Calling all Kato GS-4 experts! A Kato GS-4 #4449 had a nasty tumble (not mine!), and I was asked to see if I could put Humpty Dumpty back together again. I started the process with a lot of trepidation (and no promise of success), but have amazingly gotten to the point of getting the drive and motor frames back together again, quartering the drivers so that they move smoothly, and getting the entire unit running perfectly (in DC -- but there were also no spacers, so while everything was apart, I kapton taped the motor frame, so now totally DCC friendly). A couple of detail parts need replacing, and am anxiously awaiting their showing back up in stock at Kato USA's site. But, I have one last nagging issue. Apparently, on the fall, the support structure underneath the pilot floor, where the coupler housing and the front cow-catcher clip into, broke. Both little pieces of plastic are available, but I have had no success getting them into place with enough structural strength to stay there when the clips are inserted. These are, unfortunately, a part of the overall Skirting frame, and not some replaceable part, and Kato does not sell the shell or skirting separately. Question: Has anyone else had this issue? If so, how did you solve it? I am almost tempted to mount an MTL true-scale coupler with small screw and simply glue the catcher onto the skirting frame
Based on your description your going to have to glue it in place or find a donor shell somewhere. Good luck.
