1/29 Scale coupler question

[DTI356]

Hi All,

Just coming over from the 'O' Scale world and have a couple of questions about couplers.
Who makes the best/most accurate operating 1/29 scale coupler with box ?
Are the USA Trains couplers actual 1/29 scale ? (even though they don't come with a box)
At this scale I'd think an actual scale operating coupler should be do-able.

Thanks,

Brian B.
DT&I 1980ish

[devils]

There's the Kadee range as usual in G or the scale G1 versions, just a different prefix.

Accucraft's have the proper drop pins but you need to make the lift bar work by hand so they aren't remote operating like Kadee.

I'd google the Kadee and Accucraft websites there's pics on there.

Hope this points you in the right direction

Paul

[Tom The Brat]

Most of the knuckle couplers for G are oversize for 1:29, including USA and Aristocraft. I have Aristo couplers on all my equipment. KayDee's #1 size coupler is lots smaller, and I've thought for a long time to change to those.

Few of us bother with automatic uncoupling in large scale. In fact, many cut off the KayDee uncoupling lever so it doesn't snag on things you find in the garden. Most with KD's uncouple them with a screwdriver. It's an easy technique, but I found that reaching tween the cars with 2 fingers and lifting one up and the other down was just as easy and left the screwdriver for somebody else to use.

Aristo couplers couple easily with KayDee G size couplers.

[mgilger]

Convert to Hook and Loop couplers and you will not have any more problems, except they don't look realistic.  Maybe one of these days I'll convert to knuckle, probably Aristo, but until that time comes, it's Hook & Loop for me.

The one thing I do not like about the knuckles, is you cannot get realistic coupling action. You usually have to slam the cars togeather.  At least with the Hook & Loop, you can back in at a reasonable speed and hook up reliabily.

Oh well, what can I say.

Mark

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Au contraire, Kadees will nudge together with less force than hook and loop. They will also uncouple more gently (if you can remotely uncouple your hook and loops).

No coupler is perfect, they all have pros and cons, but large force to couple Kadees is not one of their faults.

Regards, Greg

[Anonymous]

Kadee G couplers are 1:24, their #1 couplers are 1:32, Aristo & USA are approx same size as their G couplers.  As you are one new to G, I should also let you know the diff mfgers set different coupler heights as the equipment comes, and the different types of couplers arent really all that compatible.  There was an article in garden railways on this, cant find what issue right now though.  For Kadee body mount conversion, (which is what I am doing) USA has a "correct" height (if you use a kadee gauge) spot ready for Kadee couplers on their "ultimate" series cars, and Aristo, LGB & USA's "American" series stuff easily converts to body mounted Kadee's.

[DTI356]

Hey All,

Thanks for the replies,

I was hoping there was a better body mount than Kadees (been using them for many years in 'O' and never liked having to use a tool to uncouple them - the magnet was never an option in my opinion). Don't get me wrong....they are very robust and will haul long trains without breaking - that's nice.

Has anyone compared Lionels 'O'gauge coupler to 1/29 scale? I know they were way oversized for 'O' but I always like there operating qualities.

Brian B.

DT&I 1980ish

[DTI356]

An answer to my above question,

I just checked .......I have the Car and Loco Cyclopedias (which are loaded with prototypical Train info)....they have drawings (with dimensions) of almost every type of coupler ever made. I scaned the 'E' type coupler drawing and reduced it til it was 1/29 scale and made a print.

Since I come from the 'O' scale world and have used some 3 rail products to convert to 2 rail I have a supply of MTH/Lionel couplers on hand.....I laid one of these couplers onto the reduced to 1/29 drawing of the 'E' type coupler and they are almost perfect (looked perfect to my eye). Now I just have to come up with a box to mount them in and I'm good to go!

This all may be too good to be true as I've missed my Lionel couplers since converting from Post-war Lionel to 2 rail scale 'O' many years ago.....what comes around may just go around!

 

Brian B.

DT&I 1980ish

[Tom The Brat]

Ric always said I'd need a screwdriver to uncouple his KayDees, but last time I was there, it was quite easy to reach between the cars with 2 fingers and push one up and the other down. There was plenty of spring to uncouple them. Few use the magnets in large scale.

Why do we call it "large scale?" Haven't we seen 1 1/2 inch scale trains?