N Scale Body Mounted Couplers

[Anonymous]

First post!

I recently started working in N scale and I wanted to convert my truck mounted couplers to body mounted.

With the products offered from Micro-Scale, do the body mount couplers inhibit the swing radius of the trucks in any way?

The minimum radius of the railroad I'm designing will be 24", so I don't think it would be an issue. However, I was just curious.

Thanks!

[DSchmitt]

MicroTrains makes a coupler designed for body mounting. The box is thinner than the box on the truck mounted couplers. The MictoTrains N couplers are oversize for N scale. Many of the N modelers who body mount use their Z coupler. It really improves the scale appearance.

24" radius is broad enough that even cutting the coupler N coupler off a truck and using it should be no problem. I have done this as an experment.

Most of us prefer to stick with the truck mounted couplers. Body mounting can be tedious work. Both verical and horizontal alignment are very important. If the coupler is even slightly of the centerline of the car, it won't operate well in a train causing derailments. Couplers mismatched vertically won't stay coupled.

Advocates of body mounts claim the cars operate better, particularly when cars are being pushed. In my opinion the main advantage is appearance, particularly if Z couplers are used.

[Anonymous]

A bit tedoius but well worth the extra effort
as for cutting them off the trucks i have done this and for me it doesnt work to well i think the trouble is my radius is too small some cars work others dont because the stock MT truck coupler box interferes with the truck swing
i am planning to switch them out for the body kits if you can afford these go for it

regards

larry

[der5997]

Anybody tried mounting Z couplers onto a truck? I'm imagining a Z coupler box ACCed to the base of a N coupler box, or isn't it that simple?

[Wdlgln005]

Welcome to Nscale!

Your 24" curve will allow you to run any model made. Check out the Ntrak club in your area. Most of their curves are in this class. Passenger trains will look & run great. A Lifelike 2-8-8-2 Mallet or Big boy will run on this trak!

There should be clearance between the truck & the coupler to allow for the swing radius of the truck. Most of this comes to play when an if you need to use tighter radius curves in an industrial or branchline area.

Body mounting the couplers allow the force of the backing loco to be used thru the body of the car & not on the truck & coupler. Most good HO scale cars are built this way. When you mix body mount with truck mount is when you start having problems. One coupler wil swing wider than the other will allow. Also, watch & compare the action backing thru turnouts.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by DSchmitt

Advocates of body mounts claim the cars operate better, particularly when cars are being pushed.

That was my main concern. I was planning on modeling a moutain railroad with helper service. So, I guess for that application, body mounting would be the way to go. Better get started!

thanks all!