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RE: (erielack) Couplers (was: track plan advice?)

> A couple of comments here (no pun intended). The Sergents are truly great looking couplers and
> since they became available pre-assembled (the first ones I got were kits!) and blackened now, I
> think they have become fairly viable. The downside (IMHO) is that you're precluding "playing well
> with others," because generally you can't take you cars or locomotives to somebody else's layout to
> share. And they can't bring their stuff to your layout either. Model Railroading is fun*, right?
> That takes some of the fun out of it.
> 
> However, the weak point is modeling the coupler pocket, which is, on standard HO models, overly
> wide. If you put a Sergent into a standard pocket, what, exactly, have you accomplished?
> 
> If I am building a model that is more than assembling a straight kit, I now substitute a Kadee 78,
> which is a scale head on a different shank, which is in a scale-width pocket. They are only
> available assembled. They have a slightly reduced swing, so they won't couple on 18-20" radius
> curves, but I don't worry too terribly much about that. But the end really does look a lot better
> when you really compare to the prototype. I may have a car here that is done that way, and if I do
> I'll post a photo.
> 
> Truth to tell, I find Proto87 a very seductive idea, and if I were a less social modeler, I'd be
> VERY tempted to go for that. There are downsides, the track has to be very high quality (that's a
> problem?), the radii have to be larger (48" more-or-less minimum - a problem for many), and if you
> really want to operate, truly equalized suspensions for your cars and locomotives are a very good
> idea. And if I were doing that, well, Sergents would rule.
> 
> One last: I know of a stillborn coupler (which might someday see the light of public day) that
> looks as realistic as a Sergent, had an internal (patented) knuckle spring, and was to be available
> in both standard Kadee 5 style design and in a 78-style box. It would be magnetic and would mate
> with Kadees. It was a great disappointment to me when it faltered in coming to market. I know the
> manufacturer and had committed to change every single coupler I one to these new versions as soon as
> available. I still hold out hope, and if I ever hit the lottery, you can expect it to come out.
> 
> SGL
> 
> *Sometimes when things are not going as well as I'd like, this must be amended to "Model railroading
> is FUN, dammit!"
> 
Preach it on Brother Schyler! :)

 

I don't reaaaaaaaally want to drag us off topic but what is the point of Proto87? HO isn't close enough? Is it like comparing Lionell to O guage?


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