Confused About Kato SD70MAC Coupler Conversion

[jagged ben]

For the record, on these models* if one cuts away the bottom corners of the Kato pilot opening to fit a 1015 box, then the coupler ends up approximately 0.009" too low, which is literally the difference I just measured between the thicknesses of the 1015 and 2004 box lids, the latter being thinner.  Also the Kato clip won't go in all the way, so now you have to carefully tap and screw without penetrating the walkway above.  So if you go that route, you'd need an entirely different essay from Bob on how to raise coupler height, which might not be possible without destroying pilot detail above the coupler. But you can avoid all that by following the earlier posts in this thread.

*applies to the SD70MAC, SD70Ace, SD70Ms, ES44s, and I'm sure some others produced since about 2005.

[robert3985]

At the risk of derailing the topic, I want to know more about the rolled-up cover on top of the nose grille. It looks great, and I'm pretty sure LL never included it!

@jwaldo - The sloppily rolled up radiator canvas cover is scratch built from scrap Styrene stock.  I carved a semi-round piece into sort of a spiral and since I was gonna mount it crooked on the top of the radiator, I cut another thin piece to fill the exposed corner of the radiator, glued it all together and painted it, weathered it...glued it on and never got around to making the straps (or ropes) that keep it rolled up. 

Frankly, I never liked the flat ends on the rolled up portion and I've thought that maybe a rolled up cover made from used and dried teabag paper might be a better solution using 6-0 suture silk as the tie-up straps.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[eja]

The old tea bag is the best solution to for radiator cover I have ever seen.  Sorry I no longer have the model or picture,  but they do work very well.

ed