I am wondering if anyone has any experience with putting Micro Trains couplers on Marklin Z streamliner passenger cars. Is there an MT part # that should work? Does anybody make replacement trucks for these cars? 2nd question, are there more prototypical wheels for Z scale? Any help here much appreciated!
Hi Basserdan, Welcome to Traiboard. The easiest way is to change the Marklin coupler is to cut it off, and body mount the MTL coupler. The other way is a little harder. You have to use a hobby knive to trim the edger of the tab holding the metal plate. Very importan, dont trim it too much. Just enough to pull it out without breaking it, otherwise you will have to glue the part. With the coupler box open, replace it medium shank coupler box. If you have problem keeping the spring in place use a little saliva to glue the spring. if you have not trim too much of the platic, then all you have to do if tut the metal cover back. MTL does make a passenger truck, but I have no experienc with it. I was going to change all the trucks of my business cars, but the project is put back on backburner. I hope I was helpful. This business car, I change the coupler using body mount.
Thanks John. The plate has three tabs holding it on, right? Cut those to remove plate with the plan being to melt these tabs with soldering iron when replacing? Would this likely require the medium MT cplrs (901, I think)? Danny
NOOO, just remove enought to take it off. you leave enought plastic to hold the tab. If you did it right, all you have to do is pop it in. No melting is involve.
i've done some too. sometimes the melted "cap" will sheer off, regardless of how careful you are getting if off. sometimes the metal plate will bend. if you are careful lifting the sides of the tab with an xacto blade all around, you should have enough left at the end to remelt them again. having said that, when i've tried re-melting the tab after the couplers were replaced it was with mixed success. i use both 901 and 902 on mine (one consistently on one end, the other consistently on the other end) and get a good close coupling this way. this picture shows the result (these are all Micro-Trains converted) but i don't have any close ups for you. i haven't tried cutting the marklin couplers off and replacing with a 905(?) box, which would work for body mounting i think. i'm using MTL's new track so the radii are too tight for this (for me). i think you have to like doing the fine work of assembling couplers, or it will drive you nuts. you can do it, if you pour a cup of coffee, look at the sunset and want to spend a wistful hour enjoying replacing couplers. otherwise, you'll be screaming, throwing things, and kicking the dog half way through. replacing Z couplers is all about "attitude." that's my 2 cents. dave f.
David, the body mount works surprising well on 195mm track, but I woun't suggest it on a 145mm track. I went with body mount because I had problems with derailin using truck mounted couplers. The pin kept on rubbing against the body. Did you find the pictures for the dome car yet. As always, waiting to what you are working next. Dan, here is a picture of my body mount coupler. I use supergule to mount the coupler.
hi john, i've tried to upload the picture of the dome/obs four different time to rail images. each time i'm told the "upload is successful" -- but the picture is no where to be found. i've querried the webmaster as to why. haven't been home to check if there is an answer. it's sunday and i'm at work. well ... got to go, church starts again in 15 minutes! later, dave f. p.s. i love your layout and and your work. i have CSX GP-40 underway. fyi. df
David, when you upload the pictures, you still have to tell it where you want to put your pictures. I usually tell it to put it in the z scale section, otherwise you have to check the extra option box to automatically put it in your folder. On the GP40, I can't wait to get my hands on it. Also, please take picture of the stretch mechanism. I want to make a correct lenght GP38 . Thanks Dave.
Ok, David. Go to the upload section of Railimage, and click on upload/submit button. Hopefully, you should see your pictures there. Then you click on process button. Thats what happen to my lost pictures last time. I forgot to click on the process button.
