I am building a 1950s - 60s layout in the UK and need to buy some freght cars that fit the period. I have been pointed at Accurail kits as they give build dates, etc. for cars.
My question is - do they come with Kadee style couplers or will I have to buy them seperately? Kadees are quite expensive in the UK.
David
Long Haired DavidA.K.A. David Penningtonmain man on the Sunset and North Eastern R.R.http://www.gmrblog.co.ukfrom the UK
It looks like Accurail has developed its own coupler. See the link below:
http://www.accurail.com/accurail/accumate.htm
My recent Accurail kits have come with Accumate couplers. They are an all plastic "Kadee compatible" coupler that has to be assembled and I find to be inferior to Kadees in operation. I always change mine out to Kadees.
Joe
Is it possible for you to buy from one of the internet discount shops that ship to England? You don't need coupler boxes for Accurail kits, so you can buy bulk packs of #5 or #58 (semi-scale) that contain just the couplers and centering springs.
If you don't mind plastic couplers; the McHenry or Bachmann EZ mate couplers will work, too; and they are cheaper.
Edited to add me to the list that loves Accurail kits; but hate their couplers; I throw them out and replace them with Kadees...
David,I highly suggest buying KD couplers and I will also suggest buying by the bulk pack since it saves you hobby money by not having to keep buying single packs.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Accumate couplers are "compatible" with Kadees, but don't perform quite the same. They seem to require more force to couple, so you're more likely to push a car somewhat in the process. They don't always uncouple as easily from Kadees (or Kadee clone designs). The split shank design can also wedge open under pressure, especially from being pushed around a curve during switching or from slack action heading downgrade (this tendency is more prevalent on cars over 50' in length due to the centerline of the coupler starting to be offset from the middle of the track, leading to sideways force) . Standard head Accumates can have trouble coupling to "scale" head Kadee types.
While all those things CAN happen, they may not be trouble for you. I have a large layout and run long-ish trains with a fair proportion of longer cars. For me Accumates have proven unacceptable. Before investing in Kadee conversions yourself, I'd suggest trying out the stock Accumate couplers to see if they work in your situation.
If you can save some cash by keeping the stock couplers, you may want to consider changing wheelsets. Accurail's stock wheelsets are one piece plastic castings, and they tend to wobble as they roll. ExactRail, Intermountain, and some other brands of machined metal wheels perform well in Accurail trucks.
Rob Spangler
Another alternate to #5 is the #148. They are essentially the same size and design coupler, the main difference being the attached whisker centering springs, which make it easier to assemble than the No.5, and they fit in coupler boxes that have a thinner profile (certain Bachmann cars). One drawback is that the bulk packs contain more couplers, and therefore are more expensive, requiring a little more saving up to purchase. In my opinion they are worth the reduced hassle of not dealing with No.5's centering spring. I personally do not use the Accumate couplers. Using Kadee's as a standard provides reliable operation and compatablity that allows, for the most part, hassle free uncoupling.
The Accumates are servicable and I know people who use them. I just prefer metal couplers when ever I can use them. Additionally, the Accurail cars do come with trucks and wheelsets. I use the trucks, and when I have the money, replace the plastic wheelsets with metal.
So here is the next question.
If I was to purchase, say, 18 Accurail kits, would this do me (as an example) or would I need couplers with draft boxes?
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Kadee-HO-Standard-Whisker-Couplers-Bulk-Pack-148-p/kad-14.htm
The accurail kits come with everything you need to make a running car. I will check if I have one that isnt built yet. You will not have to buy couplers or wheels.
EDIT: If you run across older kits, they may have press fit coupler boxes and trucks (I found 1 in a train store that buys collections). Substituting screws was not a problem. The new kits (the ones you order directly from Accurail) all have 2-56 screws for the coupler boxes and trucks. Also I do not have one that hasn't been assembled.
Additionally if the kit is missing pieces (which they almost never are), they generally ship you those missing pieces free of charge (at least that has been my experience). The only one I bought that was missing something was one that I purchased from before mentioned consigment dealer, and I knew what I was getting into when I bought it.
Accurail kits do not need couplers with boxes, the package you selected is all you should need. If you have friends that may want some Kadee couplers, you might think of the larger pack (#140), which has twice as many couplers at less than twice the price. If you don't plan to expand or have others wanting them, then that pack should do you just fine.
If you are purchasing them from Modeltrainstuff (MB Kline), they also have good prices on the cars you want, so only one shipping charge if ordered all at once.
Have fun,
Richard
The Accurail kits have molded-on draft gear boxes. Kadee couplers are a drop-in fit. I use the #58 coupler, which has a smaller head closer to prototypical size. I still have some #5 couplers, too, and I find they all play well together.
I also swap out the plastic wheels for Intermountain metal wheels. I buy both couplers and wheelsets in bulk packs. This is the way to go if you're budget-minded. I think the couplers come in packs of 50 (25 pairs) and the wheelsets come in packs of 100 (25 cars).
While you're at it, you should pick up the Kadee coupler gauge to make sure your couplers are all at the right height, and the MicroMark Truck Tuner to clean up the truck bearings before you install your wheels.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
So please point me at the manufacturer for the wheelsets.
Is it this one?
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Full-Throttle-Z-33-Metal-Wheelsets-p/ftl-wdw600-48.htm
Never used them before. Exactrail makes wheelsets, Kadee makes wheelsets, Walthers makes Proto 2000 wheelsets. These are the ones I use. I usually end up paying around $0.95 per axle. The Accurail wheelsets run just fine, the changing them out for metal wheels is a personal preference of mine. I usually buy a mix of ribbed back wheelsets and smooth back wheelsets, both were in use in the 1940s.
Additionally as mentioned earlier the #206 Kadee coupler height guage is an excellent tool.
EDIT: Those might be Z scale, which wont work out for you.
SBX So please point me at the manufacturer for the wheelsets. Is it this one? http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Full-Throttle-Z-33-Metal-Wheelsets-p/ftl-wdw600-48.htm David
No..Those are Z Scale wheels not HO.
Here's HO:
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/HO-Scale-Trucks-Wheelsets-s/1469.htm
These are the some of the ones I use, and that is a pretty good price for them:
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Proto-2000-HO-33-Wheelset-Ribbed-Back-Pack-p/920-21259.htm
Each pack will equip 3 cars. Ive also used the Intermountain ones. Mostly I use what the LHS has in stock.
David,
I have no trouble with the Accumate couplers at all,but then I don't use the magnetic uncoupling either.I model modern times but I've seen the Accurail cars from your chosen era and I think you will be pleased with them.
SBX So here is the next question. If I was to purchase, say, 18 Accurail kits, would this do me (as an example) or would I need couplers with draft boxes? http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Kadee-HO-Standard-Whisker-Couplers-Bulk-Pack-148-p/kad-14.htm David
David, short answer: No - Accurail boxes will do nicely.
Further, you will find that the "Whisker" couplers have a thicker shank, which will keep them from sagging in the coupler box.
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Gary M. Collins gmcrailgNOSPAM@gmail.com
===================================
"Common Sense, Ain't!" -- G. M. Collins
http://fhn.site90.net
I absolutely love the Accurail covered hoppers. I personally install Kadees. However the accumate couplers work, but they are hard to assemble and install, and don't work as well as Kadees.
My kit was missing a wheel set so I called them, and the sent me two trucks that have wheelsets installed, and four wheelsets. Their costumer service is excellent. Not to mention they're MADE IN THE USA!!!
I use Intermountain wheels. I find the best prices on eBay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intermountain-IMRC-HO-Brass-33-Insulated-Wheels-100-axles-/271559358636?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item3f3a32f8ac
These are around $66 for a hundred axles, plus shipping. You'll end up spending about $3 per car.
No matter what ......replace the accumate couplers.......they are total crap........just a cheap HO scale version of a Micro Trains coupler............Atlas uses them on their freight cars and locomotives.
Dennis Blank Jr.
CEO,COO,CFO,CMO,Bossman,Slavedriver,Engineer,Trackforeman,Grunt. Birdsboro & Reading Railroad
Atlas uses them too.
Jay
C-415 Build: https://imageshack.com/a/tShC/1
Other builds: https://imageshack.com/my/albums
Intermountain wheels but as far as couplers, run the other ones till you have a problem and then replace with Kadee. Since you are buying from here to ship there that may change the picture
I have 17 Accurail kits coming from Model Train Stuff. I have ordered a pack of Kadee 148s but left the wheels for now to see how it goes as they were quite expensive.
More when the box arrives.
I don'thave a problem with the plastic wheelsets that come with the kit. I haven't had my Accurail covered hopper derail once. I have several cars that will derail that have metal wheelsets. The metal wheelsets might look better and not get as dirty, but you don't need them.
While the various "whisker-type" couplers will drop right into the Accurail draught gear boxes, I found that many of the 40' boxcars' don't accommodate the depth of the centring spring of Kadee #5s:
To rectify this situation, you can either trim the protruding portion of the spring with your X-Acto, or modify the draught gear box by adding strips of .010"x.020" Evergreen styrene to build-up the sides of the cvoupler pocket:
Wayne
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch