I have couplers that dont look realistic. They are not the ones that you see on real trains. Would I be able to buy a set with new couplers and replace them or can i conect two different couplers together. Thanks for the help.
Tom,
If you have slightly older equipment (before 1998 ish) you probably have ‘horn hook’ couplers. This was(is?) the NMRA standard.
A synopsis of couplers for HO Scale was printed in Model Railroader a few months ago. You should try and get a copy of that issue.
I use Kaydee #5 couplers on my equipment. They are reliable and look very good although a bit larger than true scale couplers. Kaydee recently released a new variety of coupler which is nearly an exact match for a prototype coupler. If I were beginning today, I would probably get these new couplers, but with over 100 freight cars, it is not that important for me to be closer to scale.
Good Luck - Ed
In addition to the horn-hook, there are 5 other
clone types, copied after the Kadee #5(Keith and
Dale Edwards-1960) You may wi***o review MR July
2000 reviewing all 6 Knuckle couplers. Kadee has
recently come out with a #58 which is closer to scale. See MR April 2001 The Walthers catalog
also carries the coupler coversions, although you
may find the #5 does a lot of freight and some
locals. You can see some of the Kadees by going to www.kadee.com. You can also call Kadee @ 1-800-
545-4899 Pacific Standard Time(OREGON) and reguest their 20-series,30-series publication sheets thats illustrates the various 20 coupler applications. Also,ask for their 6 page HO-scale
coupler conversion list. You will also need some Kadee tools, a coupler height gauge, trip pin pliers. Your local hobby shop can fill you in on the rest.
That article comparing couplers had been on our web site, and I put it back up today in response to this posting. You can find it in the model train sections, under Model Trains, HO scale.
Tom Chmielewski
Associate Editor, Trains.com
Kadee #5 is the best I have used and I have tried them all. Kadee #58 is supposed to be good also.