Preface: Two years ago at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento (a must) I went bananas over the reproduced MTH tinplate layouts. Why did I pass those up for decades? I spent the next two years accumulating Standard Gauge and O Gauge MTH repro. tinplace with PS-2, carefully comparing prices, condition, etc. Now I can run O-Gauge Tinplate on my big Golden Prairie Railroad and Standard Gauge on my living room floor temporary Northern Pathetic Railroad oval.
Question: I have a beautifully looking and running MTH Standard Gauge 10-1139 Golden State 4-4-2 #4694. The box identifies as "Tinplate Traditions," but does not identify as reproduced Lionel, Ives, American Flyer, or other. The tender seems to be fitted with an American Flyer coupler, which does not suit a latch coupler. See the photo: am I correct in identifying the types of couplers?
If so, might there be an adapter AF-to-latch (as there is for latch-to-box couplers)? If not, it looks as if the tender might open from the bottom with six screws, but from there I fear the coupler may be riveted in place. I see that, e.g. Henning's has latch couplers and rivets. Does anyone have experience with such a change-out?
here are photos of a searchlight car I repaired and repainted, and ...
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