Accu rail cars

[holshot14]

Thinking about picking up some accurail cars. Are they any good? What should I look for, or stay away from?

Thanks

 

[NH Mike]

I've got some of their box cars, hoppers, and gons. If you are looking for add on microscopic nit picking details you won't find them on these kits but they are very acceptable otherwise. No complaints other than I toss the Accumate couplers for Kadees but I do that with all brands unless they came with Kadees. Price is reasonable for what you get and I also like that they offer cars with dimensional data only so I can apply my own home road decals. Saves time and money.

 

[holshot14]

Cool, thanks for the heads up!

 

[santafewillie]

Ditto what Mike says. I have 75+, mostly ACF covered hoppers. In addition to using KD couplers, I use a 2-56 x 1/4" screw to attach the trucks instead of the pegs. More recent runs have screws instead of pegs. On the older cars, with the snap-in coupler box cover, I drill and tap for a screw also (2-56 x 1/8"); they do break off quickly. Again, the newer versions have screws supplied. Now that I have more time for detailing, I am gradually adding A-Line stirup steps to them. Easy to do. I definitely recommend them for populating a layout quickly and inexpensively.
willie

 

[holshot14]

Thanks for the info!! Guessing they don't have metal wheels?

 

[flyboy2610]

The ones I have purchased didn't have metal wheels.

 

[Eta power]

Guessing they don't have metal wheels?

Nope. You can buy drop-in metal wheels, but beware, the are shiny. REALLY shiny. They roll nice, though. http://accurail.com/accurail/parts.htm

 

[sd24b]

I have 24 covered hoppers, and untold number of boxcars. And as stated above I change the couplers to Kadees and metal wheels. I only drill and add screws when the coupler pocket fails Phil

 

[Brakie]

The Accurail cars is and was IMHO a step above the MDC and some BB cars.

These are great inexpensive car kits.Add KD couplers and metal wheels and you're good.The older kits had terrible looking wheels-replace them with the wheels of your choice and these older kits used a push pin to hold the trucks on..I have never had a problem with these pins just be sure they are snug when you push them in..If that bothers you then a 2-56(?) screw should get the job done-use a self tapping screw or a tap.

 

[NP2626]

I love Accurail cars! Their outside braced box cars are really nice as are everything else they make. I'm glade they have finally gone to screws for holding the coupler boxes together. Although I have used the pins for the trucks without problems, screws are a better choice! Like everyone else, I change the wheels: but, I change to Proto 2000. I have used the Accumate couplers and found them to be less then optimum and am slowly tossing them and putting in Kadees #5s.

 

[trailrider]

Same comments about wheels and couplers. I have a number of kits in "storage" pending my grandchild getting a bit older. Then I will have the problem of where to put them (my 14 x 14 room-filling layout is already overpopulated with about every kind of rolling stock you can imagine, the product of about 55 years of model railroading)! With Athearn Blue Box kits gone (except at swap meets, etc.), AccuRail are IMHO the best kits available.

 

[zoegraf]

I like the Accurail cars because the plastic that they are made off is easy to kitbash or carve as in carving off certain moulded on details.

Here are some samples of details added which can enhance the model's appearance.

I especially like the 3 bay hopper, which I haven't carved yet.

Also they make a nice double deck autorack kit. To make it prototypical all I had to do was carve off two details and not put in the braces.

 

[Enola Yard Tim]

I think they are great cars.

Details are very good and they are rather easy to assemble.

Sure miss the old Athearn blue box cars...............