Micro-Trains Couplers

Trashman Mar 3, 2014

  1. Trashman

    Trashman TrainBoard Member

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    Good day

    :sweat:
    This may come as a rant, but it is really just a question and I'm hoping to get some understanding.

    Why in the world would Micro-Trains make couplers that come in so many pieces 2, 3, and 4 pieces? This adds great pains to the hobby as you have to put most of the couplers together. I know some big ticket items such as 1015, 1016, and 2004 already come together. I'm talking about those 1049, 1029 and so on. For the life of me I just don't understand this reasoning. I'm 7 foot tall, over 300 plus, and yes I'm in N scale. Brings so much more challenges to the hobby.

    Why cant these damn things that have cornered the N scale Market come in one piece just like the Kadee couplers for HO? Am I the only one who feels this way?

    Im I looking for some enlightenment on the matter.

    Micro Train, thank you for bring an excellent project to market, but you must understand the challenges that this poses to the modelers in the hobby. When using your couplers

    Peace be with the group,

    Arthur
     
  2. SinCity

    SinCity TrainBoard Member

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    I even hate assembling 1015s.

    OT-What height is your layout?
     
  3. RatonMan

    RatonMan TrainBoard Member

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    Buy 'em assembled.
     
  4. Run8Racing

    Run8Racing TrainBoard Member

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    OK, some people are going to say," Just switch to body mounts !!!" , but that is not the answer for everybody. It DEFINITELY isn't for me !!! Since you seem to be aware of the part numbers, you have to realize some are "Couplers", and some are "Conversions". The couplers are ALMOST direct replacements. The conversions require cussing !!! For example, I use LOTS of 1128s on Kato passenger cars. I absolutely HATE doing them, but they give the results I want. Of course, dropping a 1015 into a locomotive without using shims is always VERY sweet !!! Wish everything could be like that !!! I have been buying unassembled 1015s for quite a while now, and once you get used to, you'll love it. Sometimes you just can't avoid using the "Adapters". If (and when !!!) you get mad, just get away from it for a while, before things start to take flight !!! Just think of the end results, ya' know ??? Once you have done the conversions, you will remember each one. Nothing will be new next time. It won't be nearly as bad, and you will have developed a new "vocabulary" !!! :)
     
  5. Spookshow

    Spookshow TrainBoard Member

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    Every time a coupler spring goes shooting off into the carpeting, an angel gets its wings :)

    Cheers,
    -Mark
     
  6. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    At my house, they usually insert ear plugs. :uhoh:
     
  7. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Most be a heavenly host of full winged Angels around my house. And one sneering...laughing Devil :uhoh:
     
  8. Bfagan

    Bfagan TrainBoard Member

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    Are you a member of Keystone N Trak?
     
  9. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Over the years I have become good at assembling the 1015/16 series. Of course during the learning curve I was the leading supplier of angel wings. I do echo the sentiments regarding the 1128/29/30 series of couplers designed to fit in an existing coupler box. Especially the very short shank 1128 which is a big pain to try and get the two parts of the coupler into the metal U piece and then in the coupler box without losing the spring somewhere in low earth orbit.
     
  10. Inkaneer

    Inkaneer TrainBoard Member

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    For a one piece coupler we have the Rapido. For something that resembles a KaDee we have the McHenry. The fact is there is no coupler that has all advantages and no disadvantages. So establish your priorities, what you like, what you dislike and what you can live with and go from there. By the way, what are you using the 1029 and 1049 couplers on?
     
  11. Westfalen

    Westfalen TrainBoard Member

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    A T-shank McHenry could take the place of the 1128/29/30 series Micro Trains couplers for existing Rapdio draft gear and I'd buy them in a bulk lot for for my Japanese and British rolling stock but hell will freeze over and the devil will move up to join all those angels before they make them.
     
  12. urodoji

    urodoji TrainBoard Member

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    Wait til you start assembling Z scale couplers.
     
  13. TRyburn

    TRyburn TrainBoard Member

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    Ha, that's good material!
     
  14. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Actually, in HO scale, Kadee comes in more flavors then you may be aware of. The #5's are fairly universal but can be to long for some cars and locomotives and to short for other's. Never mind height, requiring some trimming and shimming where needed.

    In N Scale, Micro-trains makes a #1015 that is fairly standard but with the same problems as afore mentioned.

    The simple answer is there isn't a standard coupler pocked placement and never has been in either HO or N Scale. Thus all the variances... made just for you and I.

    Kadee and Micro-Trains would absolutely enjoy a standard for such, as then they would only have to make one kind for each scale. Such is not the case.:eek:hboy:
     

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