For
some
reason,
to
MU
several
A
&
B
locomotives
whether
they
are
F3
or
F7
or
even
E
units,
they
never
look
just
right
on
the
layout
without
the
diaphragms.
The
assumption
being
that
railroad
employees
had
to
walk
from
one
engine
to
the
next
while
in
transit.
This
minor
detail
is
missing
on
most
of
my
model
CGW
engines
so
I
plan
to
remedy
that
situation.
All
Nations
hobby
shop
had
diaphragms
and
I
have
a
few
left
over.
They
consisted
of
2
brass
striker
plates
and
the
bellow
such
that
when
assembled,
there
was
one
for
each
door.
The
bellow
Accordioned
or
stretched
over
and
above
the
couplers
serving
as
a
safety
feature
and
perhaps
protection
from
the
weather.
Within
the
enclosure
was
a
floor
plate
as
a
modeler
might
note
on
passenger
cars.
The
bellow
material
on
the
early
kits
was
either
hand
made
from
clothe
or
a
rubber
type
and
neither
held
up
very
well.
First
the
clothe
did
not
like
to
stay
glued
to
the
brass
and
the
rubber
ones
fit
around
the
frame
of
the
striker
plate
but
over
time
lost
their
shape.
Consequently,
I
replicated
from
the
original
brass
striker
plates
ones
3D
printed
to
fit
to
the
outside
doorways
on
the
F3
&
F7
units.
The
striker
plates
are
printed
using
PLA.
Next,
I
developed
the
bellows
and
have
printed
them
using
FLEX
filament
so
that
they
would
reproduce
the
same
accordion
action
as
the
real
equipment.
In
reality
on
the
model
it
is
more
about
looks
and
less
about
function.
However,
the
FLEX
has
a
rubber
feel
to
it
and
hold
its
shape
well.
This
kit
will
outfit
1
A
Unit
and
1
B
Unit,
thus
3
complete
pairs
of
diaphragms.
Each
pair
contains
2
striker
plates
and
2
different
sizes
of
bellows.
Once
again,
because
of
the
variability
in
the
distance
between
2
MUs
due
to
coupler
shank
length,
1
bellow
measures
12.4mm
and
the
2nd
6.5mm
and
so
I
think
the
visual
resolution
is
maintained
at
these
scaled
prints
giving
the
modeler
some
flexibility
and
choice.
The
12.4mm
could
also
be
trimmed
if
need
be.
Printed
with
PLA
and
FLEX
filament
sold
as
is
straight
off
the
Prusa
Printer
built
plate,
all
sales
final
no
returns.
PLA
is
not
dishwasher
safe
and
may
deform
in
a
hot
automobile
in
the
summer
time
as
it
has
a
relatively
low
glass-transition
temperature.
Made
In
The
USA.