K4s Meets M1b Meets Godzilla

[chicken45]

For those not privy to the conversation, @chicken45 and I were discussing the situation on Friday night. I suggested the drawbar, but he doesn't want to go to all the effort of removing a whole screw every time he wants to pack them up. Some teasing may or may not have occurred.

While I certainly deserved having my balls busted, for this, and for bringing a bottle of Evian to Newport, introducing "jass music" to Newport, and for not owning anything camo, it illustrates a point about convience. Or laziness. Maybe even...practicality.   

Those things are large enough and the train phone is delicate. Lots of delicate grab irons too. Also, future weathering. Here's what I do NOT want to do:
Put those things in foam cradles every time I want to run them.
I don't have a Phillips screwdriver small enough to make easy. However, I could probably do MTL screws.
Those threads are pretty small. They are easy to accidentally screw in at an angle. Eventually, they will be stripped, and then I'm gonna have a bad time.

I do 90% of my running not my at my house. For Eric? You betcha! If I had a layout and didn't travel out, I'd bolt those chilopoda together in a heartbeat.

[Bob Bufkin]

I was trying to  hook them together when a small part dropped to the floor.   Can't find it.  Guess I'm going to have to see if tey sell that stupid setup.

[Angus Shops]

I've drawbar connected all of my InterMountain F units, but In a manner that allows them to be easily disconnected. Consider the connection between two units; one has the coupler removed and a short length of plastic tube (some small diameter) placed over the coupler mount screw and the screw reinserted to form a 'pin'. The opposite unit has another short tube with a plastic drawbar glued to it and mounted with the coupler mounting screw (not tight so the drawbar can swivel). The tube/drawbar assembly keeps the drawbar horizontal for easy 'coupling' and dependable service. The other end of the drawbar has a hole into which the pin of the other unit slips. The units are not permanently connected and can easily removed for cleaning etc., and that goofy 5 foot gap between units is gone.

Geoff

[peteski]

Those things are large enough and the train phone is delicate. Lots of delicate grab irons too. Also, future weathering. Here's what I do NOT want to do:
Put those things in foam cradles every time I want to run them.
I don't have a Phillips screwdriver small enough to make easy. However, I could probably do MTL screws.
Those threads are pretty small. They are easy to accidentally screw in at an angle. Eventually, they will be stripped, and then I'm gonna have a bad time.

The permanently-attached drawbar on the Cedntipedes is was a knucklehead move on the BLI's part. Dumb!  I have the right tools and abilities and I still managed to cross-thread the screw when I was putting the locos together for their initial run.  The hole threaded in plastic is not helpful in this task either.  The entire coupling process was very awkward (there was some cussing involved too).   I too like to keep my models in their boxes when not in use (I only run them on friend's layout or on an NTRAK layout).  That drawbar makes this difficult.  There are plenty of ways to make the connection between the units solid enough, but not permanent. Just look at all snap-apart couplings used by various other manufacturers.

[Bob Bufkin]

A friend told me today that Klein's has a set in the damaged section (don't know what kind of damage) for $80 bucks.  He almost bought them.  Might be worth checking out (if they are still there) at that price.

[eric220]

A friend told me today that Klein's has a set in the damaged section (don't know what kind of damage) for $80 bucks.  He almost bought them.  Might be worth checking out (if they are still there) at that price.

Paging @Dave Vollmer paging @Dave Vollmer

[Dave V]

Awesome!  I was just thinking how badly I need badly damaged Centipedes!

[Bob Bufkin]

He did get  2 F units which just had a coupler missing.

[eric220]

Awesome!  I was just thinking how badly I need badly damaged Centipedes!

Didn't think you turned down damaged goods that easily.

 

[muktown128]

I agree, the drawbar is a real PITA to install and one reason why they are still not packed away.

Scott

[Dave V]

Stopped by MBK on the way back to BWI.  If these damaged Centipedes existed, someone beat me to them.