Do we know what MicroTrains couplers fit this guy yet? (mine's still in the mail). And are they mounted a bit high, or is it me? (high). Looks groovy, though! --Mark
Great to hear that they run well and pull better than expected. I have one on preorder but it's one of the other paint schemes. Has anyone heard when the other undec and the Pennsy version are expected? I had worked on a Kato critter mech with the JnJ resin shell a while back and even got a TCS decoder, flywheel and directional lighting fitted in the thing. Still though, could never quite get the slow speed down where I was happy with it and the project landed on the back burner.
Detail looks good compared to the NW2. Got a shot that shows how the couplers are mounted? The yellow undecs and PRRs are in the container with the DD40X's that the pirates have.:tb-wink:
Nice Loco Hi, Mine arrived today. I had only about 10 minutes to test it, but...:thumbs_up::thumbs_up::thumbs_up::thumbs_up: Using a Digitrax DT300 the loco started moving on the first click at a nice craw. At a setting of 9 on the throttle the speed was at about 17 scale mph. At full throttle (99) the loco was moving at a scale 69 mph. With all settings the loco was pulling 3 50 ft box cars. Now all I need is my magic decoder ring so I can figure out what coupler to use. Gary
Mmmmm. That's tight! Finding room for a coupler was a serious problem when I scratchbuilt mine, and I backed off the trucks just a tad to fit the MT passenger car boxes. But I'll bet those would still fit if you're willing to hack away on the sill.
I think the easiest fit may a McHenry. No depth behind the coupler to deal with. I just wish they would come out seprately now. Hate to buy a car, just to sacrafice the couplers.
that was my thinking, or maybe accumate, I just hope this is the excuse for either to make a short shank coupler.
When was the last time MT did a coupler conversion for a specific locomotive? Been a while I think. I'm even wondering about solid mounting a old MDC knuckle coupler, just so I can suck the coupler and box in some. We'll see when it gets here. Ooooh and don't forget the new Z scale couplers coming out from Bowser: http://jamesriverbranch.net/clinic_2.htm
Thanks for the photos. I agree Mchenry would be a better bet than MTL, all the moving parts of a McHenry are in the knuckle itself and the tight space for the coupler pocket wouldn't be a problem.
That coupler looks terrible. I didn't know about that, but then again I guess Bachmann would be foolish to tout all the features of this loco and then say, "and a really ugly set of couplers, MWAAA HAHAHAHAHAA!"
I just picked up my yellow one yesterday. It looks really nice, except for that coupler. I will try running it on our club layout soon to see how it goes.
Well, to follow-up on the coupler issue... I picked up an Athearn FP45 when they came out, and noticed it had McHenrys that were a little off on the height (high, IIRC). I hate the 44-tonner's CLAW. What use is a non-operating coupler on a SWITCHER? For someone who wants to do magnetic coupling and uncoupling, not much. I got the idea to replace the couplers on the FP45 with 1015-1s from another thread. This I did last night, and it worked very well, fixing the coupler height problem as a nice side effect. I took the coupler part of the McHenry and then mounted it onto the post that the Bachmann Claw was using. I reinstalled the Bachmann holder plate thing and screw and it looks and works just fine. It might be just a TOUCH long, but at least I have magnetic coupling/uncoupling again. Seriously, I don't know what Bachmann was thinking when they put this evil CLAW on this thing. I wish they had charged me another 5 bucks and just put on a decent knuckle coupler with trip pin - MTL, Accumate, McH, whatever.
I've noted elsewhere, but N Scale Supply is advertising McHenry couplers available separately in Oct/Nov. http://www.nscalesupply.com/mch/MCH.html
