Bolsters for Micro Train couplers-help needed

Could some one please help me on a scratchbuild problem.
While working on my woodchip cars, i've been waiting for my MTL truck and couplers to arrive. I recieved them today and i'm haveing trouble with what size hole i need in the short peice of tube for the bolster pin to fit right. Is there a certain size styrene tube i should use for this part or do I use a solid round piece with a given size hole drilled in it.
Any help would be great. Thank You

Steve aka "Slugger"

I usually use a rectangular piece of styrene across the width of the car and slope the ends down to the car side just like the prototype bolster. I use a piece of .080 x .100 inch styrene and the height is the .080 dimension and width is .100. then I find my center and mark it with pin prick and drill to suit. I use a number 46 drill for the hole the size is .081. The insertion part of the pin is .080 with ribs to .083.

I do not use a tube as it very hard to get the surface parallel with the floor of the car while the styrene ensures it is parallel and even if the hole is out a bit from vertical the surface of he bolster keeps the truck parallel to the floor.

I also use this size of styrene to create the spine of the car frame between the bolsters and if additional height is required I use the shim washers available from MTL in various thicknesses or add a pad of .010 thick styrene or similar.

That is one solution.

cheerz Garth

I pretty much always use a couple layers of 1/36" thick material stacked up to make my bolsters. I laser cut .055" circles in the bolster, then use a 1/16" drill bit to clean out the hole before pushing the bolster pin in.


Just look at the bolster pieces of this car, to see the general shape used:


Here you can see a car with AZL trucks installed, and the wheels have clearance on each side of the bolster: