Any way to get a rapido coupler on a n scale kato heavy mikado tender? I know this is a step backwards but it will cost me a small fortune to change everything over.
I don't know the answer as I don't have a Mikado but if you really can't, what about making a transition freight car? MT on one end, Rapido on the other.
Along the same theme, I eliminated the coal bunker on a spare Bachmann N Scale tender to create a canteen car. The front of the car sports a nearly hidden (for closer coupling) Rapido coupler and the rear an M-T coupler. I know that this is the opposite of what you want to do, but with the couplers reversed, the notion might be useful.
It has been a long while since I owned some Kato Mikados but I seem to remember the conversions to MTs on that rear tender truck taking a T shank. In reverse it should take a T shank Rapido with a spring.
Easier to buy a replacement MT truck and swap out one Rapido truck. That is what I did until I went through and converted everything to MT couplers
Looked at my Mikado that had been changed using the MT 2002 Kit. The Mikado small parts package ( reference parts list) with the loco has a part B-1 which is a Rapido for the front coupler, but not a T shank. Part 92310 (Coupler Set has spring and Kato coupler) for tender. As John Moore said T-shank with spring. My only question is do you need an adapter to hold the spring and T shank in place? The MT kit had one that I didn't use and left the MT coupler hanging loose. It works for me. Good Luck