N Scale MDC Roundhouse Knuckle Couplers

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I have a Four pack of MDC Roundhouse box cars, they all have rapido couplers on them, but include MDC knuckle couplers, I have spent 2 days tryring to figure out how to swap them out, I can get the rapidos off, but for the life of me, am stumped on how the knuckle couples fit back in that space, can anyone offer any advice? The cars were a gift from my father in law who has asked to see them run on my layout, not sure how much longer I can pu him off.

Thanks In Advance

Tad Smedes

2

Those couplers from MDC make a nice addition to your gondola scrap load. Save yourself some headaches, and just get some Micro Trains roller bearing trucks with the couplers installed. Or better yet, some Accumate 100 ton trucks from Atlas, which have the proper 36" wheels. You’ll thank me later…

Lee

3

Great I can live with buying new trucks, but and here is where my second problem lies and what brought me to this forum, I took the cars to my lhs and there seems to have been a change in employees so besides suggesting that I just buy new rolling stock which was not helpful they could offer nothing more. Might you or anyone else have a part number for Accumate 100 ton trucks? Or can you point me in the right direction? And Thanks again!!

-Tad

4

I have to echo what Lee said.

I tried the MDC trucks when they first came out, and had similar problems. I ended up using some Kato couplers that were available at the time.

5

I believe this is what he’s talking about:

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/product-p/atl-22071.htm