Air compressor fitting help

[chappys4life]

I just picked up a HF Fortress 26 gallon compressor, merlin 3/8 desiccant dryer/filter, merlin fitting kit, and a small air line for the filter but I am having a issue plumbing in the air filter. My plan was to mount the air dryer on the side of the compressor then run a quick disconnect male from the filter to the compressor as a input. Then on the filter a female quick disconnect that I could connect my air line to. The issue is the 3/8 npt fittings on the air dryer. I bought a flexzilla 1/2 hose mainly because it has 3/8 npt fittings. I was thinking using a 3/8 male plug to connect to the hose to go from the compressor to the filter, screw the hose into the input side of the filter, then use the female coupler from the merlin kit. That all connected but the 3/8 male plug is too big for the connector on the compressor. What am I doing wrong? Do I need to ditch the fittings and line and move to 1/4 npt fittings with a reducer? Or use a different fitting kit like this https://www.amazon.com/Flexzilla-High-Flow-Coupler-Piece/dp/B01CK42AL0/?tag=atomicindus08-20 ?

compressor: https://www.harborfreight.com/26-ga...e-vertical-shopauto-air-compressor-57336.html
air dryer: https://www.harborfreight.com/38-in-npt-desiccant-dryerfilter-58180.html
merlin high flow fitting kit: https://www.harborfreight.com/38-in-high-flow-v-style-steel-coupler-connector-kit-7-piece-70804.html
small air line: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003BJP1LA?tag=atomicindus08-20

Also for now I plan on using this setup for air tools but plan on buying a small plasma cutter (looking at the yeswelder cut-55ds heavily) for small jobs like I need to cut out exhaust cutouts on my 70 c10 frame (its a passthrough kit for a brace) and cut out the floors in my 55 chevy to redo the floorpan why I am wondering about the filter setup. I understand the compressor is on the smaller size but just a small home hobbist so I dont have a ton of space and dont mind if I have to pause for cuts for the compressor to catch up.

Thanks for any help! Struggling on this setup

 

[The Cobbler]

the 3/8 male plug is too big for the connector on the compressor

are you sure the compressor isn't 1/4" NPT. most consumer grade compressors are plumbed 1/4" ,not 3/8 "

 

[chappys4life]

are you sure the compressor isn't 1/4" NPT. most consumer grade compressors are plumbed 1/4" ,not 3/8 "

Yeah I think that is my issue. I thought the merlin kit was 3/8 npt to 1/4 male but I think its 3/8 npt to 3/8 male.
The 3/8 filter setup is what is making my life a lot harder. Wonder if I should ditch all the 3/8 and just get a 3/8 to 1/4 reducer ?