Z scale couplers?

Hi All, I'm just learning about N scale and have built a couple of cars so far. I'm wondering if they would work OK with Z scale couplers since the N scale couplers look a bit over size(here's a link to a photo)
http://pweb.netcom.com/~ctxm/1stcarssmall.jpg
Does anyone here have experience with Z scale couplers and will they work OK for manual uncoupling with a screw driver or similar tool?....dave

 

Welcome to TrainBoard!!!!!!!

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The Micro-Trains N couplers and Z couplers will couple together just fine. Micro Mark has a nice uncoupler that works on N and Z.

http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=80972

 

I like the looks of the Z coupler myself. When I bought some Atlas corn syrup and Athearn ethanol cars I could not find any MT N coupler bodymount or truck mount that would work. I installed the body mount Z on all my said cars and have no problems. I dont know how they would hold up at the front of a 50 car train as I run mine at the rear.
Jeff

 

I just bodymounted some Z's to a 40 foot 20000 series MTL box, using the article from MR that was published earlier this year. I also added some BLMA trainline air hoses, and 50 tread NWSL wheelsets. The narrowness of the NWSL wheelsets really contrasts with the MT pizza cutters. They are very nice, and roll very freely. I'll get around to touching up the car later this weekend, but I will try to post some pics of the result.

 

Hi Dave,

Welcome to Trainboard.

I convert all my personal N stock to 905's, they just look more to scale. The only problem you might encounter is trying to pull very long trains...other than that they look great.

Cheers

Joe
MTL

 

Joe, do you have any experience with NWSL wheelsets?

 

Z scale couplers are vedy nice. I have yet to put them on all my cars but I have put them on my loco.:thumbs_up:



By atsflamy at 2007-11-25

 

Welcome to Trainboard!

I would guess that Z scale couplers have about 75% of the strength of N scale couplers.

 

I've been converting to Z scale couplers, I've got most of my steam era cars done and all my Athearn coalporters. I find you have to be a bit more careful with the height but the club layout's yard will accomodate a 35-40 car train and I've run such without any trouble over the sometimes uncertain track of our Ntrak layout. I use Fox Valley metal wheelsets, they're cheaper than NWSL and come in bigger packs.

 

Thanks

Hi All, Thanks for the information. Sounds like I'll order a few pair and see how I like them...dave