I am getting back into the hobby and after being informed that hook and horn are no longer current I decided to wade into converting my favorite cars to KDee 5 and 158s for the most part.
Its a learning experience and eventually Ill catch up to everyone. Gives me practice in negotiatiing the cataloges, what local stores specialize in what so i dont waste trips etc.
So, if I buy a loco or rolling stock from Athearn, they come with McHenry couplers. Will these knuckle couplers work wity my KDee non scale couplers?
And if they do not can I switch out with no problems?
Athearn ‘RTR’ freight cars are just a remake of the old ‘Blue Box’ kits you may have remembered. They have just replaced the old ‘horn hook’ coupler with a McHenry knuckle style(Horizon Hobbies owns both Athearn and McHenry)
While the tried & true Kadee #5 will fit in the box, the Kadee #148 ‘Whisker’ coupler is an even better fit. The reason is that the Athearn coupler box is a little large, and a Kadee #5 will ‘droop’. The Kadee #148 is a little thicker than a #5 and does not ‘droop’ in the coupler box. If I were you, I would buy some ‘Bulk Packs’ of the #148 couplers and start converting. I usually buy the #14 Bulk Pack(50 #148 couplers) for most of my conversions. I buy the #10 Bulk Pack(20 #5 couplers) once in a while for cars that need the thinner shank #5. Note that the ‘Bulk Packs’ just include couplers - No draft gear/coupler boxes.
I noted that you also mentioned the #158 ‘Scale whisker’ coupler. This coupler will fit in the same coupler box, but the head is smaller. You will need to be very fussy about mounting height and vertical curves on any grades as the smaller ‘scale’ coupler will ‘uncouple’ very easy if your transition to a grade or track work is sub-par.
Also, Kadee has no plans to make underset or overset variations of the scale coupler due to the shank to knuckle size issues. Don the Kadee Conversion Man did a presentation at the Naperville RPM 2012 last fall and explained this when asked in the Q&A session after his presentation.
What JR Bernier replied is very good advice. I have used Kadee’s since they first came out waaaaay back in the colonial days and I still do, mostly Kadee 5 couplers. I have very good operation with them, but did decide to give the 158 a fair shake. I equipped a grain train with 30 cars and a shorter train with 14 cars with the 158’s.
Results were a little less than I had hoped. I had trouble with a cut of graincars with 158’s in the midst of grain trains with the ole number 5. I had several uncouplings on track that has never been a problem.
Results also convinced me to stay with the old number 5 coupler.
I second Jim’s advice about the 148’s. Just be careful changing out the couplers esp. on Athearn Genesis, don’t accidentally break off any details esp brake hoses.
Thanks everyone. I meant to say the 148 whisker. I have done the 158 before I realized the difference, i had a mix going and caught it early, so I am all 148s so far. I am using the 148 bulk pack right now.
I was starting to think that Walther was making the best locos, Then Kato, but caught on to the Athern Genesis line.
Basically trying to find a good GP15 like the UPs I see in the West Chicago yard. So far the details are not accurate, such as the front scoop. And I dont want to mess around with kit bashing. So now realizing some older stuff is getting re-released.
I think this is the one Ill end up buying. The number I want is UPY 612 with the flash paint scheme ( i think these were taken over from Missouri Pacific).
Thanks for the tip.
Whats the standard these days Athearn Genesis, Walthers Proto, KATO, Bachman?
The best runners are Atlas & Kato, the rest are close seconds. A few others you didn’t mention are Intermountain, Bowser/Stewart & BLI. Bachmann is probably the lowest on the totem pole, but most of the newer Bachmann stuff runs good, while their detail level (depending on the model) leaves a bit to be desired, but all in all good value for the money.