Most of the knuckle couplers for G are oversize for 1:29, including USA and Aristocraft. I have Aristo couplers on all my equipment. KayDee's #1 size coupler is lots smaller, and I've thought for a long time to change to those.
Few of us bother with automatic uncoupling in large scale. In fact, many cut off the KayDee uncoupling lever so it doesn't snag on things you find in the garden. Most with KD's uncouple them with a screwdriver. It's an easy technique, but I found that reaching tween the cars with 2 fingers and lifting one up and the other down was just as easy and left the screwdriver for somebody else to use.
Aristo couplers couple easily with KayDee G size couplers.
Convert to Hook and Loop couplers and you will not have any more problems, except they don't look realistic. Maybe one of these days I'll convert to knuckle, probably Aristo, but until that time comes, it's Hook & Loop for me.
The one thing I do not like about the knuckles, is you cannot get realistic coupling action. You usually have to slam the cars togeather. At least with the Hook & Loop, you can back in at a reasonable speed and hook up reliabily.
Oh well, what can I say.
Mark
M. Gilger - President and Chief Engineer MM&G web
Web Site: http://mmg-garden-rr.webs.com/
Au contraire, Kadees will nudge together with less force than hook and loop. They will also uncouple more gently (if you can remotely uncouple your hook and loops).
No coupler is perfect, they all have pros and cons, but large force to couple Kadees is not one of their faults.
Regards, Greg
Visit my site: http://www.elmassian.com - lots of tips on locos, rolling stock and more.
Click here for Greg's web site
Kadee G couplers are 1:24, their #1 couplers are 1:32, Aristo & USA are approx same size as their G couplers. As you are one new to G, I should also let you know the diff mfgers set different coupler heights as the equipment comes, and the different types of couplers arent really all that compatible. There was an article in garden railways on this, cant find what issue right now though. For Kadee body mount conversion, (which is what I am doing) USA has a "correct" height (if you use a kadee gauge) spot ready for Kadee couplers on their "ultimate" series cars, and Aristo, LGB & USA's "American" series stuff easily converts to body mounted Kadee's.
Hey All,
Thanks for the replies,
I was hoping there was a better body mount than Kadees (been using them for many years in 'O' and never liked having to use a tool to uncouple them - the magnet was never an option in my opinion). Don't get me wrong....they are very robust and will haul long trains without breaking - that's nice.
Has anyone compared Lionels 'O'gauge coupler to 1/29 scale? I know they were way oversized for 'O' but I always like there operating qualities.
Brian B.
DT&I 1980ish
An answer to my above question,
Ric always said I'd need a screwdriver to uncouple his KayDees, but last time I was there, it was quite easy to reach between the cars with 2 fingers and push one up and the other down. There was plenty of spring to uncouple them. Few use the magnets in large scale.
Why do we call it "large scale?" Haven't we seen 1 1/2 inch scale trains?
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