Marklin Passenger car Conversion

Just wondering what is the best way to convert marklin passenger cars to MTL couplers. Also, I think I remember reading something on how to power a MTL B Unit. Can someone point me in the right direction. Thanks

 

MTL has some conversion couplers #901 and #902 medium and short shank. They fit in the Märklin coupler pocket at the Märklin truck. You can decide to convert only the truck which couples to the MTL locomotive. The shot shank version couples cars realy close, so requires wide curves.

 

You might want to visit the long running DIY Z scale info source:

http://www.zscale.org/articles/couplers.html#changing
.

 

Glenn Chenier figured it out. He sanded the wall of B unit's shell thinner to make it fit over the A unit's chassis. He built a fixture to hold and guide the shell on the correct path under -I think- a drill press equipped with a small sanding drum.

 

What is his website? Thanks

 

Thanks. Just need Joe to post a little more detailed instructions on how he did it, specifically the hole size and where to glue the new bolster plate. Looks good though.

 

Here ya go:
http://www.southernoregonz.com/Zmodels.html
.

 

Thanks for the link. I saw that but not sure what size hole in the new bolster plate should be drilled or where the bolster plate should be mounted. Thanks

 

Forgive me if I am missing something here, but wouldn't it be easier to just remove the bottom plate on the Marklin coupler box and remove the Marklin coupler and replace with a MTL coupler?

That's what I did on my Marklin passenger cars. No need to mess with changing out trucks......unless I'm missing something as I said.

I replaced the metal plate or plastic in some cases and put a tiny dob of medium CA on the pins that the plate fit over. To remove the plate you have to shave the pin heads off first. Easy enough job.

The only hard part was assembling a knuckle coupler and placing it in the box.

 

I think this is what I'm gonna do. Just looking for my options. Thanks for all that replied.

 

Should I go with the medium or short shank conversion couplers? How wide of a radius do the short shank require?

 

Joe said that both short and medium should work on tight radius.

Here's some pictures of the Marklin conversion technique I was talking about.

Whether the cars have the metal plate or the plastic cover, you still remove the pins to remove the plate and then just a dab of glue on the pins after replacing the cover...used medium body CA and be careful....just the smallest dab to hold cover plate on.