Gentlemen,

I may be a little late on this but I ordered and received some of the new Kadee trucks and wheelsets a few weeks ago from MB Klein. I do like the new trucks and the appearance is light years ahead of the old sprung versions. I bought some of the new model 70-ton trucks with plain bearings to put under my few Broadway N&W hoppers and they look terrific.

The new trucks, however, are a little tricky to handle. They tend to come apart when the wheelsets are removed. They are cast in two pieces with a side frame and half the bolster in one piece; the two pieces interlock at the bolster. They tend to unhinge at the bolster with the slightest movement and to get them back together requires a significant amount of jiggling (technical term). After doing this a few times I now know what it takes for an upside-down turtle to right itself.

The material used is solid but not that solid. I already broke one truck while clamping it for sandblasting. I sent it back with a few bucks and I got my replacement yesterday from Sam Clarke.

I also ordered a set of the Kadee .088-tread wheelsets because I wanted to check out the ribbed-back feature. It is nice, but I think I prefer the Reboox wheelsets, which are actually a little less expensive at MB Klein ($7-and-change vs. $10 everywhere else). I prefer the small metal axle on the Reboxx wheelsets rather than the plastic Kadee axle--more reliable and tougher. The Kadee narrow-tread wheelsets replace one-for-one in Kadee trucks (sprung and new "two-piece") but I have not yet tried to put Measured Reboxx wheelsets in the new two-piece trucks. They should fit, but stand by for a report.

By the way, you shouldn't need the Reboxx double-insulated wheelsets in the new plastic trucks.

John Golden
O'Fallon, IL