Converting To Body Mount Couplers - How?

[BCR751]

How do you put body mounts on this baby   It's a Precision Masters covered hopper purchased a long time ago.

Doug

[sizemore]

I have a few of these to do myself. You have to add a "floor/frame" to the ends, just add some strip styrene. Use something like Tenax instead of cyanoacrylate (super glue) to form a good bond. Then tap and add couplers like normal.

The S.

[jagged ben]

A long time ago N scale of Nevada made a white metal adapter that you glued into the car.

Good luck finding them though.   You ain't gonna get the ones I have.   

sizemore's advice is good, too. 

[nkalanaga]

I also used styrene strip to make a center sill.  One trick is to use a chisel blade in your hobby knife to cut a notch in the body bolster.  Done properly, the strip will fit in that notch, sit level, and be much more solidly glued than if it was just butt-glued to the bolster.  On that particular car the adapter has to go between the end sill and the bolster, rather than sitting below the end sill, so make the first cut flat with the bottom of the end sill, and the second above it, with the distance matching the thickness of your strip.  If you like, add some braces between the outer corners and the bolster/center sill joint, even with the center sill, just for looks.

For what it's worth, I have ONE of those cars, and it's one of the few I use an NSN adapter on!  But I've used my notch technique on dozens of open and covered hoppers.

I'd love to have a few more BN FMC cars, as they bought them by the hundreds at a time.  Maybe Fox Valley will bring them back.

[Frisco Larry]

Precision Masters made a conversion for these.  Red Caboose continued to make these for a short time after they bought out PM.  They apparently are no longer produced.  A friend of mine is doing a 3D printing type replacement for my cars and these should be available soon.

[BCR751]

Precision Masters made a conversion for these.  Red Caboose continued to make these for a short time after they bought out PM.  They apparently are no longer produced.  A friend of mine is doing a 3D printing type replacement for my cars and these should be available soon.

Well, if he does the thingys that allow the body mounts, I'm in for a half dozen.

Doug

[Doug G.]

I have always just made a little plate big enough for whatever coupler used (usually a 1023/25) and insert it between the sill and bolster. I cut the plate a little long and then file it until there is an interference fit, scrape a little paint of the sill and bolster edge, make sure it's level, and glue in place with solvent cement. Paint it to match the car.

They've always been plenty strong and none have come loose even after over 40-45 years.

BTW, this is my first post on here and I found where all the Atlas guys went.

Doug

[nkalanaga]

Yep, most of us are here.

And, yes, if the mounting plate is wedged in good, then solvent cemented, it should stay.  My slot mounting may be overkill, but I grew up with cats using trains for toys.  I like things built solid!

[Doug G.]

Yes, catproofing trains is real consideration. I had some small scenery pieces disappear from a layout many years ago and I'm pretty sure where they went.



And overkill is better than underkill when it comes to mounting couplers.

Doug

[ednadolski]

Yep it is hard to install a coupler in mid-air.     At one point I made a metal-etched adapter part to fit on the IM hopper, but never got around to trying it.

Ed

[nkalanaga]

Also, the stronger the mount, the easier it is to drill and tap the hole without dislodging the piece.  Of course, one can drill and tap before gluing it in place, but it always worked better for me to do it after.  I was less likely to get the hole in the wrong place!

[jagged ben]

Yep it is hard to install a coupler in mid-air.     At one point I made a metal-etched adapter part to fit on the IM hopper, but never got around to trying it.

Ed

Someone really ought to do a product for this.  (Hello Intermountain?)    It's not like the IM model is out of production.

[tom mann]

I would encourage the testing and eventual selling of that product, @ednadolski !