kadee uncouplers

[Anonymous]

Hi alex,
several ways to conceal uncoupling ramps. have you tried kadee's number 308 uncoupling ramp which is concealed under the ties. It can be covered with ballast and still work well - actually too well as it is so powerful that it very often causes false uncoupling - that is your train will seperate as it goes over the magnet if you give it any slack at all - but the uncoupling ramp is concealed. Another trick I've used is covering five ties with .010" sheet steel (tinplate painted to match the ties) to hold the magnet while uncoupling then when uncoupling is done removing the magnet - standard kadee magnet dropped in place when needed - so can have several of these stations around your layout and use only one magnet. when magnet not in use you can store it on steel plate secured to the front of your layout. This works very well if your tracks are right in front of you and you dont have to reach over scenery to set down magnet. Have you thought of manual uncoupling - that would solve all your hidden magnet problems. Manual uncoupling is prototypical and believe me it works great and no unsightly uncoupling ramps to worry about.Rix products make an uncoupling tool for kadee couplers no. 628-14 priced at $2.50 and works quite well. You may also use bamboo skewers to uncouple kadees just make sure the couplers have some slack (you can nudge the cars with your finger) then insert a skewer and twist - the couplers will pop open. Also check out model railroader magazine october 1998 page 109 for another uncoupling tool (which by the way is my favorite and it works) it is a simple homemake tool which grabs one of the trip pins (which are supposed to look like the air hoses between cars) of kadee or similarly designed couplers with the hooked tip of the tool and by pulling gently uncouples the cars.
Hope above will help solve your problem Alex believe me for every problem you will encounter in this wonderful hobby there is an answer out there. Let me know which of the above you've chosen to use.
Keep on tracking

Rudy Montreal canada

[Anonymous]

hi again!

I would like to know if anybody has a good way to hide kadee magnetic over the track uncouplers. The only way i can think of is to make it into a crossing but then i would have way too many roads. Can somebody help???

Alex