I finally got up this morning and got decoders installed in the AB set of IM Yellow Bonnets I have had for a while . While I was at it I made a brawbar and close coupled them. I know they were not braw bared but I do not plan on splitting them. They seem to track fine on the layout so may put diaphragms in. Mike
Very pretty. BTW, when coupled back-to-back, prototype F units were 3 feet apart, measured between the vertical ends of the 2 car bodies (silver on yours). MH
No critiquing here...grin. Awesome job Mike, I like the paint scheme. Oh, my oversight that's an IM paint scheme? How did I miss out on that? With regard to the decoders.... we need to see a video of them running. Then I can say, "Hey they run great". What is this a day to harass Mike? Grin! As always, enjoying your input.
Sorry, Mike; no intent to harass. The only reason I commented is that I spent (wasted?) a lot of time trying different methods of close-coupling mine, and not everyone knows about the 3-feet thing. Were you planning on heavily weathering them? One of my dilemmas on mine is how to weather the "black hole" black they're painted in. As you can see from my image, it's hard to see any detail, even when the image is over-lightened in Photoshop. MH
Mark and of course everyone tuned in, What couplers did you use to get the close coupling? Curious in Big Bear Lake, CA.
Don't mean to hijack Mike's thread, but I got the idea from Trainboard http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/...ad.php?t=91084. The advantage is that they are mounted using the standard IM screws (shimmed with a piece of brass tubing to avoid the screw protruding too far "up" into the carbody), so one can revert to the original MT automatic couplers at any time. Look for the following post in the above thread: <quote> Rail Line HOn3 couplers. First shot are Kato F7s. The second two are of an IM FT. They just about work for every F unit out there. <snip> Credit to Jim Bence for this suggestion. <unquote> MH
Oh man Mark , I didn't think it was harrasing at all and in all honesty I had just herd that yesterday from a local guy Mike Cannizerro. I would add some correction detail if I ever weather them. I would change the horns and try to do something with the side skirts and of coarse the front lift rings. Thanks Mark , Mike
Mike, it sure would be nice if IM re-issued the Yellow Bonnets ! They're hard to find. fatalxsunrider43
We sold our last batch of yellow bonnets as well as the FVM hiawatha in less than an hour each. You just never know!! I wish Kato would re-run the freight cigar band , single headlight. Mike
Mark, I appreciate the heads up. Turns out I use the same Unimate Coupler to get the job done. Mike, I would like to see the single headlight AT&SF F7's re-run by Kato. Fatal, I too, would like to see IM re-run the Yellow Bonnets along with a Blue Bonnet on their F7's. We shall take a wait and see attitude and grumble a-lot...until we get them. Grin!
Yes, this was the same thing I did in my Unimatathon! Sad part is, I ran out of Unimates before I could finish. But more are on the way now. I just got the short shanks for the Kato Unimatathon to begin. If only Kato would forget about their couplers and use MT's, life would be a lot simpler! Oh, and MT could make some shorter shank couplers too!
Rick / Dave: Actually I didn't use Unimates; I used the HOn3 couplers mentioned partway down the page of the link I gave. (True the thread starts out talking Unimates, but you have to be patient and get to the part which discusses alternatives...). The problem with Unimates is that they don't quite give the desired 3-foot coupling on the IM F units. MH
Ahh, interesting. You are right I didn't read down into the thread far enough. On the distance I'm not sure what you mean. To far, to short? Help me out here. To be honest three scale feet seems a bit far apart. I prefer the close coupling I get with the Unimates and I'm not sure I'd want them much closer. If you know what I mean.
Well that may be, but I am happy enough with the Unimates. The extra space is not needed on my layout, but may be needed if I run on the club layout or some other layout. I do not switch sets of F units, so I just need the simple solution. The math works out to .225 inches for a scale 3 feet. The Unimates come out to .258 or about 5.28 inches too wide at 41.28 inches apart. I am not going to worry about a scale difference of .033 inches.
David, Nor will I. Thanks for taking the time to measure them. RE: The "Raccoon". LOL, I feed enough of those here. Quick grab a gun and a hound dog it's time to go coon hunting. Got's to get busy on my layout. I just backed out from a layout tour but you can always contact me for a "Private Showing".
