DAPOL 00 wagon conversion
Posted
#107695
(In Topic #5684)
Guest user
I got to & modified it for my D&S railway & this is it
Bit of weathering & it will be on the tracks soon. The other wagon has also been modified & they will join a train of other mineral wagons carting gravel.
Posted
Inactive Member
Max
Port Elderley
Port Elderley
Posted
Guest user
Are you having a mineral dropper in you new two level centre terminus extension?
Brian
Posted
Guest user
Posted
Full Member
Looks pretty good after the D & S treatment. :cheers
'Petermac
Posted
Guest user
The hardest part was getting the Kadee onto it. Plugging a Kadee NEM type coupler was too low & too long especially after de-buffering so I had to instal a Kadee 30 series box & a Underset Shank coupler & I even had to cut away some of the plastic underneath to fit the smaller coupler box.
This version of coupler http://kadee.com/htmbord/page37.htm with the box on top of the shank.
Posted
Guest user
Dapol is the one type of wagon that is stumping me at the moment. I've read elsewhere that some hacking about is required, but not seen any sort of instructions.
Posted
Legacy Member
reg
Posted
Guest user
Sol will reply when he's able, no doubt, Reg. For my part, I have some of the most useful bits in stock ready, especially the 3 sizes that plug into the NEM fittings now quite common on British stock.Do you hold a range of Kadee stuff ,just in case Ron .Or do you go out to purchase to suit the individual pieces of stock?
Posted
Full Member
…………………………………………………especially the 3 sizes that plug into the NEM fittings now quite common on British stock.
Would you care to share those sizes with me Jeff ?
I've always liked the Kadee coupling system but have never got around to changing anything - maybe now's the time ………..:roll:
'Petermac
Posted
Guest user
For the Kadee NEM sizes, refer to http://kadee.com/htmbord/page17.htm for the short version, ;next size #18 is http://kadee.com/htmbord/page18.htm
just change the page number to 19 & 20 for the other two sizes & to make it easy, I will scan that page from the catalogue a bit later when I get some photos of what I cut away underneath to fit the box.
Posted
Guest user
Now the wagon showing the existing sprung NEM mounting & tension lock - normally screwedd in but I turfed the screw & had to hunt through my rubbish to find the two parts again.
now with the tension lock unit removed to show the method of springing
Now cutting away some of the plastic to allow the box to fit. Even if one left the buffers on, a standard box will not fit without more cutting back. A hole is drilled to take a small screw - self tapping or the Kadee version Part256 which is a 2-56 x 1/2"
Now with the coupler fitted - if still using buffers, then a longer shanked coupler will be required.
Note that the coupler is not centred as I am using for the photo example, a Whiskered coupler which does not fit into this Series box properly so I am getting the Series 252 boxes via mail this week.
Earlier DAPOL wagons with the larger T/L clipped in requires a complete removal of plastic supports & the glueing on of some styrene to give a base for the Kadee box to be anchored. There are two different earlier versions that I am aware of & both require slightly different actions.
Posted
Full Member
'Petermac
Posted
Guest user
Very comprehensive and informative coverage Ron - many thanks.:thumbs
The account is in the mail
I find fitting Kadees a challenge on some & very easy on others.
Locos - Steam - Tank are the worst for older pre-NEM pocket versions
Posted
Guest user
Posted
Guest user
fill the hole with styrene
and the base height is ideal for a standard box & #5 coupler
Now if you want to use an Underset shank coupler like #47
bit too close but I think you get the idea - in this case, using some bread bag clip made out of styrene , a base is made
Posted
Guest user
This is one such link
Posted
Guest user
Posted
Guest user
A good test of trackwork & rolling stock is to propel a long train backwards through all types of trackwork at some speed without derailing. This ensures rolling stock is weighted correctly, has back-to-backs set all to the same standard & that track work is smooth at all joins.
I have found with this process of testing, that Conflat wagons are the worst as it is hard to add sufficient weight to them empty.
Even if you do not use Kadee, it has been found that mixing the varieties of tension lock couplings creates problems.
Posted
Guest user
My last layout had two levels (one over the other) which climbed in a 1:39 gradient. I never had any problems with Kadee where the transition from flat to climb was smooth or where the climb was even. I did have one spot where the wagons were uncoupling constantly though - careful examination revealed a depressed section (dip) in the climb about 3" long. I packed some spacers under the diepression to even things out and had no more trouble. The key to reliable working is to get the height exactly right, exact across all the couplings used and without any up and down flop. A Kadee height gauge is vital for this.
1 guest and 0 members have just viewed this.