I bought my nephew a Thomas the Tank car today for his wooden train set when I got home I realized it was an HO scale car. He is dead set on keeping the car but since it will not couple to anything we own you can see my problem. Has anyone done a conversion or now how to convert the European style coupler to a Kadee style coupler? I did a search and did not find much, any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
John
Who made the Thomas the Tank car?? That would help…
Cheers,
Frank
If you know the manufacturer, you may be able to find it on the Kadee HO Scale Coupler Conversions page.
It’s made by Bachmann, I checked Kadee’s conversion chart but found nothing.
John
Gidday John, while more familiar with the Hornby Thomas, this site may be able to help you on your way.
http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index.php?autocom=custom&page=Kadee-Resources
Cheers, the Bear.
As usual I’m confused. Is the Thomas car the one with the European style coupler? And are you wanting to couple that to other HO cars with Kadee couplers, or to the wooden train set cars?
I would assume the wooden cars as he said it was bought for the wooden train.
Read the first sentence again,and again…
Cheers,[:D]
Frank
Yes, Frank, I read the first line several times. So what does that prove?? Is the OP looking for Kadee couplers to put on the wooden cars? I’m pretty sure that Kadee does not have a conversion kit for wooden cars so any reference to Kadee conversion charts would pretty much be useless. Further, I’m not sure I’d even recommend changing the couplers on wooden cars to Kadees, for obvious reasons.
Looks like he wants to convert the wooden car to match the car he just bought. Sounds like a trial and error job to me. Could glue a coupler box to the wooden car and put a coupler in it. Height would be a consideration, as well as any other off the wall items that could arise. I also doubt any conversion chart would exist for this one of a kind job.
A thread on Model Train Forum in 2011 discusses converting Bachmann Thomas & Friends to KD couplers.
http://www.modeltrainforum.com/archive/index.php/t-6700.html Forum Registration is required to open attachments showing the conversions.
http://www.modeltrainforum.com/
I am not a member of the Forum, so have not reviewed the information provided.
You said it is an HO car for a wooden train set. Will it even fit on the tracks? I’m not sure what the wooden car couplers look like, can you post a photo? You may have to get creative to come up with something, but a photo would help our varied and talented folks here to come up with some ideas.
Good luck,
Richard
The car that I purchased I thought was for the wooden train set but it turn out to be a HO scale car. I am NOT trying to convert the magnets of a wooden car to Kadee couplers. The HO scale car is also NOT for the wooden train set. Because my nephew has his heart set on keeping the card and since my other cars and engines have Kadee couplers I want to convert the standard European style couplers over to Kadee style couplers. This way My nephew can run his car with a HO scale train.
DSchmitt, I signed up for that exact forum, but they are taking their sweet time activating my account. This is why I thought I would try the MR forum.
John
Okay, that now becomes clear. You don’t have to be a member of that forum DSchmidt referenced to be able to read the posts. The first link, http://www.modeltrainforum.com/archive/index.php/t-6700.html, has a written description of how to do the conversions. There are some pictures posted, but you do need to be a member to view them. Maybe the written description will be enough to get you started.
JohnB;
I do not have that engine, but honestly, when I get a weekday off, I do enjoy the show.
Due to the responses in this thread, I am going to acquire the Bachmann “Thomas Engine with Moving Eyes” BAC #58741
Is that the one that you have?
I will document my steps to incorporate a KaDee coupler set onto the unit & post it here.
Unfortunately, I may not receive the model, & be able to do the work, for a few weeks, so lets’s call it a month. Then, I should have the finished unit, & the steps it took to get it there, ready for you, & your nephew. Or be in contact directly, you can send me a message by hovering the mouse over my name or display picture, & choose; Start Conversation.
Thank you for your interest & the insiration to find a new, & interesting project.
John B,
The way I took your description,in the very beginning,is how you just explained it…If I had it in my,fat hands,I more than likely,could come up with a fix…Wish You Luck !!
Cheers, [D]
Frank
Interesting dilemma.
Since the Thomas the Train car won’t couple to your other HO scale cars, instead of trying to convert the Bachmann, HO/OO Scale International Style, Hook-and-Loop Couplers to Kadee couplers, how about adopting easier, albeit more expensive, approach.
Buy a Bachmann Thomas & Friends loco and a few more cars so that you nephew can run his new HO scale train on your HO scale layout. And, forget the coupler conversion which may not be worth the time and effort.
Rich
Chad, a most generous offer. [bow]
But, depending upon the age of the nephew, I’ve got a feeling that a month from now his interest may have shifted elsewhere.
You better get moving on your plan if you want to see it implemented. [swg]
Rich
My take on this is to add compatible couplers to the wooden train, would it be better to modify the Thomas to by whatever means to couple to the est of the wooden set? Adding Kadees to the wood cars may require mortising the bottom ends to accept a coupler box for any sort of normal coupler height…
The forum the Dschmitt referenced allowed you to read the forums but not to view any accompanying photo’s that went with the forum. I finally received my account activation late last night and once viewing the photos the conversion looks to be rather easy.
Rich, My nephew is 5 and already has a huge interest in regular HO scale trains. At age 3 within 5 minutes he was able to run his own train using my Power Cab. He loves running my H-4’s around my “still under construction” layout. I just can’t see spending the $$ to build a complete Thomas train only to see him turn around and lose interest in Thomas.