New Zealand greetings from a relative newcomer!
I’m just getting into N scale, building my layout with much help from these forums. I have some queries about couplers.
I’ve purchased a couple of locos (new) and a few items of rolling stock (used), just to be able to test my layout as I go along. The locos are a Bachmann MDT switcher and an Atlas H15-44. I have a set of three Rivarossi passenger cars, and half a dozen Peco stock wagons.
The Bachmann loco and the Peco wagons have what I assume are “Rapido” couplers - square hooks that lift up to couple and uncouple. The Atlas loco and Rivarossi cars have what I assume are “knuckle” couplers. (You can see where this post is heading!)
All the information on these forums tends to recommend replacing Rapidos with knuckles - MicroTrains seems to have a good range of N scale couplers. However, I have to say I find the Rapido to be much easier to operate than the knuckles. When the Atlas is hauling the Rivarossi cars there seems to be no way for me to uncouple them without physically lifting them off the track. I’ve tried pushing up, down and sideways with the “bamboo skewer” with little luck. The Rapidos on the other hand just need a gentle lift and the wagon is free.
Another advantage of the Rapidos is that the Atlas loco comes with a spare set which can be installed. And another disadvantage of the knuckles is that nowhere on the MicroTrains website can I find any information about replacement couplers for Peco cars.
Soooooo… just wondering what you N-scalers are doing about couplers!
The knuckle couplers tend to be more reliable, and they just look better.
As to the skewer problem, you want to pu***he tip straght down between the couplers, and twist it a little to the right, as you do. This works best if there’s some slack in the couplers, but not so much that the cars are pushing against each other. This isn’t totally unrelistic, as I understand the real things need a bit of slack in them, to uncouple. The Accumate couplers that Atlas uses tend to like to grab my uncoupling picks, so it’s something to look out for. I’ve come close to derailing cars a few times, because of it.
For replacing the couplers on your Peco cars, you can either buy new trucks from Atlas or Micro Trains that have the knuckle couplers already installed, or you can cut the couplers off the existing trucks, and pick up some Micro Trains body mount couplers. For the body mounts, it’s probably best to ask about them at your hobby shop. I’ve noticed that information about stand alone couplers is suspisciously missing from Micro Train’s website.
I know Micro Trains use to make a coupler that would fit into the existing rapido coupler mounting box, but I don’t know if they’re still available.
waits for more experienced forumers to chime in
I started with all Rapido when I re-entered the hobby, and as I purchased newer cars (wagons) some came with knuckle couplers. Now other than not liking the appearance of the Rapido couplers, they actually do work well. Never had a train break with Rapidos. However, as I purchased more newer cars & locos equiped with knuckle couplers, I was faced with a choice of what direction to go. I chose to go all knuckle couplers (mixed MT & Accumate). But that was going to be a rather expensive conversion for someone on a limited budget like me.
Then someone here made a very simple suggestion. Make a conversion car. One side is equiped with a Rapido coupler and the other with a knuckle coupler. That kept me running trains until I could slowly convert to all knuckle couplers.
In the end, I don’t think you are any less a modeler if you stick with Rapidos. If you like working with them, then use them. It’s your railroad - run it the way you want.
i too started with the rapidos on my n scale equipment when i got into n scale 25 years ago. to uncouple i used a small penlight with a piece of wire bent in an L shape taped to it to lift the couplers. i changed my locos over to microtrains couplers first and used a transition car( rapido at one end and micro trains at the other) until everything was totally converted. i now use a rixpic uncoupling tool to uncouple with no problems. now that my newest equipment comes with accumates i find that it takes more force to couple cars and the rixpic sometimes gets stuck in the accumate couplers. i’m now going to have to change that new equipment over to microtrains. i don’t know why these companies just don’t use microtrains as they are the best around.
I use all Knuckles. If 1 breaks you just buy a $3 truck and replace it. I think they make the loco/car look much better. If the cars are old new trucks will make them run a lot better (even i it runs ok now) for example i have a Atlas Box car that is brand new, My freind has the same 1 that is older with rapidos mine has knuckles. i pushed thme on the layout and the new one ran a lot better (easeir to push) so might get some more pulling power out of the loco because it is easeir to pull. My advice knuckles but as others stated its your railroad so do what you want. Tim
The Micro-Trains conversion chart lists US models only. You have to go to your hobbyshop to find the conversion. You may also need to find the old # for the Tshank coupler. MTL recently changed their website. You need MS excel or a spreadsheet that reads .xls to get it to open. You may be able to use MS works if it came with your computer.
Because they look & operate better, the world of Nscale is finally changing over to nuckle couplers. Even Bachmann should have their line of nuckles soon. MTL’s materials have been better than the Accumate plastic couplers. Makes a difference if you are trying to pull a 100 car freight.
Most of us have used rapido couplers and gradually progressed to knuckle couplers. Rapido couplers tend to uncouple frequently on gradients,turnouts and looks out of scale. As almost all new engines and rolling stock now come with knuckle type coupling, it would be ideal to standardize your couplers. Majority will agree that MicroTrain couplers are the best around, slightly expensive but will definitely solve all uncoupling and subsequent derailing problems. For rolling stock not on the MT conversion charts, the easy way out is to change the trucks to MT trucks with couplers.
I know it is expensive if you have a large collection of engines and rolling stock. I did the conversion gradually using MT body mount kit packs (unassembled) which are cheaper.
Cheers,
Cliff
http://cliffordconceicao3310.fotopic.net/c328807.html
I don’t bother with the Rapidos. They go right into the trash after I replace them with M-T or Atlas couplers. Knuckle couplers looks sooooo much better 