Want to convert to Kadee's but have tight curves? w/ install video

Here's some pictures on O40 FasTrack. 

I will be using these myself, especially on passenger cars. 

Thanks,

Mario

Very Cool Mario. I am fan of talgo trucks. Try this with body mounted couplers. Those are back to back 042 curves.

Mario,

Is that a Lionel truck?  I would love to try some on my slag and hot metal cars.  There is no place to body mount Kadees.

Thanks,

Dave

David Minarik posted:

Mario,

Is that a Lionel truck?  I would love to try some on my slag and hot metal cars.  There is no place to body mount Kadees.

Thanks,

Dave

Yes. This is a Lionel rotating roller bearing truck. 

Mario,

How can I get some of these?  I have 10 cars that need a setup like this.

Thanks,

Dave

The printer stl file is also available for free download. 

Is this application only for Lionel trucks?

Mario

Years ago Atlas had sold something similar with the Atlas O Adjust-A-Coupler which was also mounted to the truck assembly.    I saw those on your page but wasn't sure what they were for.. What a smart idea. Not only for those who run tight curves but also there are some lionel cars that just don't have room for body mounts like David Minarik said. .   Also if not mistaken saw the same version with the ablilty to mount to an engine powered truck assembly by removing the coupler and mounting the kadee replacement mount in its place. . Or was that a early version? To borrow a quote from Field of Dreams. You build it they will come.

Doug

Mario

That's great!

Can you comment on how you got the lobster claw off the truck.  The modern Lionel armature plate style couplers are a bear to disassemble adn re-assemble.   They are held together with 4 tiny rivets.   Were you able to dremel off the old coupler, then remove the mounting posts?

Do you know what Shapeways will charge for the set of 10 boxes?

Bob

RRDOC posted:

Mario

That's great!

Can you comment on how you got the lobster claw off the truck.  The modern Lionel armature plate style couplers are a bear to disassemble adn re-assemble.   They are held together with 4 tiny rivets.   Were you able to dremel off the old coupler, then remove the mounting posts?

Do you know what Shapeways will charge for the set of 10 boxes?

Bob

For removal of the claw, it was pretty simple. I just tapped out the two rivets on top of the part where you see the box installed. I used RonH's idea of doing this and repurposed the holes for the screw. This actually gives you four different assembly options, with each one giving you different buffering and distance of the Kadee.

As for the uncoupling paraphernalia, I was able to pull them out with a needle nose pliers.  I'll do an assembly video.

I've given you two options on Shapeways; polished resin (~$6 for a 10 box sprue) and slick black acrylic (~$13).

I did these two because they are smooth and would require the least amount not of work to assemble; with the white needing painting and the black not.

Thanks,

Mario

luvtrains posted:

Is this application only for Lionel trucks?

LT, as of right now, yes. These are just for the Lionel trucks. 

The MTH design is taking a little longer because the swivel and claw are cast as one piece. 

stay tuned!

Mario you are doing wonders in advancing the 3RS hobby.  Those of us that are still playing with toys are benefitting too.  Thanks for all your work.  Will be looking forward to the assembly video.

Here's the file for anyone that wants to print their own.

I suggest that you clean up any flash inside to allow for smooth operation.

Thanks,

Mario

coach joe posted:

Mario you are doing wonders in advancing the 3RS hobby.  Those of us that are still playing with toys are benefitting too.  Thanks for all your work.  Will be looking forward to the assembly video.

Thanks for the kind words.

I actually did a presentation at the NYS Model Train Fair last weekend called "Turning Toys into Models"

Thanks to Doug for the photo of his F3s; perfect title slide because of the research material in the photo.

Also, it was great to meet up with Norton! 

Thanks,

Mario

I will be waiting for the MTH Design,  awesome idea,  thanks! 

This is just what we small 036 and 042 operators have needed. do we go to the shapeways link and order them? please post a how to videos here when you get it done. finally realistic spotting of cars just like in dougs video is for all of us. not just guys with large radius layouts.

Lionelzwl2012 posted:

This is just what we small 036 and 042 operators have needed. do we go to the shapeways link and order them? please post a how to videos here when you get it done. finally realistic spotting of cars just like in dougs video is for all of us. not just guys with large radius layouts.

That's it; http://shpws.me/MVh2

Just a suggestion could you guys tell us what kind of lionel trucks this works with or show us the pics of the lionel trucks as you know there are several variations I assume. thanks.

Lionelzwl2012 posted:

Just a suggestion could you guys tell us what kind of lionel trucks this works with or show us the pics of the lionel trucks as you know there are several variations I assume. thanks.

Hi! These will work on the rotating cap roller bearing trucks and the other trucks with the hidden uncoupling tabs. 

thanks,

Mario

Fantastic!

is there a reason only that lionel style truck will work with your conversion?

also what is the tightest curve this conversion will allow?

lastely even if I cannot use this on my aging rolling stock thanks for your efforts for those unable to use 072 curves.

StPaul posted:

is there a reason only that lionel style truck will work with your conversion?

 

Sure there is. Because it was designed using the Lionel truck, therefore it is specifically made to fit. Just like the rest of Mario's spacers, and coupler mounts they are specific to an individual model. There is no one size fits all when it comes to these types of conversions. The MTH design will be completely different as the MTH truck is completely different from the Lionel truck

As far as the tightest curves.... it SHOULD go around any curve that the car did with the 3 rail coupler since they are both mounted to the truck. However, there is no way to guarantee that without actually trying it. It's a new design and a new product. If your car made 036 curves before, it should with a truck mounted Kadee.

Laidoffsick posted:

StPaul posted:

is there a reason only that lionel style truck will work with your conversion?

 

Sure there is. Because it was designed using the Lionel truck, therefore it is specifically made to fit. Just like the rest of Mario's spacers, and coupler mounts they are specific to an individual model. There is no one size fits all when it comes to these types of conversions. The MTH design will be completely different as the MTH truck is completely different from the Lionel truck

As far as the tightest curves.... it SHOULD go around any curve that the car did with the 3 rail coupler since they are both mounted to the truck. However, there is no way to guarantee that without actually trying it. It's a new design and a new product. If your car made 036 curves before, it should with a truck mounted Kadee.

Thanks, Doug!

You're 100% correct... I used the Lionel scale trucks because that's what I have he most of in my collection, and happened to have two pairs that I bought to rip the roller bearings out of.

The video shows a Lionel die cast hopper going around a O40 curve without issue, and if need be, the screw can be mounted in the outer hole to give you a little more length in the shank.

I'll have to try this!  I have access to a 3-D printer at work.  (We only have Red colored ABS material at the moment).

I had previously purchased some boxcars with Kadee couplers, that I switched back to Lionel 3-Rail couplers.

I also have some Lionel trucks with broke couplers - that I think I can replace with using your part and the Kadee couplers that I already have on hand.

Thanks for creating this and for making the file available,

Eric

Hi Marion

     Another great idea! Is there a place that lists all the parts to aid in kadee conversions? I know you did several engine types.

Best

Ray Marion

https://www.shapeways.com/shops/gandyman

Laidoffsick posted:

https://www.shapeways.com/shops/gandyman

Thanks Doug!

Hello everyone!

Finally, here is the install video for the coupler box.

There is one caveat...

This die cast hopper, although having rotating roller bearing capo trucks, has small wheels.  Therefore, the coupler was too low.

So, the install directions are the same for all of the scale trucks; friction and roller bearing with the hidden uncoupling tab, but those with small wheel sets, like this hopper, will need an offset shank coupler.

Thanks,

Mario

I'm going to put a note on all of the pages, that some of these truck mounts will need an offset shank Kadee coupler, #747: http://www.kadee.com/htmbord/page747.htm

Thanks,

Mario

If we have cars we like that do not have these type of lionel trucks how do we know these trucks will mount to them? trile and error perhaps? maybe a list of cars or car brands where these trucks are compatable with the cars boulsters could be started by though who have done this. this is now making me want to switch to all kaydees. 

I was doing some switching on my layout last night and having to use the uncoupling tracks and slamming cars together to get them to couple made me think of this thread again. cant wait to get what is needed and start converting my fleet. thanks again for the video. between you and dougs kaydee videos I am completly sold. 

Here's the first conversion using my truck-mounted design, from someone other than myself, AND the first Kadee conversion for Luis!  Congratulations!

These are Lionel Husky Stacks with Kadee #747s; looks awesome!

Welcome to the future!

I have the opposite problem; convert the Lionel scale coupler to an o scale coupler.  Does anyone market such a device, or should I create my own?

Jerry Curcio posted:

I have the opposite problem; convert the Lionel scale coupler to an o scale coupler.  Does anyone market such a device, or should I create my own?

Yes, ProtoCraft offers true to scale, Prototypically 48 scale couplers. Check their web site. They are NOT cheap (fine scale brass) but they do work just like a real railroad coupler.

Hot Water posted:

Jerry Curcio posted:

I have the opposite problem; convert the Lionel scale coupler to an o scale coupler.  Does anyone market such a device, or should I create my own?

Yes, ProtoCraft offers true to scale, Prototypically 48 scale couplers. Check their web site. They are NOT cheap (fine scale brass) but they do work just like a real railroad coupler.

The Protocraft are great looking couplers and relatively easy to install in the Kadee boxes. 

I use them for the head end couplers on my lead units. 

theres been a lot of work on adding Protocraft and Kadees to rolling stock as well. 

Thanks. 

Mario

I sure wish this was an S gauge thread!

Ray

Hot Water posted:

Jerry Curcio posted:

I have the opposite problem; convert the Lionel scale coupler to an o scale coupler.  Does anyone market such a device, or should I create my own?

Yes, ProtoCraft offers true to scale, Prototypically 48 scale couplers. Check their web site. They are NOT cheap (fine scale brass) but they do work just like a real railroad coupler.

Precision Scale also makes scale couplers in brass. Both working and dummy. You will need to add the working brakeman to work the lift bar though.

4081.77 is a dummy, the rest are working with different shank types. Check the Precision Scale catalog, available online for a better illustration.

Pete

Thanks for the reply.  I just picked up a Hudson Industries 700-t (the real deal is too rich for my blood) for my 773 Hudson.  It looks incredible, but then there's the issue of connecting the tender with other cars and which coupler style to use.  Thanks for your help. 

Jerry Curcio posted:

Thanks for the reply.  I just picked up a Hudson Industries 700-t (the real deal is too rich for my blood) for my 773 Hudson.  It looks incredible, but then there's the issue of connecting the tender with other cars and which coupler style to use.  Thanks for your help. 

If it’s a 700T it should fit this... the bottom of the journals say 700T on it and believe it’s the same tender frame.