I bought a number of Spectrum passenger cars and my only problem with them is the couplers. The come with EZ-mates but I replaced them with KDs but that is only part of the problem. I want to replace the pivoting coupler pockets with fixed body mounts and today I took my first look at how to do that. I just popped the pivoting pocket off and discovered there is a rather large hole at the pivot point and I am trying to decide the best way to fix the KD coupler pocket. The hole is larger than the one in the KD coupler pocket so I can’t just screw the KD pocket to the body. I see three possible solutions. One would be to fill that hole with body putty and redrill as smaller hole but I have my doubts as to whether that would be secure enough. Another option would be to use epoxy or other high strength adhesive to hold it in place. Again, I wonder if that would hold over time. The third option is to use the two holes on the side of the KD pockets and screw it in place with two screws. I think this would hold but I would need to figure out what size screw to use.
I’ve read in other threads that other modelers have installed body mounted couplers on these cars but I haven’t seen any explain what method they used. If anyone has done this conversion, I would appreciate any tips they can give. Also, if anyone knows what size screw to use for the KD pockets, that would help as well.
Before you “fix mount” the couplers, what is the minimum radius on your layout? The reason for the swing pockets is to allow small radius such as 18".[%-)] 30" or larger radius should be no problem, but you cannot couple/uncouple on less, and derailments would probably occur at the 18" to 20" range. Gel CCA (super glue) should hold the KD pockets in place.
A friend did this for my Spectrum Heavyweights awhile ago. I’m not sure exactly how he did it, but he used styrene as a mount and used Kadee coupler boxes and couplers. I’ll see if I can get a few pictures…
Does the styrene get installed on the bottom of the car or in the vestibule of the car. It seems to me if it was put on the bottom, it would affect the coupler height, making it too low.
My curves are a minimum 36" so a body mount is no problem at all.
I wish I had a nickle for every time I’ve dished out this advice…
Get the Jay-Bee coupler mounting pads for the Bachmann Spectrum passenger cars. From Walthers.com:
369-118
Coupler Mounting Pads (Enough For 3 Cars) – Kadee to Bachmann Spectrum PRR Cars
HO
3.45
Essentially, you rip off or unscrew the stock coupler pads on the cars and drill out the hole a little bigger. Then insert the Jay Bee pad and clue it with plastic cement. Wait until completely dry, then screw in the Kadee box with the screws provided by Jay Bee. You may have to adjust the coupler height as the car frames are usually warped. You can try bending them, but sometimes you need an offset coupler.
I have done over a dozen of these cars, and the Jay Bee pad is the best way to go about fixing the worst part of the Bachamnn Spectrum passenger cars.