HO, Centering Device/Drawbar Carrier/Support for Back of F Unit

[Shock Control]

Does anyone make a U-shaped rear stirrup for an F unit, or is it just as easy to fashion one out of a piece of wire?

[doctorwayne]

Most of the ones I've seen are usually part of the body-shell casting...

If one of them has been broken-off, but you still have it, you should be able to cement it back in place using a solvent-type liquid cement.  If needed, you could also drill two two suitably-sized holes in the bottom edge of the body shell, and another two matching holes in the broken-off step, then make the connection with wire and glue, which should create an even sturdier repair.

If the broken-off step is not available, it shouldn't be too difficult to create a new one from sheet styrene, using the remaining ones as a pattern.

I don't ever recall seeing a stirrup-type step, made from flat steel bar (like those on freight cars) on an F-unit.

EDIT:

Sorry, but I misread your inquiry.  If you need a stirrup step for the rear of the locomotive, you could use one of three-types, available from A-Line, or simply fabricate one from flat brass bar stock, available from K&S.

While you could also use wire, it wouldn't be very prototypical.

Wayne

 

[Shock Control]

doctorwayne

Sorry, but I misread your inquiry.  If you need a stirrup step for the rear of the locomotive, you could use one of three-types, available from A-Line, or simply fabricate one from flat brass bar stock, available from K&S.

While you could also use wire, it wouldn't be very prototypical.

Wayne

Thank you.  I couldn't find the ones from A-Line.

Which thickness of the brass bar stock would you suggest?

[richhotrain]

Can you post a photo of a stirrup step for the rear of an F7 locomotive?

I am trying to visualize it.

Rich

 

[NHTX]

Shock Control,

     If you are referring to the steps under the rear doors in the sides of F unit carbodies, I suggest you check out Cal-Scale part number 190-448 as listed in the Cal-Scale section of www.bowser-trains.com.  They list them as being for E and F units.

[doctorwayne]

Shock Control

I couldn't find the ones from A-Line. Which thickness of the brass bar stock would you suggest?

I use .010"x.030" brass strip to make steps for baggage cars.  The whole assembly is added by drilling suitably-sized holes in the bottom edge of the car's sides.  The intermediate step is soldered in place, before installation on the car.

(Click on the photo for a bigger image)

Here's a link to A-Line, with examples of their sill steps.

Wayne

[Shock Control]

Thanks, all.  I think I am using incorrect terminology.

On the bottom rear of F units below the door, there is a large u-shaped thing that goes under the coupler.  Here is an image:

https://www.detailswest.com/images/reardraft1.gif

 

[richhotrain]

Shock Control

Thanks, all.  I think I am using incorrect terminology.

On the bottom rear of F units below the door, there is a large u-shaped thing that goes under the coupler.  Here is an image:

https://www.detailswest.com/images/reardraft1.gif 

I am not certain, but I believe that it is called a "coupler centering device".

Rich

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

Shock Control

Thanks, all.  I think I am using incorrect terminology.

On the bottom rear of F units below the door, there is a large u-shaped thing that goes under the coupler.  Here is an image:

https://www.detailswest.com/images/reardraft1.gif

 

 

That is not a step. On the real locomtives, that is actually a support bar that the coupler shank rides on.

Some models of F units have that piece modeled, some do not.

Sheldon

[maxman]

Shock Control

Thanks, all.  I think I am using incorrect terminology.

On the bottom rear of F units below the door, there is a large u-shaped thing that goes under the coupler.  Here is an image:

https://www.detailswest.com/images/reardraft1.gif

Since you found that picture from detailswest.com, does not DetailsWest have that item?

[Shock Control]

maxman

Since you found that picture from detailswest.com, does not DetailsWest have that item?

I just googled the image.  I will see.  

[Shock Control]

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

 That is not a step. On the real locomtives, that is actually a support bar that the coupler shank rides on.

Some models of F units have that piece modeled, some do not.

Sheldon

Correct.  I am wondering if there is a free-standing piece that I may be able to attach to a model without one.  I will check.

[richhotrain]

Shock Control

 

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

 That is not a step. On the real locomtives, that is actually a support bar that the coupler shank rides on.Some models of F units have that piece modeled, some do not.

Sheldon 

Correct.  I am wondering if there is a free-standing piece that I may be able to attach to a model without one.  I will check. 

Who is the manufacturer of your F7?

Rich

[Attuvian1]

Shock Control

maxman

Since you found that picture from detailswest.com, does not DetailsWest have that item?

I just googled the image.  I will see.  

 

 

I have the Details West Catalog.  The under-shank brace is a part of their Stock #FB-209.  It's for B-units.  The set is described as pewter and photos of the packages online show that it includes two each of door frames (dummies for diaphragms?), an apparent draw bar/coupler shank channel (?), and the roundish brace or centering device that Rich and Sheldon refer to above.  I don't know how (or if) the packaging specifically identifies the contents on the back.

The Details West site does NOT seems to indicate that any of these parts are included in the #FA-208 detail kit for A-units.  Guess if you're going to do the back of an "A" you have to get both kits and have three items as left-overs.

As for current availability?  The latest Details West Catalog does not show them as discontinued but I note that at least some of the regular mail-order outlets are out of stock.

As Sheldon has said, some F unit manufacturers model this and some dont.  I do know that old Blue Box Fs modelled only the vertical portions and not the round, transverse section.  Just a "teaser", I guess.  It may be that if you want to pursue this you may have to find a unit where this feature has been modelled, use it as a pattern, and make your own from scratch.

John

UPDATE:  Just found on-line an old GM/EMD handbook on early F units.  It indicated that the "centering device" is associated with a spring supported "Draw Bar Carrier" above.  Further research may be warranted, but it might be that this item was exclusively used in draw-bar A-B lashups and might not have been installed on the rear, business end of things.  The plot thickens.

[gmpullman]

For reference:

WP 913 -- rear view by El Cobrador, on Flickr

You would have to scratch the drink cup and straw.

Cheers, Ed

[Attuvian1]

gmpullman

For reference:

WP 913 -- rear view by El Cobrador, on Flickr

You would have to scratch the drink cup and straw.

Cheers, Ed

 

Nice, Ed.  So much for being exclusive for draw bar use only.  It kind of looks like the coupler shank rests on a sleeve that traverses the cross-piece.

 

John

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

Attuvian1

 

 

gmpullman

For reference:

WP 913 -- rear view by El Cobrador, on Flickr

You would have to scratch the drink cup and straw.

Cheers, Ed

 

 

 

 

Nice, Ed.  So much for being exclusive for draw bar use only.  It kind of looks like the coupler shank rests on a sleeve that traverses the cross-piece.

 

John

 

Yes, I have looked at them up close on the real thing.

Athearn left out the middle decades ago for easy shell removal, the same reason many other manufacturers left it off completely before the "high detail" era.

While there maybe exceptions, generally it was only FT's that were drawbar connected, the standard configuraton for all other F units was couplers.

Adding them to shells not designed for them is going to be fussy and fragile at best.

Sheldon

[richhotrain]

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

Adding them to shells not designed for them is going to be fussy and fragile at best. 

Yeah, and it seems to me that adding that coupler centering device may interfere with the coupler itself unless extreme care is taken to precisely position the coupler centering device.

Rich 

[Shock Control]

Attuvian1

As Sheldon has said, some F unit manufacturers model this and some dont.  I do know that old Blue Box Fs modelled only the vertical portions and not the round, transverse section.  Just a "teaser", I guess.

Yes, both yellow-box and blue-box era Athearn have the vertical sides. This is what led to my investigating this topic.  The other F units that I have, from various manufacturers, do not have this feature at all.  In some regards, it is not an important detail, as you're typically not seeing this area of the engine when a train is running.  Still, I am curious.

[trwroute]

I've used the Details West part before and they look fantastic.  Here is one on a Stewart F3 that I'm working on...

[Shock Control]

Thanks all for the replies!

[tankertoad135]

If you are looking for a replacement side step on the F unit due to breakage of the original, Cal Scale has the part you need.  See this page in the Cal Scale catalogue under steps:

www.bowser-trains.com/history/hocalscalediesel.html

[BroadwayLion]

I hgave a box of 1000 steps. Also can be used as grab bars.

You get them at almost any store, the are sold as staples.