U.S. Boxcars: Where to Obtain Replacement Stirrup Steps?

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U.S. Boxcars: Where to Obtain Replacement Stirrup Steps?

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boxcab		#1 Posted : 17 February 2016 06:11:14(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 31/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 68 Location: central coast california		Greetings, I've searched the forum as best I can, and the interwebs, looking to obtain something close to "OEM" replacement parts for the side-mounted stirrup step. It seems we scrape them off by the dozen. Every little mishap results in lost stirrup steps from our "plastic" US-prototype cars. We are not alone. You'll notice that many of the cars for sale on Ebay or elsewhere are missing these steps, too. Anybody know where to find a close approximate? Tichy 3038 is somewhat close, but as the name states, the step is "straight" across the top. The M-version is not. We would appreciate any help. We haven't contacted Marklin...perhaps they would sell us say 200 of these? 100 slanting one way, 100 slanting the other way? We not dealers, or selling anything--just running a little layout in our garage in California. Regards, Boxcab

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foumaro		#2 Posted : 17 February 2016 08:47:29(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 08/12/2004(UTC) Posts: 4,431 Location: Attiki Athens Greece		Nice question.I do not think you can find them as a spare part.I am always careful with my USA cars because of this.Double checking before i put them on the layout,maybe they are dropped in the box,and checking again the time they are leaving the layout.If i noticed any of them missing,i am finding it at once and with a very little guantity of glue is on the right position again.I have some from spare from broken cars too.

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AshleyH		#3 Posted : 17 February 2016 12:29:21(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 15/02/2008(UTC) Posts: 693 Location: Bournemouth, Dorset		Yes, it is a problem with all the plastic USA Boxcars and wagons. These small steps are also just a push fit and not glued in place at the factory. I have to check very carefully before and after use. I considered using glue, but it is easy to use too much glue which may show on the wagon body, so I just decided to live with it. It may be possible to make resin moulds and cast some new steps, though they are a bit fine for resin. I agree that it is very unlikely that spares will be available from Marklin, the steps have been made in many different colours as well. The spares that you show in the picture are a very close match though and could be painted to match. Where did you buy them from please? Best Regards Ashley

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RayF		#4 Posted : 17 February 2016 12:49:30(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 14/03/2005(UTC) Posts: 15,873 Location: Gibraltar, Europe		Though not for this particular type of wagon I have in the past fabricated such steps from metal staples. The metal is easy to bend to the right shape with a pair of needle nose pliers and when painted the right colour can effectively look the part. I use superglue to attach the steps to the wagon for a permanent repair.
		Ray Mostly Marklin.Selection of different eras and European railways Small C track layout, control by MS2, 100+ trains but run 4-5 at a time.

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DTaylor91		#5 Posted : 17 February 2016 17:54:02(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 31/08/2007(UTC) Posts: 414 Location: Kennesaw, GA		I spent years modeling US railways, building kits and even scratch-building models. I don't model US prototypes anymore, I'm more intrigued by German railways... ANYHOW, I used to spend many, many hours drilling car bodies and locomotive bodies to add detail parts. It looks like it would be a simple matter to use the Tichy steps after drilling another hole in the Märklin body level with the upper hole. Not sure what size drill it would require, probably something between #70 and #80. Get a pin vise and drill it by hand. Tedious, but drills that tiny usually cannot handle the stress of a motorized drill. Also, look into these two companies for other detail part possibilities: Detail Associates, and Details West.

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NS1200		#6 Posted : 17 February 2016 18:52:17(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 10/08/2009(UTC) Posts: 3,443		I had a couple of plastic Santa Fe boxcars sold by M and had the same experience with these steps. The Marklin shop in Rotterdam said that these steps are not sold as a Marklin sparepart,full stop. From the beginning i gained the impression that these cars were not made by M but bought from another maker and then putting the M name on. I will not buy these plastic cars again,will buy tinplate M boxcars instead.
		Have more than you show,speak less than you know (Shakespeare).

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boxcab		#7 Posted : 17 February 2016 19:22:33(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 31/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 68 Location: central coast california		Regarding Tichy steps and "Where can these be purchased?" My experience is limited to the US: I have seen them in larger train shops and for sale, on-line, at most model RR suppliers. Regards, Boxcab


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boxcab		#8 Posted : 17 February 2016 19:26:17(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 31/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 68 Location: central coast california		Originally Posted by: NS1200 I had a couple of plastic Santa Fe boxcars sold by M and had the same experience with these steps. The Marklin shop in Rotterdam said that these steps are not sold as a Marklin sparepart,full stop. From the beginning i gained the impression that these cars were not made by M but bought from another maker and then putting the M name on. I will not buy these plastic cars again,will buy tinplate M boxcars instead. A-men, brother NS, a-men. These goofy steps are making me re-tool US-made cars, made by others, because they are so fragile I don't think they are feasible for our layout / use. Regards, Boxcab

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boxcab		#9 Posted : 17 February 2016 19:34:15(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 31/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 68 Location: central coast california		Originally Posted by: DTaylor91 I spent years modeling US railways, building kits and even scratch-building models. I don't model US prototypes anymore, I'm more intrigued by German railways... ANYHOW, I used to spend many, many hours drilling car bodies and locomotive bodies to add detail parts. It looks like it would be a simple matter to use the Tichy steps after drilling another hole in the Märklin body level with the upper hole. Not sure what size drill it would require, probably something between #70 and #80. Get a pin vise and drill it by hand. Tedious, but drills that tiny usually cannot handle the stress of a motorized drill. Also, look into these two companies for other detail part possibilities: Detail Associates, and Details West. Holy Crow! I cannot believe the detailed parts these outfits make! I didn't know they existed (we don't have any friends that mess around with model trains). While I don't have the personality to assemble a super-duper detailed rolling stock like this--and certainly not the time--the guys that do are an inspiration to me. However, as far as I can tell, sadly, none of their steps appear to be the same as M's. But your pin-vise idea is a winner. What a dork I was for not thinking of it myself. Regards, Boxcab


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skeeterbuck		#10 Posted : 17 February 2016 20:30:40(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 15/12/2015(UTC) Posts: 523 Location: Maryland, Baltimore		You may want to consider A-Line metal stirrup steps. http://www.ppw-aline.com/detlfrgt.htm Being metal, you could bent the end pins at right angles and insert them in the holes already in the car sides. With a small spot of superglue and some matching paint and you be back in business. I have used these myself on some kits and they are very durable compared to plastic ones. Good luck! Chuck

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NS1200		#11 Posted : 17 February 2016 21:34:02(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 10/08/2009(UTC) Posts: 3,443		Originally Posted by: boxcab Originally Posted by: NS1200 I had a couple of plastic Santa Fe boxcars sold by M and had the same experience with these steps. The Marklin shop in Rotterdam said that these steps are not sold as a Marklin sparepart,full stop. From the beginning i gained the impression that these cars were not made by M but bought from another maker and then putting the M name on. I will not buy these plastic cars again,will buy tinplate M boxcars instead. A-men, brother NS, a-men. These goofy steps are making me re-tool US-made cars, made by others, because they are so fragile I don't think they are feasible for our layout / use. Regards, Boxcab Boxcab, When it comes to Marklin,most of us are purists in that nothing should be changed about the Marklin product. This may differ from most American modelrailroaders,sure. I consider a Marklin product which requires our modifications a product unworthty to be sold by Marklin. The plastic boxcars are of a poor standard according to my standards of quality,but this may be different for other forum members. Not all products sold by Marklin are perfect. Some of their designs are open for discussion. Unfortunately,you only find out after the purchase. The M version of the NS 1600 loco has white plastic isolators on the roof which are simply pressed in,not glued. They easily depart and i found it a challenge to attach them to the roof wires again. I once owned the initial Big Boy steamer produced by Marklin and found that several plastic parts at the front end were not fixed to the loco but simply pressed on. Cheers, Paul.
		Have more than you show,speak less than you know (Shakespeare).

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boxcab		#12 Posted : 18 February 2016 00:06:15(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 31/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 68 Location: central coast california		Thanks to RayF's (sorry Ray--I had the wrong name) suggestion to make my own steps, I have found a solution which will work great for my needs. It worked far better than I expected! Thank you! I've added a couple steps to the red-car; one to the silver car for comparison to the factory step (factory is at right) None of these steps has been painted or even glued-in, yet, so you can see what they look like. I'm sure other people can make still better replacements than my handiwork, using more patience and better tools. For myself, considering the alternative of shedding the steps every time one of these cars bumps into a small mishap, I like this alternative. This is because these home-boy replacements are far more robust than the factory pressed-in steps--the staples pass well under the car, and will give a good glue contact. And you can get the material for 5000 of these for about a dollar, and make them any time you need them! Regards, Boxcab. Edited by user 18 February 2016 17:54:53(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified

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