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Prototypical Couplers

3282 Views 20 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  Brian Considine
I was given a present from one of my fellow modelrailroader who has recently visited the Cologne modelrail fair.

Its an exact replica of a prototypical coupler that we usually see on most rolling stock.



Great looking isn't it, and its not over comes with NEM socket clips:



...and here is how it looks when coupled:





Amazing. Throw your kadee's and tension couplers away, the real thing is here.

But there is a catch to it


Uncoupling is impossible. Its plastic and can easily negotiate curves and can pull up to 10-15 coaches.

For modelers who does exhibitions and for rivet counters its great stuff. A wee bit of weathering and off you go.

Uncoupling? Well you can put your kadee's infront and on the back of your rolling stock rake.

Company who produces it is called "Makette models",a French company.

http://www.makette.de/makette/2512.html

Not bad at 10 euros ( 6 pairs )

Baykal
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Now that is a really interesting product!

Thanks for posting it Baykal


David
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I like that. For rakes of goods wagons it's great.

I'll check it out.
QUOTE (Doug @ 12 Nov 2008, 23:29) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I like that. For rakes of goods wagons it's great.

I'll check it out.

I don't think it is great. They will be at the wrong height. Scale couplers should be mounted between the buffers, not below the buffer beam in a NEM pocket.

Although more expensive, a proper scale couple such as those from Weinert, will be much more realistic and will provide a realistic take up as the train pulls away.

Sorry to be negative but just don't really see the point of this "halfway house"
QUOTE (custodian @ 13 Nov 2008, 08:09) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I don't think it is great. They will be at the wrong height. Scale couplers should be mounted between the buffers, not below the buffer beam in a NEM pocket.

Although more expensive, a proper scale couple such as those from Weinert, will be much more realistic and will provide a realistic take up as the train pulls away.

Sorry to be negative but just don't really see the point of this "halfway house"

*** I have to say I really do agree with you, and its a shame they don't....

But for those who really don't want to modify RTR stock or don't feel confident, it is at least a big step in the right direction towards realism compared to most RTR couplers..

It'd be nice if they made a second model with a plain round mounting pin that could simply be pushed/glued/pinned into a hole drilled in the buffer beam.... Still easy, and as you said, far more prototypical.

Richard
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Hi All

I think they are a good idea if you don't want to modify your RTR stock too heavily.

It is only from certain angles that you can see where they are fixed to
being NEM allows to change things back fairly easily, and will allow for tighter radius in off stage area's of layouts.

In our last layout we had only large radius curves ( 647mm radius and up) in the visible area's and some very tight (reducing gradually down to R1 of 356mm) behind the scenes. So these would work fine with the close coupling mechanism.

Cheap and effective

Regards Zmil
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I think it is a matter of degrees. In the ideal world we would have unlimited space, 3 meter radius curves, sprung buffers and equalised chassis.

But we don't so I personally think that these are a nice addition if you are running fixed rakes.

John
A problem that I can see is that as they fit into the NEM pockets, most RTR wagons already have scale hooks on the buffer beam so you would have to remove that or have two hooks on the wagon.
QUOTE (neil_s_wood @ 13 Nov 2008, 07:32) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Does anyone know how much the Weinert ones sell for?

Neil,

The one infront of my Br44 ( art.no: 86214 ) sells for about 6.50 euro. ( 2 pieces )



There is another more simple looking ( art.no: 8627 ) sells for 4.50 euro ( 2 pieces )

Of all of what its said, I am quite happy with them. At least you do not see a chunk of model coupler of any kind, be it Kadee or tension or whatever brand.

Be sure to use them in rakes you do not want to uncouple.

Baykal
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There is one problem with British rolling stock in that these couplings, with the screw adjuster, were only used on brake-fitted vans and coaches. They are not really accurate for wagons etc where the old 'three-link' couplings were used - now do Makette Models do a version of that.....?

Regards,
John Webb
I am still waiting for a brilliant engineer to come up with a bufferbeam mounted scale replica of the hook and shackle (both plain chain, and the screw tightened version) that functions as a completely reliable autocoupler with buffer locking protection at least down to 600mm radius. Small mechanical design is not my forte unfortunately, or I would have cleaned up by now...
QUOTE (ebaykal @ 13 Nov 2008, 19:43) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Neil,

The one infront of my Br44 ( art.no: 86214 ) sells for about 6.50 euro. ( 2 pieces )



There is another more simple looking ( art.no: 8627 ) sells for 4.50 euro ( 2 pieces )

Of all of what its said, I am quite happy with them. At least you do not see a chunk of model coupler of any kind, be it Kadee or tension or whatever brand.

Be sure to use them in rakes you do not want to uncouple.

Baykal
Thanks for the pictures Erkut. Are they specific to era or loco type? I wouldn't mind getting a few sets of those.

Where did you get your from? Modelbahn Kramm say they will source items but don't have prices for many Weinert items.
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QUOTE (ebaykal @ 12 Nov 2008, 20:21) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I was given a present from one of my fellow modelrailroader who has recently visited the Cologne modelrail fair.

Its an exact replica of a prototypical coupler that we usually see on most rolling stock.

Thanks for the info Baykal - MarTrix used to make these some time ago & personally I think they look pretty neat.

Admitted, in pic # 3 you can see the height descrepency but they look better in pic #4.

So, if people don't like the height decrepency that's most of the easily available NEM mounting couplers out then.
QUOTE (custodian @ 12 Nov 2008, 23:09) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Sorry to be negative but just don't really see the point of this "halfway house"

"Halfway House ?" - unless you have unlimited space & resourses then a model railway comprises of many, many compromises/halfway houses. No, the point IMHO is that they still look better than many other "RTR" couplers on the market.
QUOTE (neil_s_wood @ 13 Nov 2008, 12:14) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Thanks for the pictures Erkut. Are they specific to era or loco type? I wouldn't mind getting a few sets of those.

Where did you get your from? Modelbahn Kramm say they will source items but don't have prices for many Weinert items.

Neil hi,

Unfortunately, even in Germany most Weinert parts are all backorders. However said that, I got mine from:

http://www.lokpavillon.de/shop/

...and is available.

Baykal
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G
QUOTE (Brian Considine @ 13 Nov 2008, 11:27) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>"Halfway House ?" - unless you have unlimited space & resourses then a model railway comprises of many, many compromises/halfway houses. No, the point IMHO is that they still look better than many other "RTR" couplers on the market.

They do but they are no more correct. They also look like a real pain to couple up, If you are that bothered why not just use working screw links anyway? They will be much easier to use IMHO. A smiths coupling without sprung buffers will still go around 3ft curves.

An interesting product but one without a point as better is already available and has been for decades.

Cheers

Jim
QUOTE (ebaykal @ 13 Nov 2008, 21:38) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Neil hi,

Unfortunately, even in Germany most Weinert parts are all backorders. However said that, I got mine from:

http://www.lokpavillon.de/shop/

...and is available.

Baykal
Thanks Baykal. I'll give them a go.
QUOTE (neil_s_wood @ 13 Nov 2008, 21:27) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Thanks Baykal. I'll give them a go.

I don't see any problems with availability of Weinert couplings. My latest shipment arrived yesterday after 2 weeks.

They are expensive but not frighteningly so. They are as close to scale as I have seen in a ready to buy coupling.

They uncouple and couple using a manual hook. Not autocouple but still fun to use.

Appearance is excellent.
QUOTE (custodian @ 14 Nov 2008, 07:32) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I don't see any problems with availability of Weinert couplings. My latest shipment arrived yesterday after 2 weeks.

They are expensive but not frighteningly so. They are as close to scale as I have seen in a ready to buy coupling.

They uncouple and couple using a manual hook. Not autocouple but still fun to use.

Appearance is excellent.
...and that's what you want. They do look very good.
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