Ulrich Gondola Rebuild Kit

This is a rebuild kit for an Ulrich 40' Gondola.

I like these gondolas, but the available kits are often missing pieces and their draft gear boxes need to be modified for use with "modern" (i.e. Kadee) couplers.

This kit provides:

1. Replacement bolster plastic inserts (for when the originals are missing or damaged). My practice is to drill and tap the replacement inserts for 2-56 screws and then glue them into the gondola frame with PVA (white) glue.
2. A template for drilling a hole in the coupler pocket. I clip off the original coupler mount stud (cover the stud when doing this, as it will go flying), file the inside of the pocket smooth, and then drill and tap the hole for a 2-56 screw.
3. A plastic collar for the coupler mounting screw (an equivalent part is also available from Kadee). This part is actually a cylinder that's printed in "vase" mode.
4. A replacement draft gearbox cover plate (for if the original is missing). The original can be used by drilling out the existing hole to the clearance diameter for a 2-56 screw. The next time I need a replacement cover plate, I am going to try to integrate the plastic collar with the plate.
5. Replacement air resevoir, AB valve, and brake cylinder for if the original pieces are missing. These parts include holes for potential installation of brake rigging.
6. Components (live lever, floating lever, and brackets) for adding brake rigging. As designed, the floating lever is supported only by the various rods. I was worried this would be too delicate, but it's proved reasonably robust thus far.
7. A replacement brake wheel and a small bracket for better securing the wire representing the brake wheel shaft, as I didn't like how the original design left the wire unsupported beneath the car. The brake wheel has a designed support. I recommend not separating the wheel from the support until after drilling out the center hole.

Some notes on the brake rigging:

1. The floating lever's bracket likely slightly interferes with opening one of the gondola's doors. This was not an issue for me as I plan to leave them closed.
2. Holes associated with the rods going to the truck brakes are deliberately angled.
3. As far as I know, there is no prototypical analog to the brackets near the bogies, but I needed a way to hold those ends of the rods. These brackets are intended to be concealed (at least from the side) by the bogies. If I do this again, I will combine these brackets with the bolster plastic inserts.

The brake air lines are represented with 28 gauge, 0.013 inch, 0.32 mm phosphor bronze wire. The brake rigging rods and the brake wheel shaft are represented with 22 gauge, 0.025 inch, 0.64 mm phosphor bronze wire.