After years of neglecting my N Scale collection I purchased a Kato Unitrak V11 system. After setting it up I quickly realized why I quit N scale. The couplers are just stupid. I know there are better couplers out there but I don't want to invest a small fortune in converting what rolling stock I have. My question to you N scalers is what is the best route to take? I plan on adding a few more Kato and Atlas pieces to my collection. Are the stock couplers compatible? The closest shop is in Birmingham so I can't see what the difference is. Any help would be appreciated
I believe the MT/Atlas couplers are compatable, but have to be manipulated by hand. The old Red Caboose "Unimate" couplers are compatable with all the brands of N scale couplers (Except the toy-like Rapidos), but they also pretty much have to be coupled by hand. I think Model Train Stuff (M.B. Klein) carries Red Caboose/Unimate. I know the Micro-Trains/Kadee type couplers are part of a "system," but they're still more trouble than they're worth! Of all great stides in model RR technology all through the years, model RR couplers are still no better than the Lionel "Magne-Matics." I just use the "0-5-0 switcher" and and say the h*** with it! I remember a letter to the MR editor where a guy said he had a sixty gallon drum of the worthless (so-called) "NMRA" X2F couplers that he had swapped out... Tom PS--Modeling Tip: The Micro-Trains' Z scale couplers are more true-to-scale than the N scale versions and work well on the nose of a cab-unit diesel, such as the Life-Like FA's.
The Micro-Trains couplers and Atlas couplers work together, sometimes will even uncouple with magnet. Either or combination can be manipulated with a sharp "pick." If you aren't doing much uncoupling, the Unimate "dummies" are much more economical. They can be inserted into most of the trucks that carry the "Rapido" couplers if you hold your tongue just right (or left?) and don't bite it when the little spring jumps out. I run some pairs of cars with these between them. Most of the HO guys are abe to adjust to uncoupling with a pick when they are operating on The Central Divisions. I don't think I have any Kato cars, maybe Joe or Charlie know more about them. Body mounting is another option, although I'm not sure about a bulk package being available. You could then trim down the original trucks.
This is probably not a great revelation, but you can have a "transitional" car (Or several) with the stock rapido coupler on one end and a Red Caboose/Unimate (Or any new coupler of chioce) on the other. That way you don't have to convert your whole fleet of cars all at once. You can run a train with cars already converted with new couplers with cars you haven't yet converted. Tom
