N Scale Couplers - Unimates.

[AndrewWalliceMatheson]

Hi Again, April 1st/2000.

I hear the so Called Horror Stories
about Rapido Couplers etc. I did it the
Smart Way. I went with my Pocket Book &
settled on Unimates at 8 Couplers to a Pkg
and Yes I do have KDs & ITMs as well and
with my LARGE SUPPLY of Cars I got my Moneys
Worth and they do the JOB quite well. I've
got No Complaints about Unimates, ITMs or
KDs. Comments Any One.

Thanks.

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Best Regards,

Andrew,
Calgay

[Maxwell Plant]

I use the Unimates for certain applications, but not many. A few passenger cars, some loco's that need to close couple and always run together, (my ABBA F7's) and one on a Santa Fe CW40-8 with a custom built pilot, it always runs in the lead. Other than that, it's all MT's for me. We will be trying out the new Accumates from Atlas when the new tank cars come out. http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif

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MAX-RAILROADER

[sd75mac]

I use Unimates on my engines, except for the C44's, Kato on some cars and MT's on the rest of my stock. I like this combination, especially on the engines. No un-wanted break-aways.

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Keep on Track'N
Harold Riley
www.phcomputing.com

[Maxwell Plant]

I've had some break aways with my Unimates, so in my opinion, they aren't flawless, but with the limited applications I use them for, they're A-OK! http://www.trainboard.com/wink.gif



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MAX-RAILROADER

[sd75mac]

Yes, I've had break-aways also, only if I have too many cars going up the grade. Then I just add "More Power". OU OU OU (Tim Allen)

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Keep on Track'N
Harold Riley
www.phcomputing.com (http://www.phcomputing.com)

[This message has been edited by sd75mac (edited 02 April 2000).]

[eddelozier]

I ran across some KATO N-scale knuckle couplers a few weeks ago. The local hobby shop had them buried among all the Kato supplies. They came 20 (two piece) to a package #11-702 for $6.00. They are not automatic but couple up to MT. I couldn't pass them up for that price!
They have the normal 'T' arm section which will (after a little work) slip into the Rapido slot. The tow pieces snap together real easy. Haven't tried many....has anyone tried them out?

..Eddie

[Maxwell Plant]

Yes, I use them on most of my passenger equipment. They snap right in the Con-Cor coupler pockets. I don't use them on my Bachmann Amfleet cars, on those I put the short shank Unimates.

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MAX-RAILROADER

[eddelozier]

I didn't give my passenger fleet much thought, as far as coupler change. But your statement of using them for that purpose sounds good. I'll give it a try. Currently I have four or five different sets of PRR passenger sets and it would be good to get all the couplers the same.

..Eddie

[Maxwell Plant]

Let me know if you need any guideance on installation. You can e-mail me via the Board i-con. Just make sure you get them all the same height, that's the key. Once you get them set, they couple up nice and tight, just like the Real-McCoy! http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif

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RAILROADING-TO-THE-MAX!
Brent Tidaback

[Inkaneer]

The Kato 11-702 couplers worked well on my Concor smoothside cars. Just the right length to couple with only the slightest gap between cars. However on the new corrugated cars the diaphrams interfere. They make the car a tad too long. Trick is to remove the diaphrams and sand the side that goes next to the car body. Do not sand the two mounting tabs that go in the slots. Don't sand too much. Test fit as you go.