Micro Ace electric loco MT conversions

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Micro Ace Electric locos

Micro Ace ED79, ref. A-0193 (red) and A-0190 (JR Freight livery)

Model: Micro Ace ED79 AC electric loco

MT couplers used: MT #1015

Skil level: easy

Conversion by: Phil Hendry

The ED79s are easier to convert to M-T couplers than any other electric they've made so far. They run quite well too (not quite as well as Kato, but near), but that's another story

1) Unclip the body, remove the 'pilot', being careful because the plastic of which the pilot is made from is a bit brittle, and the 'spring' clips break easily.

2) Unclip the Rapido coupler, and put the coupler, spring and clip to one side.

3) Using a Micro Trains 00-90 tap, tap the hole the pin on the clip fitted into.

4) Assemble a #1015 coupler, leaving off the trip-pin.

5) 'Wriggle' the knuckle through the hole in the pilot, and screw the coupler into place using one of the screws provided.

6) Fit the trip-pin, check for height, and test.

That's it, a piece of cake (relatively speaking!). And it is completely 'non-destructive'- i.e. you can reverse the whole process and re-fit the Rapidos (if you're mad enough to want to!) without needing to do any 'surgery'.

Micro Ace ED-72 electric loco

MT coupler used #1015 (coupler box) and # 2004 (coupler shank)

skill level: relatively easy

Conversion by: Jeroen Braamhaar

In this conversion you need to mix the parts of two different MT couplers, so it is a bit more difficult than the ED79 described above. First cut of the parts needed from the sprues, it is recommended that you leave the parts you don't need on the sprues to prevent loss and damage. Assmeble the coupler shank from the upper and lower coupler shank halves of MT #2004 (or short #2001) and fit the trip pin. Then fit the completed coupler shank in the MT#1015 coupler box, use the MT coupler assembly jig for this job! This jig is supplied in the MT starter kit or available seperately (MT ref. #702) Then fit the coupler spring from the MT #2004 or #1015 kit (it is the same part, so don't worry). The put the lid on the coupler and close the coupler box. Then mount this assemble in the front skirt of the loco, where the original coupler box was fitted.

This Micro Ace ED76-500 class loco is fitted with a Micro-Trains coupler. Unfortunately I have no information on how to convert this locomotive.

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