I really like the profi couplers-does anyone out there know a source for profi couplers that will fit onto US style rolling stock? Kadee makes replacement couplers for NEM sockets, but not Profi style for pin & spring style(Kadee)
Few, if anyone in the USA uses Fleischmann couplers, with even fewer interested in putting them on USA prototype rolling stock, as they do not look anything like USA prototype couplers.
I strongly suspect that you will have to fabricate the mountings yourself.
Good Luck.
Mount a NEM socket, then buy Profi couplers for NEM sockets. Fleischmann does indeed sell Profi couplers to fit NEM sockets (They sell Profi’s with about 8 different mount types).
Or use knuckle couplers, which actually look similar to AAR type E couplers (Or Sergent couplers, which are exact scale).
I also like and use Profis - on my European N-scale collection where they provide proper close-coupling. For American stock I would advise Kadees however, as they work just as well, and look far more like the real thing.
Hi James,
I work with the Fleischmann Profi couplers at my European stock, and see no real reason for the use of this couplers in US material.
The Profi system, like all other close couplersystems from Maerklin, Roco or Ribu are for closecoupling of European cars with sidebuffers.
So they run buffer to buffer at a straight track.
This couplers assembled the cars fixed, not like a Kadee,
A kinematic at each coupler steers them in that way that the distance between the cars is short at straight track and will be longer in a curve.
Such kinematics with a head that accept all NEM style couplers are available seperate from Fleischmann, Ribu and Roco.
My opinion is that a convertion of US material into an expensive european style closecoupling system isn´t reasonable.
BTW:
Kadee is here most unknown [:D] !!! No joke!
Most think it´s an expensive special couplersystem for the ethusiast that like to switch and uncouple 2 cars at a 3 ft to 1 ft switchinglayout in a slow speed and w/o moving the car when coupling. [8D]
Kadee is cheaper than the NEM´s !!!
Kuhlwagenjames,
Big boy has right.
You can’t just glue a NEM-socket to your Rolling stock they would derail.
As we do with older cars you have to build-in a special mechanism which you can get from Symoba or Ribu.
I couldn’t find a page in English but the pictures on this Dutch page probable will make it clear to you. http://www.keuterman.nl ( on the page click Symoba at the left)
So if you really want to have Fleischmann profi’s I think it can be done for most of your stock but as Big Boy says it’s expensive.
Hope this info will help
Brgds
Cor