Glad to be here

Hello all.

I am really enjoying this site. Great forums, responses are outstanding with links and attachments that are spot on for the requests for help.

My Frisco modeling interests are the Southwestern and Northern divisions at Afton and as far west as Vinita with a timeframe of January 1947 to July 1948. Not many miles but
lots of traffic.

Over the years I've accumulated 4500, 4200, 1632 and 182 class engines of the Frisco and some Katy power as well.

I have yet to figure out how to justify getting that Frisco 4-4-0
down to Afton from Kansas City.

Please pardon my Android tablet's formatting manners.

Ben

 

None of us 182-series owners need justification since they look so great. Were you able to fit a sorking coupler on the pilot?
Doug

 

I'm afraid not. A cosmetic dummy is there to stay.

A few lifetimes ago I would take brass Tenshodo engines to the frame, mill out the bearing slots for the drivers to correct engines that were a scale foot too tall. They pulled like crazy after that. The only problem was resale value took a hit (this was way before ebay).

I've mounted front couplers to other brass pieces and
each time the process is different.Having said that I will tell you what has worked for me.

I would say forget about draft gear, pick a coupler with a shank that can be drilled, use fine spring wire for centering if you want and make sure the coupler height is perfect. (think file work on the pilot beam opening).

Then, drill and tap the underside of the pilot deck to receive a screw, drill the coupler shank to clear the screw (trial fit goes without saying).

OK.
For the next step, shims (washers) will usually be needed.
Screw the coupler to the pilot deck underside. If the deck is thin sheet brass, you may need to forget tapping it and drill it to clear the screw and put a nut on the screw.

Best advice, get the right parts and tools and practice on scrap brass. That's worked for me.

Good luck!

Ben