Since a passenger train wouldn't involve a lot of car switching, consider changing out only the first and last couplers to Micro-Trains or similar, and leave the intermediate ones with the original hook-and-loops. Or even replace those with permanent drawbars, if you plan to always run the train with the same consist.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
Santa Fe all the way!add N scale trucks?
i have been using Microtrains N scale trucks on the HOn30 cars.
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
Thank you all for the great info and help!! I can't understand why I can get Walther's search engine to give me what I'm looking for? I'll use the links above. I have uncovered some additional products and info using HOn2 1/2 instead of HOn30. I kinda like kit bashing, could I get some HOn3 stuff and add N scale trucks? Thanks again for the info.
This is a complete list of HOn30/HOe Peco track
https://www.walthers.com/search/scale/hon30-scale/mode/list?q=552-%2A
Santa Fe all the way!Thanks for the info, but I'm still wondering is there a distributor or do dealers get their products directly from Minitrains?
I had good luck with Caboose Hobbies in Denver, but they have closed. You might check Original Whistle Stop in California; they have been around for a while. See what their website says, and any feedback we get here. The second list DSchmitt listed gives US dealers.
We have HOn30 on the Boothbay Railway Village layout using the Peco track, and it seems to be working out well. I have some of the same coaches, but have not had time to work on upgrades like couplers. Too busy making critters and resin car kits. I did instlall a decoder in one of their Forneys, not and easy install.
If you are up for some resin kits, Funaro and Camerlengo have a number of good quality freight car kits. I have done a few boxcars and flatcars.http://www.fandckits.com/ho_narrow.html
Minitrains retailers in the USA
Walthers as of June 5, 2017
https://www.walthers.com/code-80-hoe-hon2-1-2-hon30-quot-narrow-gauge-flex-track-36-quot-91-4cm-section
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
DSchmitt PECO dealer search page http://www.peco-uk.com/page.asp?id=shop Lists 5 distributers in USA.
PECO dealer search page http://www.peco-uk.com/page.asp?id=shop Lists 5 distributers in USA.
Thanks for the info, but I'm still wondering is there a distributor or do dealers get their products directly from Minitrains?
This Dealer is in Canada
http://www.central-hobbies.com/products/minitrains.html
List of MinitrainS dealers in US
http://www.minitrains.eu/sources/USA.pdf from http://www.minitrains.eu/
US retailer for European HOe (HOn30)
https://www.reynaulds.com/
PECO Nn30 track at Walthers
PECO dealers in USA
http://www.peco-uk.com/page.asp?id=shop
HOn30 seems to be hard to get your hands on here in the US. I can find only one online source for Peco HOn30 track and very little on Ebay. There's a bit more if you set Ebay to worldwide, but still not much. Does anyone know who the US distributor is for Peco or Minitrains?
I agree - this set is just adorable!
Talking of couplers - most of the HOn30 stuff is equipped with the NEM style coupler, so if you want to stay compatible, I´d suggest you just keep it the way it is. The couplers are strong enough to haul a longer train...
This is the set that I have now. Really neat little stuff.
Yeah Mike, it's the hook and loop couplers. After looking closer at them, I can see why you guys are saying major surgery is required. These factory couplers look pretty weak. I don't think there made for a long unit train, lol. With changing the couplers to a knuckle type I thought I'd be more compatible with other HOn30 equipment that's out there. I guess I'll have to just stick with the equipment that has these type of couplers, bummer.
Sir MadogIt has been done, but I am not sure whether it´s worth the trouble.
That sums up my memory, at least of the original Minitrains cars. Being a very lighweight, 4-wheel car makes them dodgy when coupling with knuckle couplers applied IIRC from a long ago experiment. You'll want to add some weight to help with this, if not already done.
Assuming you're talking about the factory couplers, a thin wire and a hook/.prong to catch the corresponding wire of the opposing car, unless you have extensive switching planned it may make more sense to stick with the original. If you are planning switching, then I'd experiment with things to make sure operations will not disappoint before layout construction gets too far.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Micro Trains N or Z scale couplers would be appropriate, but fitting them to Minitrains stock requires a lot of surgical work. It has been done, but I am not sure whether it´s worth the trouble.
Sorry, I had a recommendation but they won't work for your models.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I purchased some Minitrains equipment which have the European NEM type couplers. I'd like to convert them to knuckle type couplers. Any suggestions? The Minitrains are HOe /HOn30. N scale couplers would probably look the best.