Walther Proto E8s Question

[nickelplate759]

Old thread - but...
I have a few of these Walthers/Life-Like E8s with the metal split-frame and body-mounted Rapido couplers.  I'd like to add Micro-trains couplers, or failing that, Unimate dummy couplers.  They have somewhat unusual mounting assemblies for the existing Rapido couplers - anyone have any tips on on how to do the conversion?

[thomasjmdavis]

My Walthers version has a dummy knuckle coupler on the front end.  It looks proprietary- has sort of a round spring.  If I remember correctly, it was included with the loco as an option.  I think a 1015, or the small coupler (EDIT- I looked it up- what I meant is the MTL  2004- the MTL Z coupler mentioned below by x600 might also fit) used in the nose of Kato E and F units might fit in there (there are a couple of ridges cast into the coupler mount that look like they would fit either side of the box)

For the rear coupler (assuming yours is put together the same as the one I have), the bracket that holds the rapido coupler can also be used to clamp in a 1015 or 1016- at least, that's what is mounted on mine.  I did this 10+ years ago, and don't remember exactly what I did. But it is the same bracket shown on the parts diagram.  You might be able to ditch the bracket and just use a 00-90 screw.

[x600]

Hi George!
Boy, I've gotta fire up the way way back machine to help you out.
I had the older LL Es and the MT Zscale pops right in the front. I used the Medium or Short Unimate in the rear.
I used them to pull my Con Cor "Phoebe Snow" until I finally replaced them with Kato Es that I custom painted.
The Z in the nose coupled up fine with the Kato knuckles that I put in the Con Cor trucks. They also coupled fine with the
MT N scale couplers on the express Boxcars. The Kato couplers were the older 11-702 that was on the older Kato passenger  cars. The MT N coupler trip pin hit the pilot because the pin had to go through the screw hole, and the longer ones drooped.
Wow I didn't know those brain cells were still accessible.
The LLs are long gone, and my more correct version of Phoebe is pulled by Kato or BLI Es.

Greg O.