K-Line Scale Hudsons

Every steam locomotive model I have up-graded to Kadee couplers REQUIRES some amount of shim between the Kadee gear box and the tender's underframe. The Kadee coupler height gauge is generally a great help in determining the amount of shim material needed (use the rear of the height gauge).

I recently did a K-Line Berk which should have the same tender. I bought a piece of aluminum stock from Home Depot. I made sort of a Z style setup you describe by offsetting 2 pieces. Ended up drilling and tapping 4 holes. One hole secures the first piece of stock to the tender floor. Place the next piece on top of this and mark the rear mounting hole of the Kadee and leave yourself enough clearance for the rear truck to pivot. The next hole resides between the 2 mounting holes for the Kadee to secure the 2 pieces together. I used a countersunk screw. The final hole secures the coupler end of the Kadee box. One Micromark shim and you should be at the correct height. A tedious 2 hour project. The aluminum is easy to work with and best of all you can always go back to the original setup.