1/20.3 couplers

[charon]

Fellow Bachmannians,
Being one of the peon's that has a small indoor layout with only 2' radius curves, has anyone been able to truck mount couplers on the excellent new 1/20.3 scale freight cars?  I realize they would look untypical running around the tight radii curves, but it would be better than having none at all.
Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
Happy Bachmanning,
Chuck

[Matthew (OV)]

You might try extending the drawbars....  Kadee has an arrangement like this for long passenger cars.... basically it adds a jointed bar between the coupler and the draft box.  The car spacing is ... well, horrible, but as you say, better than nothing?

Matthew (OV)

[Curmudgeon]

The only real issue I would have is running scale 1:20 cars on streetcar tracks!
Running that tight is something I have seen done, but only in a Navy Shipyard, and they used a coupler extender to do so.
You would really be better off with 1:22.5 rolling stock and Talgo mount couplers.

That said, making a coupler extension of styrene to connect to the truck should not be hard.
Conversly, a piece of flat brass on the kingpin between the truck and frame, with a brass rod crossways under the end of the car to hold it at the right height with the coupler attached would work, too.

I am certain some one will post a "google" how-to link shortly from their voice-activated software.

[VirginiaCentral]

Hi TOC, Which shipyard?  I have seen the same thing frequently done at the Norfolk yard.