One way to deal with open pilots.

JoeS Nov 21, 2020

  1. JoeS

    JoeS TrainBoard Member

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    So obviously with AZLs new RS 3 series open pilots might be a thing of the past going forward. I remember how impressive the GP 7/9s looked with the snap on pilot. Of course you had to trim the coupler off the truck but it was so much better looking.

    However locomotives like GP 30 and 38 still had open pilot on rear. Sure you could body mount a coupler and pilot and many on this forum did that. Well I thought. Is there an easier way to make it look better? So I trimmed a plow to allow enough swing and I got this
    67A31089-F562-472C-98B6-CE4C71326C85.jpeg
    you’ll notice it doesn’t look bad plus no truck coupler modification needed.


    So...I did same with MT no coupler modification....and they are functional with full swing. I did however have to trim the pins off coupler.
     

    Attached Files:

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  2. JoeS

    JoeS TrainBoard Member

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  3. JoeS

    JoeS TrainBoard Member

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    And here is the rear. On the one unit I just cut cardboard and glued styrene strip on bottom and just filed away until couple swing was right.
    BCF00428-4F68-4887-B045-880F2131F4EA.jpeg
     
  4. JoeS

    JoeS TrainBoard Member

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    Now obviously there are better ways but this way I didn’t have to cut couplers off. So a small win :)
     
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  5. JoeS

    JoeS TrainBoard Member

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    You’ll notice the fronts of mt the coupler sits back but the coupler works because the car coupled is able to swing.
     
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  6. bostonjim

    bostonjim TrainBoard Member

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    Maybe some safety stripes on the cardboard one? Jim
     
  7. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    Nice work! (y)
     
  8. Doug A.

    Doug A. TrainBoard Supporter

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    Nice little mod to take away some of the harshness of the open pilot. Thanks for sharing.

    I bet at normal viewing (versus the "O-Scale" photos of Z... ;) ) they really would hide the warts pretty well.
     
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  9. ddechamp71

    ddechamp71 TrainBoard Member

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    Looks good. But on the MT units, no way to keep trip pins on truck mounted couplers, even at the expense of filing plow a little bit more ?

    Dom
     
  10. JoeS

    JoeS TrainBoard Member

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    B5954FC0-54D7-4EF0-AC58-1B0B0BD4BAB3.jpeg
    I thought about it and I cut bottom and filed away on the cardboard pilot. I am thinking this would work
    0480F4AB-E44F-4256-820D-B593EB034121.jpeg
     
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  11. JoeS

    JoeS TrainBoard Member

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    Now let me think about plows...
     
  12. JoeS

    JoeS TrainBoard Member

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    33B392A6-E86D-45F8-9AF0-3A1D2B2956C7.jpeg
    Well this does it! I glued plow over the cardboard with no running steps. After it set I trimmed the bottom out and this really works well! Much better!
     
  13. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    Looks good!(y)
     
  14. ddechamp71

    ddechamp71 TrainBoard Member

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    And still with full MTL coupler, allowing (electro)magnetic uncoupling ? :)

    Dom
     
  15. JoeS

    JoeS TrainBoard Member

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    What I can say is it hooks up and runs fine with micro trains couplers that have the pin. Unfortunately as you see from my earlier design I cut the pin off the loco so a little inconclusive
     
  16. ddechamp71

    ddechamp71 TrainBoard Member

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    OK... Anyway the result is very nice and prototypical. :love:

    Dom
     

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