Housing Cover for EZ Mate Coupler

[kdgrant6]

I bought a used Walther boxcar that came without one EZ mate coupler and the housing cover that attaches with a screw.  I have extras couplers, but I don't have an extra cover nor screw.  Walthers doesn't show one on its site, at least not one I can find.

Any suggestions?

[trainmainbrian]

Athearn make's Coupler Covers My Friend... You can try them...or you can try making your own cover out of styrene or similar material...

[Len]

I've used covers from Kadee #234 and #242 draft gear boxes to replace missing Bachmann coupler box covers.

Len

[rogertra]

Make a coupler box cover out of Plastruct or similar.  It's not difficult, it just requires a sharp knife.

This is a hobby, you shouldn't need to buy everything.   Part of it being a hobby is learning to make, repair and build things yourself.

Sheets and strips of plastic and various plastic shapes should be part of your supplies as should hobby knives, drills, files, jeweller's screw drivers, an NMRA standards gauge and coupler height gauge, etc., etc.. just for making these kinds of repairs and fixes.

Cheers

Roger T.

[Len]

I'm frugal, and lazy. I'd rather spend $2.00 at the LHS for a dozen Kadee coupler boxes, than reinvent the wheel making my own. Now using styrene to build a custom bridge for EZ-Track, that's a whole 'nother story.

Len

[kdgrant6]

I agree with Len. 
Along with all the other accouterment of this hobby, I would throw in tact as a good tool.

[Hunt]

. . .
Along with all the other accouterment of this hobby, I would throw in tact as a good tool.

All
Do not allow your knowledge to be limited because of the way information is presented.

[kdgrant6]

Well said, Hunt.  Thank you. I appreciate your gift.

These are on my to-buy list:
Sheets and strips of plastic and various plastic shapes should be part of your supplies as should hobby knives, drills, files, jeweller's screw drivers, an NMRA standards gauge and coupler height gauge, etc., etc.. just for making these kinds of repairs and fixes..

[electrical whiz kid]

Grant;
Look at Tichy for parts, for example; good quality.  There are others, like Kadee, etc; when (if) you decide to broaden your horizons.  I won't try to speak for all, but for many in this hobby, there is derived a great satisfaction from knowing where to look for specific parts for their needs; which makes that part of things go pretty smooth.
I won't knock Bachmann-I have a great many of their steamers and am pretty well satisfied with them.  I do, however, change looks to what I want-again knowing where to look for parts specific.  Outside of HO, I have Fn3, as well as On30-all of which is Bachmann.  Happy happy me.
Cars are an area of Bachmann that, for whatever reason, I had never ventured into; again, their product is very well put together.  Most of what I build at this point, is scratch, scratch-bashed, or kit-bashed.  That is where I derive a good deal of fun.  My thing; my jing.  I guess I have been pretty fortunate in bumping into what I have done so here.
One thing:  This hobby, like so many other endeavours, is a cumulative thing.  Once you get past the newbie stage, you'll see.

Hunt;
Ref:  Knowledge:  Wouldn't "thinking outside of the box" be the same thing?
SGT. C

[kdgrant6]

I can certainly understand the attraction of being as self-sufficient as possible. 

The car with the missing coupler is a Walther's, not a Bachmann.

After such a short time in this hobby, I am amazed at the passion at play.  And you're right: there are plenty of different places for satisfaction in this hobby.  My list of what I need to learn is growing.

Thanks for your help.

[jbrock27]

The lid of a Kadee #5 draft gear box may very well do the trick.  It may or may not need some modification.  Do you have any around to use to take a look see?

*Yea, not w/o trimming off the round hump in the middle.  A Kadee shim may work too, but even the .015" is thinner than the aforementioned lid.   That would be my 2nd choice for it being more flimsy.  Maybe glue 2 shims together first then use them as "one" cover?

[kdgrant6]

The lid of a Kadee #5 draft gear box may very well do the trick.  It may or may not need some modification.  Do you have any around to use to take a look see?

I've heard about them, but don't have one here.

[Len]

You can see the various Kadee draft gear boxes here: http://www.kadee.com/htmbord/HO-Scale_Gear_Box.htm

If the boss that holds the coupler in place is built into the coupler box on the car, just take the boss on the KD lid off with an X-Acto knife or Zona saw and file or sand smooth.

Personally, I like the #242 boxes because you don't have to mess with trimming the 'ears' for fastening the box to wood car floors off. And they work quite well with Bachmann, and other, cars with missing lids.

Len

[kdgrant6]

Thanks.  I'll check this out soon.