Has anyone knowledge of converting USA Trains’ Ulitmate Series 4-Bay Covered Hopper to Kadee 820s? Thanks.
Bill;
I looked at that plan, to convert one to an 820, but gave up on it. It wasn’t my car, and the guy wasn’t that particular, so I went with the “G” size, which readily fits the location.
USTrains has taken the tinplate approach and made the mounting pad adaptable to the “G” size. To use an 820 would mean shimming and drilling holes. It is quite doable, if you care to.
I’d use Styrene shims, glued to the body, then drill holes located by the Kadee draft gear box. I don’t have a car in front of me, so I forget exactly how I was planning on doing it.
The “G” Kadee coupler will mate readily with the #1 scale size, so if you want the simple approach, just go with the “G”
Bill,
I convert all my rolling stock to body mount KD’s.
You just have to do “what it takes”.
I use a KD height gauge and go from there.
If it means cutting the car, so be it.
If it means drilling holes, so be it.
If it means building an entire new mounting block, so be it.
Shimming, shaving, screwing, it all is done.
That’s the fun part of our hobby.
I have body mounted all my diesels, also, even if it means cutting off those stupid “mounting posts” and building up a new mounting block.
And the steam tenders.
TOG
Bill;
John is right on the mark. You just have to get right in there and do what you have to do, if you want the proper couplers on the car.
All of my 1:22.5, Narrow Gauge rolling stock has been converted over to Kadee, body mounted #1 scale couplers.
I’ve found that the good old 820/920’s fit most applications, and work very well.