Body Mounting Couplers On The Intermountain N-Scale Rotary Hopper

[BCR751]

I want to change over to body mounted couplers on my Intermountain N-Scale rotary hoppers.  I need some suggestions on how to secure the coupler to the frame.  There isn't a lot of plastic "meat" there to screw in the 00-90 screw.

Doug

[ristooch]

Although not familiar with this model, a couple of ideas.

1. Add some styrene (.040" would be ideal but probably too thick, .020" might work) to the bottom of the end platform to artificially "thicken" it. Then drill and tap for the 00-90 screw. If you drill through the end platform, you would need to cut off the screw and camouflage it with paint. Use a Microtrains Underslung coupler to compensate for the lower mounting and (hopefully) get the coupler closer to standard height.

2. Just cement the coupler in place with your CA glue of choice.

3. Bite the bullet and drill through the end platform and secure the coupler and tapped screw with CA.

Maybe someone on here has more experience with these and will chime in.

[Sokramiketes]

If its worth a couple bucks to you, Grant has covered these on his members channel.  Southern Alberta Rail on youtube.

 His consist now has nPossibles on it, but previously had MTL's.

[BCR 570]

Doug:

The NARC rotary gondolas came with body-mounted couplers . . . . .

The car in your photograph is an Intermountain bathtub gondola . . . . .

Sorry I dont have one to look at for you.


Tim

[BCR751]

Thanks for the correction, Tim.  I'll keep studying this one.  There must be a way to do the conversion.

Doug