I finally had a chance to run some of my HOn3 stuff today. And it only then occurred to me that the new Micro-Trains HOn3 line has smaller couplers than the rest. When I checked more thoroughly, I realized that my RCS 2101 reefer has N scale couplers instead of the customary Kadee #714. Well, I was able to hook it up to the train, though with some difficulty. But I find the idea annoying to have non-standard couplers on a new product, these days. I assume some NMRA standards exist, as these help to further our hobby? I don't think the smaller couplers can be justified by being closer to scale or whatever the excuse might be. As Micro-Trains and Kadee were once a single company, I wonder whether the small couplers are due to some ongoing animosity between them?
Well that's the point, do they not want to get such a licence or do they not get one in spite of trying. Or did they simply pick the cheapest solution, hoping those relatively few HOn3 modelers would somehow arrange with it.
I had a similar thought. It seems to me regardless of the scale, most couplers are actually oversized. Boxcab E50
We did some research and a large number of HON3 folks use N scale couplers, kinda like I do with N scale...Z couplers are more to scale. We don't have an agreement with Kadee, so using theirs was out of the question. Also, the only standard is the height above the rail for operations...not on the size of the knuckle. I know we are at the proper level so either coupler can be used without modifications. We meant no harm in this decision, a lot of factors come into play when trying to cost a new product. I error on having something accurate out there that's affordable. Cheers Joe MTL
Hi Joe, thanks for your direct answer. Looks like things are as I kind of suspected. I did since check the specifications, and I also could only find the coupler height as being given. The reason I started this thread was when I actually had some difficulty coupling the MTL reefer I had on hand at the moment with the other models. Usually, I mean from my experience with N scale where I almost exclusively have Micro-Trains rolling stock, it is the other way around. Those other products have coupling difficulties (also among each other) whereas MTL products have none. Two points I'd like to mention: First, I am not sure whether the connection between the different HOn3 products is optimal with MTL using a different coupler. It may well be that many modelers so far have used N scale couplers. But I doubt many will change couplers on RTR models. And it is only with the availability of such models that HOn3 has a chance to the gain the popularity it deserves. With other words, it is a question of catering just to the small group that already models this scale, or to increase the popularity , and thus to enlarge the sales volume. Second: it would be helpful if those trip pins could be stained dark. That holds for N scale as well. But there, the couplers are lower down, and the shining trip pins are less obvious. Whereas in HOn3 the appearance of that shiny trip pin is particularly odd looking.
