Coupling Pockets for Fleischmann 5500

Here is a solution to replace the hooks on the nice old Fleischmann 5500 tipper trucks "Kipploren" with your favorite couplings.

1. Print the parts. Two of each except the small middle part with two holes.

2. Cut away the old hooks and some material underneath.

3. Glue the two "large" parts and the small part in place (According to photos). I use cyanoacrylate.

4. Drill a 1 mm (1.1 mm if you have) hole through the large part and the metal plate in the bottom of the car. The hole is already present in the printed part.

5. Prepare the NEM 362 pockets. My printer has some problems with the tight tolerances and the overhang for closing the pocket. Therefore it needs some filing with a drill or a small file. Also, clean the hole for the pin using a 1 mm drill.

6. Glue 0.3 mm piano wire in the pockets using cyanoacrylate. Make sure it is aligned.

7. Install the pockets and secure them with 7 mm long pins made from 1 mm piano wire. Maybe you have to secure the pin using