Kadee Uncouplers/Paint/Ballast

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Are the delayed-action magnets strong enough to be painted and/or ballasted? Or should they be installed afterward?

Thanks
GF

2

Not only can you paint, ballast, and lay track over the Kadee 308s, you can carve off the corners with a knife so they’ll fit into a normal ballast profile. I’ve done that on four of them now on my own layout, and it doesn’t affect their operation at all. The magnet itself isn’t metal but some kind of magnetized rubber. You do need the steel intensifier plate underneath, though, so don’t be tempted to omit it.

So long,

Andy

Andy Sperandeo
ANDY SPERANDEO

3

If you are talking about the Kadee 308’s which are installed under the track, I have painted and ballasted them…they are very strong magnets.

4

On the other hand, if’ you’re talking the above-the-ties ones, yes, you can paint them, too. I’ve even glued weathered scale 1x6’s on top to make a ‘road crossing’ to camouflage them. They still work.