Howdy - I am new to the hobby, so apologies if I am asking something that's already been covered before. I'm just looking for a little advice and direction.
I just picked up a Bachmann train to start out with and grow from and picked N scale for space considerations for the layout.
But I am having a little trouble with the couplers that came on the cars. My eyesight isn't as good as it once was and I am finding it a little tedius to get all the cars coupled together.
I am wondering if there are magnetic couplers I could use that would be easier. I'm not too worried about period accuracy right now, just want something that is easier.
I recall seeing at a train show a magnetic setup where they had magnets staged on the track turnouts that would automatically decouple and couple the cars when they stopped over them. I would love to be able to do something like that.
Any ideas? Advice?
SteveG...But I am having a little trouble with the couplers that came on the cars. My eyesight isn't as good as it once was and I am finding it a little tedius to get all the cars coupled together.....
to the Model Railroader Forums, Steve!
Actual magnetic couplers would be difficult to uncouple, I'd think, but the couplers which come on the Bachmann N scale equipment are uncoupled by an in-track or under-track magnet.
When a slight amount of slack is introduced to the two couplers which you wish to uncouple, sitting over the magnet, the force of the magnet deflects the two metal projections hanging below the couplers, which in-turn opens the couplers' knuckles. The cars are then easily separated.To couple the cars together, simply place them on the track, then gently bump them together...coupling is automatic, provided the couplers are all at the proper height and centered on the cars' ends.
Wayne
Welcome SteveG, per Forum Rules, if I read them right, I'm not buying or selling this product so I believe I can post this up here. Look at Micro trains . com https://www.micro-trains.com/magne-matic-couplers
N-Scale couplers
I'm not sure what is on your Bachman train set cars. I had to think what coupler came on my N-scale stock, it was what I called ''a horizontal J'' truck mounted. Micro Train couplers were the way to go...but it's small work with big fingers. Oh and if you can stay away from truck mounted couplers, all the better. Body mount is the way to go. If you bump with a finger or sneeze on one car and it falls over off the track, that car will take five cars each way with it.
Aha, Rapido couplers, my ''horizontal J'', I forgot what to call them untill I read your post.
Thanks guys for the quick replies! I am really looking forward to getting more into this hobby. I don't think the couplers that came on the cars are magnetic at all. I don't get any kind of magnetic attraction out of them at all. And the "bump to connect" does not work for me either. I have to manually manipulate the tiny little couplers to get them to join up.
The set did come with a little baggy of what looks like Rapido couplers. I'm thinking of maybe trying those to see if they are easier.
And thanks for the link on the Micro Trains. I will give them a look.
I'm just wondering what older guys with failing eyesight do to easily work with their rolling stock?
SteveGI'm just wondering what older guys with failing eyesight do to easily work with their rolling stock?
Regardless of scale a lot of modelers use magifying visiors.
https://www.micromark.com/Optivisor-Binocular-Magnifier
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I second the Optivision. There are a couple threads about what power you need.
I ended up buying a selection of powers off Amazon.
https://tinyurl.com/yyepk597
The higher the magnification, the closer it needs to be to your face, to be in focus.
That means, to work on something, your neck needs to be way bent over and your neck, rather than optimum vision, becomes the limiting factor.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
SteveG Thanks guys for the quick replies! I am really looking forward to getting more into this hobby. I don't think the couplers that came on the cars are magnetic at all. I don't get any kind of magnetic attraction out of them at all. And the "bump to connect" does not work for me either. I have to manually manipulate the tiny little couplers to get them to join up. The set did come with a little baggy of what looks like Rapido couplers. I'm thinking of maybe trying those to see if they are easier. And thanks for the link on the Micro Trains. I will give them a look. I'm just wondering what older guys with failing eyesight do to easily work with their rolling stock?
Put a magnet against the side of that little curved wire sticking out of the bottom of the coupler bottom, aka trip pin. See if the coupler/trip pin moves towards the magnet. That is if the car is equipped with E-Z MATE II couplers. Of course then again maybe someone cut off the trip pins.
Someday I hope we can upload pictures directly from our computers and not depend on a photo hosting site.