The original Ace parts are diecast - very hard metal, unlike the softer metal I usually thin of when talking about "white metal. The only resin ones I've seen personally are the boxcar flloors. they were a very tough resin, with too much weight added for my taste.
There was the boxcar (reefer/stock car) floor, bolsters for the hopper, gondola/flatcar and probably the tank car. There where three flat topped bolsters for 5'6", 5' and 4'6" truck spacings. The ones I have where all set up for Kadee No.5 coupler boxes, there may have been a later version for the S scale coupler box. I've used a lot of them. The gondola/flat car bolster is the least useful in my opionion, as it leaves the car way too high. If you are clearing detail from the floor, just grind off the original truck mounts and build up some styrene or use the bolsters from Stewart/Ye Olde Huff-n-Puff. I agree with Bill, I'd tend to doubt that there is enough conversion activity now to warrant a new product. Pieter E. Roos --- On Thu, 8/30/12, Bill Lane <[email protected]> wrote: Let’s try & answer a few questions perhaps, someone with an infinite knowledge of the ace bolsters, could clarify a few points, originally the ace bolster was a metal product?Yes the most popular were for easily converting AF to scale use. They were cast white metal. There was 1 or so for wood floor use. then it was switched to a urethane product?, Yes, Russ had some new masters made for A F cars not previously covered. For quite a while Russ was doing his own urethane casting. These bolsters were some of those items. and then finally at the end, it allegedly was switched back to a metal product?99% sure this is not true so who has the molds now, and how do we contact them?If anyone would have the masters/molds it would be Iron Rail Greg. If he does not have them I would guess they are lost. As long as S dealers still have new old stock I don’t see why there would be a need to made new. I also don’t see at least on this list much converting A F to scale now with all of the great plastic cars out. However, is if someone is so motivated these bolsters would be very easy to make in Solidworks. Thank You, Bill Lane Modeling the Mighty Pennsy & PRSL in 1957 in S Scale since 1988 See my finished models at: http://www.lanestrains.com Look at what has been made in PRR in S Scale! See my layout progess at:http://www.lanestrains.com/My_Layout.htm Custom Train Parts Design http://www.lanestrains.com/SolidWorks_Modeling.htm PRR Builders Photos Bought, Sold & Traded (Trading is MUCH preferred) http://www.lanestrains.com/PRRphotos.xls ***Join the PRR T&HS*** The other members are not ALL like me! http://www.prrths.com http://www.lanestrains.com/PRRTHS_Application.pdf Join the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Lines Historical Society It's FREE to join! http://www.prslhs.com Preserving The Memory Of The PRSL
