I filed a pocket in the pilot of a Bachmann 2-8-0 for a Z coupler. This is my second one. I guess I was a bit too cocky since 1. The hole was too big, top to bottom, and 2. The pocket was at an angle slanting down back to front, making a solid couple impossible. What to do? Place it with my three diesels that don't work any more due to other error of the author? NAH ! I VERY carefully glue shimmed the bottom of the coupler with the shim provided by MT in the N scale packages, which is .014" thick. It was too thick. Coupler went to reserve box for job needing a regular shim. I then cut a small piece of .005" sheet styrene and glued it onto the bottom of coupler number 2. It fit, and fit well. Now is when I discovered the angle issue. I used the same sheet styrene (.005"), cut a tiny piece and glued it to the underside of the frame in front of the pilot wheels to change angle at which the coupler extends out the front. I slid in the shimmed coupler and voila !!! First picture- shimmed coupler Second picture- shim under frame Third picture- a good enough fit for a Z grabbing an N.
Mark: Nice going ...Shims and styrene sheets work wonders... Stay cool and run steam with Z scale couplers on the pilot......
The true measure of a craftsmen isn't how few mistakes he makes, but how successfully he recovers from them. You, good sire, are definitely out of the apprentice stage and swiftly working your way through journeyman.
Thank you. BTW- On the pics- If you have a digital camera, see if there is a macro feature for closeups, turn off the flash, use plenty of light and you get the shot. I might have gone overboard on the lights with 2 500W halogens, but at $1.34/sq. inch so far, what the hell?
Very nice work--you are getting bold! I've had to do about the same many times. I agree with BikerDad's remarks.
