Regular readers will recall the Amtrak Alco FAs I picked up in Springfield a couple of weeks ago...
To say that the couplers on the things were a trifle long would be like asserting water was mildly damp:
So, I set out to Do Something about the situation, with an eye to closing the approximately ten scale foot back-to-back gap between the FAs...
Here's the rear truck dismounted:
And dismantled:
On researching the subject, I came upon a thread here on OGRR which mentioned using MTH dummy couplers from a subway car to close up the gap. By happy coincidence, I have an MTH subway car knocking about the residence:
Since its primary raison d' etre is to be a flatcar load, I reasoned that it could perform that task quite satisfactorily sans couplers. To think was to act, and I soon had a pair of short-shanked dummy couplers with which to Do Things to the Alcos...
Here's a preliminary fit. Nearly perfect!
A little Dremel work with a sanding drum, and voila!
A WIP comparison of old and new couplers:
The new coupler installed and body shell test fit:
Before and after:
The completed consist. Still not prototypical, but we ARE dealing with O27 locos, here, and this IS a decided improvement...
And the finished product in action:
https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/f...5169210/GEDC1825.MOV
Hope this helps someone!
Mitch
