Kit with missing parts

[ICG/SOU]

I won (well, it doesn't feel like it) an e-bay auction for a Weaver 50' boxcar (with sliding Youngstown doors, not plug doors) kit. When I received the kit, included was:

1) boxcar body
2) one sliding Youngstown door
3) two sliding door rails (for the top)
4) one underframe
5) one floor

Not included:

1) another door
2) a brakewheel
3) weight (maybe)
4) two trucks and couplers

The seller said that these kits sometimes did not have all the parts in them, and that the box was sealed until he opened it to take a picture. He's offered to refund me a few dollars, but I'm wondering if trucks and couplers really were included in these models.

My suspicion is that this kit is from an estate, and the guy that had them originally kitbashed this kit.

I've emailed Weaver, but since it's the holidays, I figure they will be slow to get back to me. Right now, they are not offering a 50' sliding door box, but instead the 50' plug door box, which are the wrong doors.

If Weaver doesn't have these parts, what/where can I get a brakewheel and a door. I figure I can use some Atlas O 70ton roller bearing trucks and couplers (3-rail), but am at a loss for the other parts.

My MTH boxcars look comparable in style and parts, but don't know if I can get parts from them. Thanks in advance.

 

[Laidoffsick]

Well it sounds like a kitbashing project for sure if yopu keep it. As you stated, Atlas trucks/wheels are an easy fix. Either the 3 rail version with couplers or 2 rail trucks and add Kadee couplers depending on whether you are a 2 or 3 railer

Weight = I use stick on tire weights to add extra weight for my cars.

The door and brakewheel ... ??? There are companies out there that make brake wheels and doors. Since you use Ebay, I would search there 1st in the detail section of O scale items. Local hobby shops, if you have one that stocks a decent supply of O scale.... not always easy to find

If all else fails, you can turn it into a scraped car on your layout or one that was sold to the public as a storage box. I see all kinds of them out in the desert in Victorville, CA from the 50's and 60's that Santa Fe sold back in the day.

 

[Rico]

"The kits sometimes did not have all the parts in them, and that the box was sealed until he opened it to take a picture" sounds a little fishy. If he knew some boxes were missing parts he should have checked.
I think Laidoff is right about ebay parts section or checking with a hobby shop.
If indeed the box was sealed before the pic I'd contact the manufacturer and request some parts.

 

[Trucula]

I have sold a couple Weaver cars. The ones I had (White box with car's image printed on) had trucks but neither had couplers. Then again these weren't kits, they were ready-to-run (can't figure how they are w/o couplers) Good Luck!

 

[Roy Buchanan]

I feel for you, Trey. Recently bought a 2-6-6-2T brand new on Ebay. It has a broken male drive shaft component. The seller won't answer my emails and Mantua doesn't stock the part, at least not yet. Grrrrrrr!

Roy

 

[ICG/SOU]

Weaver sent back a listing of parts, and I can get a brake wheel and trucks, but the problem is the door. Right now, they're only making outside braced (ACF style) plug door boxcars, instead of sliding Youngstown doors. So I can fix everything, except for the doors.

One issue I'll run into is that to put trucks, couplers, and new parts will end up being more than I paid for the car to begin with.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll give one of my local places a call to see what they can do for me too.

 

[Rico]

Well you can always model a door that's been replaced for now, just paint it primer.