jasperofzeal rrinkerHmm, for DCC uncouplers for Kadees there is usually a motor or solenoid that pulls a string to open the knuckle. Wonder if you could make a tiny electomagnet that would be powerful enough to lift the ball bearing without burning out the decoder. It might make for DCC uncoupling to be cheaper when using Sergent couplers compared to Kadee. (I am actually being somewhat serious) I've also thought about this a few times as well. About how many windings of magnet wire would be needed to generate a strong enough magnetic field to lift the bearing? If the entire winding is small enough to rest atop the coupler, it would just be a matter of finding a way to blend it in so that it's not too obvious to spot.
rrinkerHmm, for DCC uncouplers for Kadees there is usually a motor or solenoid that pulls a string to open the knuckle. Wonder if you could make a tiny electomagnet that would be powerful enough to lift the ball bearing without burning out the decoder. It might make for DCC uncoupling to be cheaper when using Sergent couplers compared to Kadee. (I am actually being somewhat serious)
I've also thought about this a few times as well. About how many windings of magnet wire would be needed to generate a strong enough magnetic field to lift the bearing? If the entire winding is small enough to rest atop the coupler, it would just be a matter of finding a way to blend it in so that it's not too obvious to spot.
I have no interest in DCC operated couplers. Between "hand of God" versus punching in buttons on the DCC throttle, I'll take manually pulling the pin. That's a lot closer to the operation of uncoupling a car than punching in a car number to actuate an accessory decoder, and trying to make sure you got the A or B end of the car correctly punched in, not to mention the cost of adding this decoder to every car. I'm also not sure how'd you'd make that possible in a flatcar or open hopper.
For the record I also see operating couplers on engines like the MTH SD70ACe as a useless gimmick. If you're switching cars in a yard, or doing industry switching, or doing a simply setout at a yard or siding while running a through train, 90% of your coupling/uncoupling moves will NOT be made at the head end. (I use the MTH SD70ACe as an example only because it's the first one I can think of off the top of my head that comes installed with DCC couplers)
And no, It's not because I'm afraid of technology. I work with computers and software for a living. But sometimes the high-tech solution is not necessarily the best for the situation.
Chris van der Heide
My Algoma Central Railway Modeling Blog
Nicht verstehen. It is an untouched photo posted here.
Mark
Where is this "WPF" that you are posting this to?
The DINGER line Free Lance Steam to Diesel
You guys need to take some drugs.
The price had changed. They are now up to $999.95 each!
He also makes a note that they are priced not to sell. Maybe he could have wrote "not available at this time?" Also knowing Andy he probably got a bit miffed with the negative publicity on the $99.95 price. I suppose he will have them made in China eventually at a reduced price.
jwhitten Flashwave Shall I post a picture of a Big Boy with a train of Oscar & Pikers? Absolutely! Don't be shy, don't hold back, POST IT !!!! John
Flashwave Shall I post a picture of a Big Boy with a train of Oscar & Pikers?
Absolutely! Don't be shy, don't hold back, POST IT !!!!
John
Okay then, but I'll stick 'em in WPF so as to avoid "spamming"
-Morgan
Need to contact Proto 87 stores asto the price. I think this is a misprint on thier site as I have several of these and the NEW price listed is about 10X the price I paid. Also these work very well much easier to align than expected and also easy do duplicate from scratch rather than buying the kit if truly they are now that expensive. I am also working on an onboard uncoupler to install on several cars to uncouple the sergants just a few more bugs to work out. I have found also that if you fit the couplers just slightly tight or stiff in the coupler box that they generally stay centered for recoupling, just don't over do it.
Model RR is Good Throw away the telephone pole and giant hand from the sky method. I fiound a new method for uncoupling Sergent couplers. HERE----> http://www.proto87.com/remote-uncoupler.html The price is pretty high though.
Throw away the telephone pole and giant hand from the sky method.
I fiound a new method for uncoupling Sergent couplers.
HERE----> http://www.proto87.com/remote-uncoupler.html
The price is pretty high though.
The problem with this thing (other than the price) is that it still doesn't provide a way to manually center the coupler or open the knuckles. If one has to still use the giant hand from the sky to center couplers and open knuckles, then there should be no issue using the giant hand to uncouple with the wand - just saved $100.
If some people find it unrealistic to have a giant hand hovering around uncoupling things, then how do they explain the other unrealistic aspects of a layout: no moving vehicles (other than trains), people frozen in place (maybe dpt. store dummies?), no weathering on anything, lights so bright that if they were scaled up they would probably burn out our retinas, etc., etc., etc.
As many have said before, this is a hobby of compromises, it's all up to each individual to be okay with whatever shortcomings this hobby gives us.
TONY
"If we never take the time, how can we ever have the time." - Merovingian (Matrix Reloaded)
So you don't have Derail stands everywhere, how about an alternative one that is a trackside crane that lowers a magnet between the cars?
Hmm, for DCC uncouplers for Kadees there is usually a motor or solenoid that pulls a string to open the knuckle. Wonder if you could make a tiny electomagnet that would be powerful enough to lift the ball bearing without burning out the decoder. It might make for DCC uncoupling to be cheaper when using Sergent couplers compared to Kadee. (I am actually being somewhat serious)
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Hold off guys.I get the impression that you only use this gadget where you can't reach to uncouple the Sergants manually.
For example, with my Kadees, most of my uncoupling is done with a pick, wand, etc. as the locations are usually within reach from the aisle. However, there are just a very few locations on my layout where that isn't possible. Therefore, I have some under the track electromagnets installed.
I would say this is the same concept for the Sergants which are fun to uncouple almost like the real thing when you can reach them. I only see one drawback to Andy's invention: It's very pricey. I would guess that he is using a similar concept that some folks build with a swinging magnet under the track for Kadees that swings up for activiation and drops down when not in use. Therefore you would't need an obtrusive derail stand.
Why not?? They look pretty nice behind my "Doodlebug" . lol
Flip
Hello, Giants. Have you found Jack or his bean stalk yet?
Aside from the high price, I don't see any difference from putting Kadee magnets everywhere.
The stand comes with a push rod that would go under the bench or with some imagination could be hooked up to a switch machine motor.
As far as the 520 foot giant, "God" should only interfere when there is something to create or something to fix. Then it's OK for God to intervene.
God should not be uncoupling cars.
markpierce if you're a Sergent's guy, you should be modeling working derails instead.
Now that's not really fair. I use them and I could care less about details. I use them cause they're short one piece that could fail catastropically. Shall I post a picture of a Big Boy with a train of Oscar & Pikers?
Model RR is Good Throw away the telephone pole and giant hand from the sky method.
If the giant hand disturbs your sensibilities, what are you doing about the 520-foot giants roaming around the world's (layout's) edges? (Honey, the world is flat.)
markpierce Ditto earlier comments, particularly doesn't the big sky hand swoop down to operate the device anyway? Besides, if you're a Sergent's guy, you should be modeling working derails instead. Mark
Ditto earlier comments, particularly doesn't the big sky hand swoop down to operate the device anyway? Besides, if you're a Sergent's guy, you should be modeling working derails instead.
It shows that in one picture but I think it includes some sort of pushrod linkage so you can mount a knob on the fascia that by pushing and pulling tilts the stand over the couplers. At least that's what I understand from reading the description of what's in the kit.
Exactly the same problem with Kadees, you can't put magents EVERYWHERE you might want or need to uncouple, so you are always moving cars unrealistically to make cuts.
If the GHA (Giant Hand Action) or pick or magnet from the sky ruins the illusion for you, then so is a switch target that folds between the rails. Using a pick for Kadees or the wand for Sergents allows you to make the cuts in the more operationally prototypical location, and to me that improvement in operation more that overcomes the un-prototypical stick from the sky. Those without narrow or shelf type benchwork where all tracks are not within easy reach may think differently, but then I don't see people with 6x10 island spaghetti bowls as they type who would switch to Sergent couplers.
i don't want to dampen your enthusiasm but when the giant hand is done, it goes away. is this thing portable? otherwise, it just looks like a switch stand without a switch. it looks like it must be fastened down securely in order to operate. then you would have a redundant switch stand everywhere on the layout that you might want to uncouple cars. you would only have a fraction of an inch tolerance in where you stopped the train to make the cut. am i missing something important?
grizlump