Yes they were the same cars but I put the stock MTL couplers on for the show (except for the trailing car since nothing would be connected to the end). I tested with the short shank and they didn't test well with my curves at home. Just now I tried it with the long shank version and it's much better but still needs broader curves than I have. I can't remember what the radius is for my kids' unitrak setup (not easily pulled up). I'll try to post a photo of the long shanks on these cars in the next few days.
Okay I took the bull by the horns and ordered a ten car pack. I'll experiment with them but ultimately these are destined to be used on a passenger train that I run with two E 8's and eight cars. I hope they will also work on my Bachmann K4 as I would like to get rid of the Joe Palooka boxing gloves that Bachmann calls couplers.
I got 3 10 bulk packs and 3 pair packs of short last night. Zero lateral swing. I cut off the whiskers n added a drop of superglue in between the two pieces to keep them together. Need a short in the front and a long in the rear of a Kato Gevo or they are touching anti climbers. They are kind of like the dummy knuckles in the Kato bethgons. Leave them out of the MTL box and put them right on the Kato clip. Add a KD 622 spring like when Unimating them to keep pressure on them so they wont droop.
I purchased six 40 ft UP gondola "converter" cars that are equipped with regular truck mount at one end and the new True-Scale body mount coupler at the other end. These new couplers are extraordinary because they are tiny but you can both couple and uncouple them (toothpick). These new body mount couplers also stay coupled and ride beautifully through my 15 inch curves and ME #6 turnouts. But, they are more difficult to couple and uncouple because they are so small. On balance, wonderful invention but for me with my poor eyesight, I will stick with the regular MicroTrains coupler. - tonkphilip
Available starting in December. #001 22 300 True-Scale Coupler w/short shank (Brown) (2 pr) $3.45 #001 22 301 True-Scale Coupler w/long shank (Brown) (2 pr) $3.45 #001 25 300 True-Scale Coupler w/short shank (Brown) (10 pr) $15.95 #001 25 301 True-Scale Coupler w/long shank (Brown) (10 pr) $15.95
As an operations fellow, there are some specifics that I'm wondering about. Aside from needing more accuracy when coupling and uncoupling, how well do they work? Do they mate more easily with light pressure than a 1015? Do they uncouple easily with a skewer? Do they release when they've got 30 cars behind them going up a 3% grade?
I think "He" in the form of Santa Joe, just brought you an early Christmas present. The N model train world is very small one. We have much to be grateful for. - tonkphilip -
They do not couple more easily than a 1015. They require about the same about of pressure as an Accumate (by my tests). They don't uncouple very easily. I was able to do it with a sharpened coffee cup stopper stick. As far as uncoupling on a grade... not going to happen. As long as your trackwork is good these won't pull apart. I put enough force on a boxcar that I thought the car would pull apart and the couplers held fine.
I've equipped my 108 car earthworm and so far am quite happy. I've had one separation but I think that was coupler height along with a bump in track height, still investigating as I find layout time, in short supply this time of year. The train, which has DP on the rear, has been quite stable up and down the grade in and out of staging. Unless that separation was caused by something other than what I stated, I'm a happy camper and would like to convert everything. Most cars couple easily, but every now and again you have to help things along, and I've had no trouble picking them apart with my uncoupling skewer. What I need now is an adaptation of these that will fit into 1015 boxes or other body mounts, because I'm not going to mutilate my BLMA cars....
OK, I now consider testing complete and at this point in time would convert everything to the True Scale Coupler. The 108 car train - which was a good runner before - is now absolutely flawless. The height-induced break apart was easily fixed by a minor car reposition. OK, Joe. Now let's advance the system and get something to replace all those couplers in integral boxes. We don't need the air line, just give us a coupler... The major issue - on the Sub at least - has most always been couplers uncoupling at inconvenient times. With the TSC that is eliminated. And they look great. Over to you.
I don't plan on a wholesale replacement program for all my stuff. I am considering using them in situations to replace my Unimate couplers in ABBA consists and possibly in passenger train use. I still would like to see an operating coupler that could be used on the pilot of a steam locomotive such as the Bachmann 2-8-0. I' thinking something with a very short "T" shank that operates along the lines of the KD #5 or McHenry would probably be the easiest way to go. And yes, I would be willing to put up with the sight of that operating spring if that was necessary to get an operating coupler.
I'm looking at these to install on a Z scale AZL passenger train! Need to diminish uncoupling and I love the photo loo (even if the size is wrong)... how comparable are they in size to the MTL Z scale coupler?
