 50 ft Tyco flack cars aren't a little bit of a different story... You would need a very thin piece of plastic to extend between the truck mounting and extending to the outer edge of the car it also helps if it's slightly wider than the kitty couple pocket but very thin.,... I know I have done this on several flat cars and not all were successful....
About a year ago I obtained a 50ft Tyco/Mantua car similar to this. I was actually after the load and didn’t really care about the car, but I set it aside and forgot about it. Recently I gave it a second look. It has decent detail for a flat car and a nice amount of weight. I disassembled the car and did a rebuild very much like you described. I did mount the couplers with screws, but pretty much used the same method you used. One inexpensive additional thing I did was this. I got about 1000 coffee stirrers off of Amazon and used a chopper to cut them down to the width of the flat car. Stained them with a little India ink and then used double sided tape to glue the pieces onto the car. The last thing was to install the brake wheel. I drilled a small hole in any acceptable brake wheel and used a simple wire staple to attach it to the car. I’m sure some “rivet counter” would pick it apart but hey, for a few dollars you have a decent looking and running car. Nice video.
Great video lots of information thanks
Is it better to body mount them as opposed to using the original location?
That’s what I was wondering. Seems like they just slip right in where the old Tyco was, but haven’t tested that on a track yet.
What kind of glue do you use
I have converted all of my old Tyco freight cars to Kadee couplers. I body mounted them as well. Also - overset and underset couplers WILL come in handy, as not all Tyco freight cars have correct ride heights. I basically start with a standard #5, and change to either an underset or overset if the coupler height isn't quite correct.
Is it better to body mount them as opposed to using the original location?
@@shaunwilliams4231Yes it is, especially when it comes to backing up the trains. Talgo-type trucks are notorious for derailing when backing up a train.
Great tutorial. Thanks!
Kadee also makes "overset" and "underset" couplers so you don't have to shim the box if they don't line up from one car to another.
Pro tip: watch movies on flixzone. I've been using them for watching a lot of movies recently.
@Dakari Maxton Definitely, I have been watching on flixzone} for since november myself =)
what type brand name metal wheels you use? I use Proto 2000 and, those wheels don't turn in a tyco trucks
Glue abd screw the coupler boxes to car
So, you glued the Tractors to the plataform too?
Instead of gluing them I would have drilled and tapped for a 2/56 screw and then if needed painted the screw hole later. Why a screw stronger hold and less likely to pull off and break.
Everyone worries about coupler heights, but has anyone notice on real railroads difference between loaded an unloaded car .some couplers actually bigger.
I’m subscriber 200!!!
Thank you
Very helpful, thank you!
You glue you kadee couplers to the bottom of the chassis no screws
Metal wheels is 33 in or 36 in?
33
@@FostoriaOhiomodelrailroadclub thank you so much 👍🏻
@@McLOVIN..... You're welcome!
good idea to improve the trucks
Thank you
Easy and looks good.
Thank you
What size are those metal wheels?
Wheels are 33
Nice video, but part numbers for the equipment would be nice. I know they are Kadee #5 for the couplers, but what about the metal wheels? Also, Tyco is spelled wrong in title.
Being that I have worked on these cars in the past I found I would have to trim the the sides off the Katy coupler pocket and file down the locking pins on the under frame of the car so the trucks would not hit when running on curves.... 50 ft Tyco flack cars aren't a little bit of a different story... You would need a very thin piece of plastic to extend between the truck mounting and extending to the outer edge of the car it also helps if it's slightly wider than the kitty couple pocket but very thin.,... I know I have done this on several flat cars and not all were successful....
Could use the kadee taglo adaptor so yout have to cut the tyco coupler box off
Very cool👍
Thank you