General Information:

Parts Update

Many modelers have contacted Red Caboose about buying parts for special modeling needs. Red Caboose will no longer be selling packaged parts BUT if you need a Red Caboose roof, grab iron, frame or another part in N, HO or O scale please e-mail or write for a quote plus shipping. The part will be sold in bulk and carry a better price than the original packaged price. Minimum order is $5.00 plus shipping.

Always include scale, qty. and description of part(s) needed

N Parts

There is not an N listing of cars as there is for HO & O. Undecorated parts are available in bulk for most N scale body style cars Red Caboose has produced in the past. Undecorated parts are available in various colors and in many cases if you ordered a complete set of parts there may be a mixture of undec. plastic colors. If you need parts, please e-mail your needs with qty. and complete description for quote. All parts will be sold in bulk with a minimum order of $5.00 plus shipping.

Plastic boxes and plastic inserts are not available.

A complete set of parts for an N car includes all parts and weights but does not include trucks, couplers, coupler pins, box or insert.

News & Notes

• All Red Caboose undec kits are only available directly from Red Caboose. InterMountain is not carrying the undec kits. Please e-mail stacktalk2@aol.com for any information regarding undecorated kits.
• For Red Caboose HO & N RTR in stock and coming models please click here to go to the InterMountain web site. InterMountain is now handling all RTR in stock and coming models.
• Red Caboose is now handling sales of all undecorated HO & O kits and undecorated parts. Please click on the kit listings for more information. Some kits are in limited supply and will only be re run as demand warrants.

RED CABOOSE/INTERMOUTAIN "PARTNERSHIP"

Red Caboose and InterMountain Railway Company have entered into a "partnership" arrangement under which InterMountain will be responsible for the manufacturing and distribution of all Red Caboose product beginning May 1, 2009. InterMountain will provide information to its dealer network for Advance Reservations on all new releases, and production quantities will be determined by the interest shown through the reservations. The reservation period will be approximately seven weeks and production will follow within four to five months.

InterMountain will also have access to all of the existing Red Caboose inventory and will make that product available through its dealer network as well. All Red Caboose finished product will be shown on the InterMountain website. Undecorated kits and miscellaneous parts will continue to be available directly from Red Caboose.

Both Red Caboose and InterMountain are pleased to announce this new relationship and to continue providing this fine line of railroad models to the model railroad hobby.

www.intermountain-railway.com www.red-caboose.com

R-70-15 57' Mechanical Reefer Undecorated kits now being shipped. These are in very limited supply.

• RR-34515 Undecorated as-built with roof walk.
• RR-34516 Undecorated as-modified with roof walk removed.

HO R-70-15 Mechanical Reefer truck assembly and clean up.

When kits were sent out I asked friends to take a few minutes and examine and assemble the trucks. Below is the first response received from one individual's findings and how he went about correcting the trucks for operation.

The first thing I noticed was that the wheelsets were the correct 33 inch diameter, but they had a lot of "debris" on them, apparently brass filings. Any of that debris in the bearing surface would cause very poor rolling. So, they got a quick trip through my ultra-sonic cleaner.

Next, I measured the bearing journal part of the axles to be 0.0350" to 0.0355". Then, I measured the axle hole in the side-frames to be about 0.036". So, any small amount of mould flash would cause an interference fit and very poor rolling. I reamed out the side-frame bearing surface with a 0.037" drill to remove any mould flash and slightly enlarge the hole.

While it looks possible to simply push the axles up in the slots in the side-frames and into the bearing holes, this will push flash and plastic into the bearing hole and again cause an interference fit between the axle journal and the side-frame bearing hole. By spreading the side-frame ends one-end-at-a-time to let the axles easily drop into place, the wheelsets can be installed without pushing additional plastic into the bearing hole.

The last thing I noticed was that the sides of the trucks are not parallel. The axial end-play of the wheelsets is about 0.004" for one axle and about 0.012" for the other, on each truck. Again, any small amount of mould flash will cause trouble at the axle with only 0.004" of end-play. Shaving away a little plastic with a sharp Exacto blade at the narrow end (and then reaming again with the 0.037" drill) helps.

Auto Racks - SOLD OUT

M.B. Klein in Maryland (www.modeltrainstuff.com) just purchased all remaining N scale auto racks. Please check with them for your auto rack needs (posted 04/30/09)

email: stacktalk2@aol.com - website: www.red-caboose.com

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