After many years modelling and hundreds of kits later I still find that even now the best of kits fall down in two places, coupler & truck mountings. In respect of trucks for many years I have installed a 1/4" brass washer between the truck & the body. Result: little wobble, truck turns better.Exact adjustment of screw is vital. Not so lucky with coupler mountings, any ideas?[?]
Why did you post this question 3 times?
More information about these kits you are talking about would be helpful – what brand? What’s wrong with the coupler mounts? I would have to agree that the Athearn coupler mounting box with the metal cover leaves much to be desired, but there are worse. The solution to the Athearn cover is to gently squeeze the sides in slightly, especially where the hole is in the side of the cover to snap over the lug on the car body.
What exact problems are you having with coupler mountings? I know Atheaarns metal clips can be a pain, but if you make sure that the plactic tab on the draft gear box of the car sicks through the opening in the metal clip on both sides they are as good as any mounting except a cover with a screw. If all else fails, I drill and tap a hole through the post in the middle of the draft gear box and fashion a cover or lid out of .040" styrene plastic. You have to be very careful to center the tapped hole in the middle of the post.
One problem is that different brand kits may not line up at correct coupler height. And yes, Athearn is one of the worst. The metal covers can unclip under load in spite of extreme care in fitting. My point is that there should be better uniformity with Mfrs.-perhaps a universal system of coupler mounting?
I agree about a universal mounting system. About half of my rolling stock had talgo mount (truck mounted) couplers which I cut off and replaced with Kadee’s with a #5 type draft gear box mounted with screws. Kadee makes all their couplers in different shft lengths and offsets. They also offer the drat gear box that uses a coil type centering spring that can be mounted over or under the coupler giving you a almost infinite number of mounting heights. Using the #5 type of flat centering spring with 3 different offset heights, you can get the height close enough to use shim washers under the bolsters to get the right coupler height. This is not a plug for Kadee, but it is the only brand I am that familiar with.