A recent visit to the club layout with my LGB Empire Builder really showed off the horrible gap between cars (more pronounced in curves, see the gap between the dome and the coach behind it). I’m no ‘rivet counter’ but this was too much even for me…
. . I know these are meant to navigate R1 curves but I don’t run these cars on them. Kadee’s site was no help so I looked in my ‘tool box’…
The gap between cars is just about 3 inches! . .
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj222/Noble_Dreg/Coupler/C2.jpg)
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj222/Noble_Dreg/Coupler/C3.jpg)
I have a LOT of Bachmann 1:20.3 rolling stock. Each comes with a set of conversion couplers to run your non-Spectrum Bachmann stock with the body mount spectrum units… .
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj222/Noble_Dreg/Coupler/C4.jpg)
. . And check out how well they match the LGB knuckle coupler. They are fully compatible! . .
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj222/Noble_Dreg/Coupler/C5.jpg)
. . So…
I removed the stock LGB coupler arms and shortened a standard Bachmann coupler box to fit (The standard length prevented the LGB truck from fully pivoting). . .
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj222/Noble_Dreg/Coupler/C7.jpg)
. . I did have to shim under the coupler with a piece of .080" styrene. The “lip” on top of the Bachmann box is a perfect fit for the LGB “slot” (roughly 1/8th inch inside from the car end). This slot holds the coupler box square and allows the one screw to hold it square). . .
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj222/Noble_Dreg/Coupler/C6.jpg)
The end result…Before: . .
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj222/Noble_Dreg/Coupler/C2.jpg)
. . After: . .
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj222/Noble_Dreg/Coupler/C8.jpg)
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj222/Noble_Dreg/Coupler/C9.jpg)
. . It can only navigate LGB R3 or better but as that happens to match the club and my own layout I don’t care. I like the new look!
Nice use of on-hand materials with a great result 
