Everything on model trains, model railroads, model railways, locomotives, model train layouts, scenery, wiring, DCC and more. Enjoy the world's best hobby... model railroading!
Which Couplers for Block Cars?
N scaler Roy asks:
“What couplers should I use that look realistic but will never be uncoupled?”
Add your comment, or see the comments of others, by using the COMMENTS link under Roy’s posting.
SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION
If you don’t plan on un-coupling a string of cars and run them as a block ,just change the end couplers and use what ever you use now, simple.
Simple solution, use Kadee couplers or similar, remove gladhand and put a tiny drop of glue into the joined couplers. Best is a sort of glue that remains somewhat elastic.
Depending on the type of couplers I use Kadee no5 couplers but in the string of cars I blocked together- 3 box cars .I used normal horn hook couplers with the bottoms trimmed of to look better.With Kadee couplers on the ends of the block -,1 pair instead of 3 pairs.
The question is about N Scale
Kadee is HO scale The best operating couplers in N scale are MicroTrains Line.
micro-trains.com
To connect blocks of cars that will not be uncoupled use Fox Valley Static Couplers (formerly Unimate)
foxvalleymodels.com/NParts.html
This is not my idea, but it works for N scale. I first heard about this a very long time ago from a club that was and may still be in Arizona. This was done to “block” 70 ton ore cars together.
1. Make sure that your wheel sets match.
2. Remove coupler from one wheel set.
3. The other couple trim so that you have coupler bar coming out and it ends in a “T” and trimed just enough to fit inside the wheel set that you removed the coupler from.
4. Make sure that the end couplers of you block match to what ever couplers you are using on your layout.
I hope that these pictures help. 5 pictures (I think)
This is the first time that I have ever tried to post something like this so I hope everything come out ok. If not, I will gladly try again.
Bob, to publish the other 4 photos simply submit a separate comment for each because the system only allows one photo for each comment.
Ok, thanks. Like I said that this was a first for me and a learning experience. I just hope that I could help someone else.
Keep up the great work, I really enjoy this site.
I like AccuRail dummy couplers, best. I use them between A&B units, between hoppers on my unit trains.