Attaching Tiny Parts..

[jacon12]

I'm working on my first locomotive, a Kato HO scale SD-40, and the very small parts (hoses?) that attach to the front end, down low... are giving me a fit because I'm not yet used to handling tweezers etc. From looking at prototype pictures of the loco these hoses look to be about 3 feet or so in length and are fitted behind where the front 'scoop' would be if my particular engine had one.
What are these hoses for on the prototype, and... do you have any tips or suggestions for holding the locomotive in a position that makes this easier and for holding the small part, i.e. tweezers or what? In other words, how do experienced modelers do it?
Thanks for any help!
Jacon

[Anonymous]

They are the air hoses and mostly the Mutiple Unit (MU) hoses. They connect diesel engines together so they can all be operated from a single unit. They control engine power, brakes, sand, etc.

I added the details to a similar Kato engine for a friend, and do recall the difficulties in attaching the hoses but don't recall specifically how I did it. The "scoop" on the front pilot is a snow plow. I do have a purchased foam cradle for working on engines, and it does make it easier when adding such small details.

Good luck!

Bob Boudreau

[jacon12]

Thanks Bob, now I know! I'll have to look around for one of the foam cradles or try to build something that can be angled up and down and sideways.
Jacon

[Anonymous]

Here's a link to a locomotive Cradle. Another helpful item I use a lot is a OPTIVISOR BINOCULAR MAGNIFIER.

[willy6]

i have a magnified light, foam cradle and those special Kadee tweezers, and most of all "patience". it works well.

[BRAKIE]

Jacon,As food for thought..I use the Atlas MU hoses..You see these are one piece..All I need to do is file off the little mounting dubs and then I simply glue them on.The bad part..All to sadly the Atlas MU hoses is hard to find and more then likely will need to be ordered from Atlas.