|
|
 Posted - March 31 2012 : 11:07:50 PM
|
I've got an annoying problem. I've just recently gotten into the actual MODELING part of model railroading (i.e., not just replacing couplers and axles, but more extensive modifications), and though I have more than a dozen things going right now, there's only one that's really hanging me.
I've got this old Roco 50' Mechanical Reefer custom painted and decaled for Tropicana. Yes, it's a clone of an AHM car made not long after the previous owner made this one. I bought it used. The shell is a little worn-looking, but still totally fine. The frame, on the other hand, needed major work.
The previous owner hacked off the talgo coupler boxes and epoxied (with about a teaspoon of epoxy) kadee coupler boxes onto the frame at an angle. He proceeded to install 2 kadee plates in each box, and held them together with cross-threaded screws. It was unusable the way it was.
I managed to hack all of that off, except the tops of the coupler boxes. They're stuck fast with way too much epoxy (why not just chill out a little and use plastic cement, man? You HAD to epoxy them), beaten to a pulp, and in the way of installing new ones correctly. I've tried prying them and picking at them with a screwdriver, I've tried sanding, I've tried using this big steel file I borrowed, and nothing will touch them. I've even done some research, and there isn't a solvent out there that'll get rid of my epoxy but NOT melt the entire plastic frame. What do I do?
--CRC
|
Country:  USA ~
Posts: 930 ~
Member Since: January 25 2012 ~
Last Visit: August 23 2023
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - April 02 2012 : 02:58:35 AM
|
PRR 4800,
You may have no choice but to replace the whole set up! As for the Kadee couplers, (I would imagine you want to save them)....melt the Kadee boxes, AFTER they are dremel cut off the existing frame!
Any pictures of this mess?
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid... 
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 2911 ~
Member Since: March 26 2012 ~
Last Visit: January 14 2014
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - April 03 2012 : 4:56:14 PM
|
If form is to follow function (in other words, if you're not concerned with how the underside looks, but just want it to work), call it a day and just cut off the coupler boxes. Make a nice, clean square "notch" cutout where they were, leave as much of the surrounding original chassis to work with as you can.
To repair, glue some flat styrene stock on the inside of the chassis (where the weight would go), "above the hole" so to speak, to patch the chassis. On the underside of this patch, use smaller styrene pads to fill the hole to the same thickness as the chassis was originally. Install new kadee boxes properly, and you're back in business.
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 2798 ~
Member Since: September 17 2010 ~
Last Visit: July 22 2015
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - April 23 2012 : 8:32:02 PM
|
Dremel! That's it! I'll find me a dremel. The couplers are already off, all there is is a shred of coupler plate left over. The kadees and screws are already in use somewhere else.
--CRC
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 930 ~
Member Since: January 25 2012 ~
Last Visit: August 23 2023
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
Home
Forums
Events Calendar
Forum Admins & Mods
Register
