MT conversions

[untabubba]

I'm looking for some practical experience to help me begin my quest to convert many of my favorite cars from Rapido to MTs. I'm thinking it might be easier and better to just "swap out" the whole truck, rather than engage in hand-to-hand combat with those darn little springs! To that end I went looking and found there are quite a few types of trucks. How do I know which to use? Is there a prototypical protocol, or is it a matter of "taste"? Will they all fit? Also, I went, numbers in hand, to a very good LHS. I didn't tell the guy I had the numbers. I wanted to see what he would give me. Sure enough, he gave me a different number! I divulged the number I got from the MT website. He said they'd both work. I took the ones HE suggested and it was a breeze! No alterations required at all. So, what's up with THAT?? I'd appreciate any suggestions, stories or help anyone can give. Marc

[montanabud0]

Those local accents can sure get you into a lot of grief! I had a friend who was vacationing in the Gulf Shores area of Alabama who decided to take a day of off-shore fishing by hiring a local who had a fair sized cruiser, equipped for deep sea fishing. When he asked the "skipper" what items he (the renter) would have to bring along, he was informed that he had only to bring the booze, as the skipper would provide all the "ASS" that he needed! My friend was a bit concerned until he realized that the skipper meant "ICE"!

[ginzokid]

Marc, It is Duck Tape. We have it here. Bud, Up here the locals drop their "h's" where they is and adds 'em where they ain't. Sort of like the Cockney English. Hice is ice and ow hare you is how are you. The situation can get quite airey at times. You get the idea. Sort of like putting on those MT conversions. They can be airy to do... :D B-)

[untabubba]

Pete, I realize there is a brand name "Duck Tape", but that's just a play off the illiterate masses who call it that! Philly accent doesn't really distort things so you can't understand them; it's just a guttural sorta thing. Kind of like a watered down Brooklyn accent. See any Rocky movie for a crash course on "Full-uh-dul-fee-uh" ese. Sly has it down perfectly. Marc

[montanabud0]

I know what you mean by the "h's" - I had several "Newies" under my command in the Army. One lad had an expression that used to drive my Staff Sargeant nutty - When the SSgt asked the Newfie Corporal where Private So and So was, he received the reply: "Gee, I don't know, when I turned around, there he was, Gone!" Kidding aside, the Newfies were some of the BEST soldiers that I ever had to pleasure to command - really eager, well disciplined and always ready to help out no matter what was needed. Bud.

[ginzokid]

Laird Geesus Marphy, I jus' fell off 'da flake ladder! The Missus up the road and Buddy across 'da street. Not a problem, b'ay! B-)

[g-pa1]

Bud, they were just glad to get off the 'Rock'

[dl85vette]

Never say you "have a 'hat' on" in Boston. Anyone that heard the Mass. accent will get it. :P dave I got me stamps b'ay, let's go drinkin. What are you at?

[ginzokid]

Stay where you're to Dave and I'll come where you're at. Don't get no freakin' stamps b'ay. Never worked up here. What did you say was hard? I served at Ft. Devens, Mass. Why is Labrador "down" from here? It is really geographically up from here. And why is Maine, the northern most state "down east"? And how come the good people of Newfoundland go "...'round the bay" when it is actually west of St. John's? And what does all this have to do with this particular thread. Boy, did we go off on a tangent here! Ain't it fun? :p B-)

[beastranger]

Hey, I'm from Boston and allways have a "hat on". Punk

[untabubba]

Trains....remember trains? To shim or not to shim....that is the question. I guess one is supposed to install the 1015/1016s and see how they mate with the existing MT car couplers? I had the shim the LL SD7s on top, but the LL GP20s and FA1/FB1s seem fine without shims. Is that about how it gets done? BTW: N Scale Supply seems to have fallen off the face of the Earth! They said they are waiting on a "big order" from MTL....maybe they fell off the face of the Earth! (Been so long I forgot what I ordered!!) Marc

[ginzokid]

The shim question is usualy answered in the written instructions that come with the conversion kits. Or you can use the MT coupler height gauge and adjust with shims up or down or not at all. That's how it gets done Marc. You are learning. There are no hard and fast rules. BTW, do you have your hat on? B-)

[untabubba]

I knew a fellow that worked for a food manufacturer in the Boston area. His division produced the famous B&M Boston Baked Beans. His particular assignment was to count the beans in each jar. There had to be exactly two hundred and thirty nine. Know why that is???? One more bean would make it too-fahty! :O

[ginzokid]

Marc, You have to get some new material. That one is as old as Methuselah's mother. Gramps

[untabubba]

It's all about moving air!! :O ]:) :p Mr. Breeze :D

[hba7485]

WOW! You guys have had alot to talk about haven't you? The MT couplers that came with the RS3 I have no idea of part numbers as it was loose in the box.The one mounted by glue to the rear truck operates fine with the cars I shift with it. It came with the front MT unglued and riding in the box. For all intents & purposes it looks simple enough to glue. I realize too much glue is BAD Bad bad. I'm wondering which pro-duck to use. I'd hate to have it fall off as it's coming round the mountain when it comes. I've submitted a smaller pix to my temp albumn. I know it's a one time deal too, once glued it becomes permanant. I've been busy as of late, gearing up for summer school Monday. BB