Well, week 4 of my Thing-a-week challenge draws to a close (yes, I know the weekend starts tomorrow, but I usually work weekends and have little time for modeling). What have I accomplished? I disassembled, cleaned, lubed, and repaired the drive mechanism of the little 4-wheel AHM/IHC switcher I am bashing into an On30 electric locomotive.

After getting the mechanism running (but before rewiring it for overhead power draw), I wanted to mount the couplers before continuing. I ran a debate in my mind about which kind to use, contemplated using HO gauge couplers (a #27 would fit perfectly in this locomotive chassis), but decided I wanted to use the larger On3 couplers Kadee makes. They required some modifications to the chassis and lower part of the shell. But first, they required a new coupler height gauge.

This was something I lacked while working on On30 before using the On3/S scale couplers, but somehow made it work. Now, however, I am tired of trying to fudge the mounts and want to do it correctly. I started with a Kadee HO gauge coupler height gauge, cut the back end (mounting point) off of a plastic HO Kadee coupler, used it to fill the odd mounting hole in the height gauge, and then mounted an S scale Kadee over the top of that. It worked remarkably well.

Here you can see my modified coupler gauge in front, and the chassis with its new couplers in the back. These required me to cut into the ends of the chassis-shell to raise the mounting point up, and cut into the chassis frame to allow for the wider coupler boxes.

I would take a closer-up picture, but I think it is going to require a better camera, as the one I have won't focus on the coupler gauge from less than 15" away. Regardless, the chassis has couplers mounted now, I have a new tool to help me with modeling efforts for the railroad, and now I know where I will have to cut away the weights so they'll fit over the coupler boxes. All in all, this has been a very productive 4th week of my Thing-a-week challenge, especially after spending the first 3 weeks just cleaning my workshop and organizing stuff that was still packed from the move. Now, if only I could find my scale ruler... Good thing 1/4 inch = 1 foot in O scale, or I would have a problem!

- Brian