TSG Media Video - MTL Tour

[thomasjmdavis]

How come the coupler assembly jigs don't come with one of those little tiny 'coupler pick' (not sure what to call it) that MTL uses to get the springs into the couplers?  (see 26:00 or thereabouts in the OP video link)
I think there is a marketing opportunity there.  Those of us who have assembled 100s of couplers trying to do that with screwdrivers and x-acto knives need that little tool.

[dem34]

OOHH. They do apply dullcoats to the pre weathered cars. I was always wondering what that funky smell was that you get from an unopened box of them.

[Mike C]

How come the coupler assembly jigs don't come with one of those little tiny 'coupler pick' (not sure what to call it) that MTL uses to get the springs into the couplers?  (see 26:00 or thereabouts in the OP video link)
I think there is a marketing opportunity there.  Those of us who have assembled 100s of couplers trying to do that with screwdrivers and x-acto knives need that little tool.

   Just use an xacto # 11 blade and you can pick the spring up by it's coils . Makes it real easy .

[jpwisc]

I was worried for a while that MicroTrains wasn’t going to keep up with the detail level of other manufacturers, but their  hi-cube is probably the best car they have ever made and the weathered cars keep getting better and better. It’s been fun seeing the evolution.

[thomasjmdavis]

   Just use an xacto # 11 blade and you can pick the spring up by it's coils . Makes it real easy .

A #11 makes it easier than doing it with my fingers, and I have gotten pretty good at doing it with a #11.  But the tool used in the MTL video appears much superior, at least to me.  If that tool wasn't better, I am sure MTL would be using a # 11 blade.

In any case, I realized that with some .005 brass or stainless scrap, and an old brush handle, I can make my own.  Which, I think, I am going to do right now.

[Jim Costello]

 The 'Coupler Pic' you mention looks very similar to the 'Spring Pic' Kadee used to sell. The Kadee #241 is a modernised version . The earlier version was a metal blade with a dimple on the end that held the spring in place.
 It  amy be too big for the MTL  springs
 Never used one as the #11 Exacto blade did the job

    Jim

[djconway]

OOHH. They do apply dullcoats to the pre weathered cars. I was always wondering what that funky smell was that you get from an unopened box of them.

OMG you let the factory air out 

[bbunge]

   Just use an xacto # 11 blade and you can pick the spring up by it's coils . Makes it real easy .

I have found the xacto blade works well for me with the springs, but getting that trip pin in.  That's the part I struggle with.  I inherited two of those MT couple jigs in a junk box, one nicely mounted on a piece of wood.  I was pretty shocked to not find a video anywhere (at least of about six months) ago that demonstrated how to use on.  I found the instructions on the website, but I'm more of a visual learner.

[JoeD]

OOHH. They do apply dullcoats to the pre weathered cars. I was always wondering what that funky smell was that you get from an unopened box of them.

look inside, we are missing a few field mice we use for testing gas in the air.  lol  

[James Costello]

I have found the xacto blade works well for me with the springs, but getting that trip pin in.  That's the part I struggle with.  I inherited two of those MT couple jigs in a junk box, one nicely mounted on a piece of wood.  I was pretty shocked to not find a video anywhere (at least of about six months) ago that demonstrated how to use on.  I found the instructions on the website, but I'm more of a visual learner.

Put bottom of the trip pin in a small, desk mounted modelling vise so the top of the pin sticks up vertical, deburr the top with a file, and then simply slip the coupler part on the pin to the required height.