Do you use magnets to uncouple your cars, if so what size of magnets? How do you place them under the track? Where do you place them in the yard? Do you use electromagnets or just regular magnets and where do you buy them? How do you hide them on the layout so they cant be seen? Sorry for so many questions. I am in HO scale with a large midwestern yard.
I had a hand magnet to try and uncouple cars, that was a bust. Kaydee makes a “Betwen Rails” magnet that you can literally couple and uncouple. If you got the electrified one then your train wont seperate unless you want it to.
At the moment 0-5-0 is my uncoupling tool. (hand)
My intrest lies in shunting (Swithing) operations. My layout is in the construction phase but on the club layout my tool of choice is an Acumate Switchman.
Benefits:
Uncouple wagons (cars) anywhere you need without finding the magnets or having to double move the train to induce slack in the couplers.
No unwanted uncoupling as the train passes over magnets at slow speed This has not occured to me often but when it has occured it can be annoying.
Liabilities:
You need to be able to reach all tracks and see to insert the tool into the couplers.
For the Scale guys, having the 12":1’ uncoupling tool apear out of the sky is very Pythonesqe.
haha Peter. I never thought of it quite that way, but perhaps that’s why I like Monty Python so much. Or maybe I like model railroading because of Puthon, but I doubt it, as I was playing with trains long before I ever heard of Monty Python (whoever he is [:D])
More seriously, I picked up one of those Rix uncoupling tools, basically a H-shaped piece of plastic with a handle. Two magnet are glued to the legs of the H, and you set this contraption on the tracks between the cars you want to uncouple and it pulls the ‘hoses’ as if it were over a regular between the tracks magnet. I tend to shy away from the permenant magnets becauseo f unwanted uncouplings, if the train hesitates or the slack runs in whichever cars are over the maginet will uncouple, every single time if your couplers are correcly adjusted. Which may NOT be what you intended.
–Randy
For fixed magnets (which work best in classification yards where you want to uncouple at the same place lots of times I use either Kadee or Bachmann large under the track magnets. I cut a slot under the track in the subroadbed or cork roadbed and put them directly under the ties. I also cut them in half, so they are not asl long, you have to be more precise when placing a car to uncouple it, but it reduces the number of false uncouplings. Make sure you cut it in half lengthwise and not widthwise. If you cut it the wrong way the magnet won’t work. Then ballast over it just like the rest of your roadbed.
You will have to mark it so you know where the magnets are. Normally that is done by painting the ends of the ties over the magnet white, yellow or orange for visibility.
Dave H.
dont they make under layout electro magnets for uncoupling also?
csx engineer
Kadee sell an electro maget for uncoupling. My layout is simple enough that I use the RIX uncoupling tool.
There was an article some years ago in MR showing how to build a small uncoupling tool with a small dowel and a brass rod. The rod had a “Z” shape and the 3"or 4" handlewas made with a painted dowel the size of a pencil. They had them painted for their favorite roads ! Like red for CN with decals on the handle! I’m going to make some for myself.
A bamboo skewer works fine in a pinch too. I am slowly switching over to Kadee magnets because I plan on doing overhead trolley wire and I don’t want to stick my hand into the layout more than is necessary. I try to place my magnets where they will be covered by street surface or other grade crossing, but sometimes there isn’t much choice.
Who is selling Turn tables in Calgary Alberta for N Scale?
How much?
where in Calgary are you?
Are there any stores in clagary alberta that are sellin g good turn tables?
and for a reason able price for a teenager?
Does anyone have plans for a round house that they are willing to share will me?
Krakows
Krakows you are [#offtopic]
Create your own thread about this. Also this would go over better as cutting into another person’s thread is not good manners on the net.
Thank you.
Krakow,
you are off topic but here are two hobby stores in Calgary that are listed in Model Railroader Mag.:
Chinook & hobby west
Trains and such.
Hand uncoupling and manual throw switches all the way. I like the feel of more hands-on railroading, and you don’t have to worry about where a uncoupling magnet is!
I use the mchenry delayed action magnetic uncouplers…go to my webshot page and on page 3 is are photos and a demonstration on mounting them to the layout…chick "trains’ and go to page 3 http://community.webshots.com/user/bayouman1
Chuck
I would be interested in seeing the RIX uncoupling tool or some other manufacturers’ tool if anyone has a link. Uncoupling the rolling stock by hand makes the job more personal. How about examples of what you fine modellers use…sounds like a worthwhile project for the Christmas break
Stephen,
Here’s the link for the Rix uncoupling tool:
http://www.rixproducts.com/6280014.htm
Hope this helps.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543
[#oops]
SORRY
Great product and cheap too!
Ian
Once you get the hang of it, it works great! I picked up one to try it out, now I have to get more. Rick thinks of everything - even a hole to hang the thing on!
While you’re checking out Rix Products, don’t pass up the Rail It. It’s the closest thing to automatically putting the cars on the track as you can get. And again Rick remembered to include a hole to hang it up.
–Randy