Athearn's Airslide

[inkaneer]

This baby has body mounted couplers - I still don't like how the McHenry's stick out, so when I get a chance I'm gonna see if an Accumate will fit in that coupler pocket and improve the situation.

Mark

I don't think the Accumates will help you. If you look at the comparison of the MTL, Accumate and McHenry on the Nscale Division's website they all appear to have the same shank length.  Mchenry needs to come out with a shorter shank which should be relatively easy since, unlike the MT or Accumate couplers all of the coupling pivoting action is contained in the coupler head itself and not further back along the shank.  A McHenry with a short shank would fit well in close coupling IM F units as well as LifeLike FA/B's and possibly steam locomotive pilots. 

[Mark5]

This baby has body mounted couplers - I still don't like how the McHenry's stick out, so when I get a chance I'm gonna see if an Accumate will fit in that coupler pocket and improve the situation.

Mark

I don't think the Accumates will help you. If you look at the comparison of the MTL, Accumate and McHenry on the Nscale Division's website <snip>

Actually, I was comparing them loose last nite - the shanks are about the same length but the accumate knuckle is shorter, so theoretically the accumate might be a tiny bit shorter. I was unable to swap the accumate into it for a real test though cuz I need a smaller phillips head screwdriver. :

Once I get the new screwdriver set I'll give it a whirl, but I gotta feeling that I still won't be happy with the coupling distance.

A shorter shank version of either the Accumate or McH would make things a lot simpler.

Since the shank is one piece on the McH it would probably be easier for them to tool up a short shank than it would be for the two piece Accumate ...

Mark

[Mark5]

I don't think the Accumates will help you.

You were right.

I finally picked a small enough Philips screwdriver today (000) and did the swap. The "face" of the McHenry and Accumate couplers stick out the same length. >

On a side note, I lost one of the coupler pocket screws. : Unlike most earlier Athearn cars I have - no parts diagram ...

So, now I'm wondering what to do about couplers. For the time being I'll stick the McH back on.

Dammit!

Any simple Micro-Trains solutions? (Hey Joe - you guys working on something for these?)

Mark

[Mark5]

Another thing I noted - when you "push" the Mchenry from side to side, you'll see there isn't much room for them to shorten the "shaft", especially when pivoted to the right (the spring almost touches the right edge of the coupler box).

The accumates do appear to have room for a shortened shaft (based on non-technical eye-ball analysis).

Mark.