I am a relatively new modeler (less than a year) and remain confused about N gauge couplers. I see a lot of styles and brand-names mentioned (Magne-Matic, Kato, Micro-Trains, ScaleTrains, BLI, ScaleTrains, etc.) and most (all?) are marketed as compatible with Magne-Matic. And I have heard/read a lot of stuff saying that Micro-Trains are the "best".
Except that now apparently Micro-Trains has introduced True-Scale couplers, which are not compatible (hello, conversion car...).
The one thing I have going for me is that almost all of my stock is quite new (except for a couple of old Atlas cabooses I picked up on ebay that had chunkier couplings - Rapido, I guess? - that were a pain to change for somebody of my skill level, and a rake of Kato coaches where one coach had the same Rapido? coupler on one end and a Kato coupler at the other.)
I have so many questions, some of which I'm sure are answered readily if I looked harder... and some of which are answered by "how much do you care?"... so I am hoping to mine the first hand experience of others here.
1. Just how compatible really are Magne-Matic compatible couplers from different brands? Are there certain brands that are less compatible than others?
2. How much effort is it to convert everything to one brand, and is it worth it? Or is this one of those questions where the answer is "if it's working for you, don't touch it"? Bear in mind my frustrating hand tremor that kicks in when I am trying to make very fine movements!
3. If I'm going to pick one brand, should it be Micro-Trains?
4. Some of my existing couplers do not have a draft gear box, e.g. on one of my BLI steam locos the front coupler goes through the cowcatcher and is attached directly to the underside of the engine with a tiny screw. Is that going to work with a Micro-Trains or other brand coupler intended to go into a draft gear box?
5. Micro-Trains I note offers short, medium and long shanks. How do you select the right one?
6. Should I jump directly to True-Scale couplers while my fleet is still relatively small? Does anybody have experience with them? How much of a difference does it make at normal viewing distance? I am not particularly concerned with being extremely prototypical (mostly because I don't have the skills for it, and I admire those that do), I am more concerned with smooth running operations.
7. It seems some couplers have springy side bits (is there a technical term for that) and some do not, e.g. these from Kato. What difference does it make? Will they go into an existing draft gear box?
8. I have some number of truck-mounted couplers. Should I replace those? Or again, is it a matter of "only if it bothers you"?
I did find this general guide to N scale couplers that gives some of the history, but doesn't get into this level of detail or, most particularly, first hand experience.
Except that now apparently Micro-Trains has introduced True-Scale couplers, which are not compatible (hello, conversion car...).
The one thing I have going for me is that almost all of my stock is quite new (except for a couple of old Atlas cabooses I picked up on ebay that had chunkier couplings - Rapido, I guess? - that were a pain to change for somebody of my skill level, and a rake of Kato coaches where one coach had the same Rapido? coupler on one end and a Kato coupler at the other.)
I have so many questions, some of which I'm sure are answered readily if I looked harder... and some of which are answered by "how much do you care?"... so I am hoping to mine the first hand experience of others here.
1. Just how compatible really are Magne-Matic compatible couplers from different brands? Are there certain brands that are less compatible than others?
2. How much effort is it to convert everything to one brand, and is it worth it? Or is this one of those questions where the answer is "if it's working for you, don't touch it"? Bear in mind my frustrating hand tremor that kicks in when I am trying to make very fine movements!
3. If I'm going to pick one brand, should it be Micro-Trains?
4. Some of my existing couplers do not have a draft gear box, e.g. on one of my BLI steam locos the front coupler goes through the cowcatcher and is attached directly to the underside of the engine with a tiny screw. Is that going to work with a Micro-Trains or other brand coupler intended to go into a draft gear box?
5. Micro-Trains I note offers short, medium and long shanks. How do you select the right one?
6. Should I jump directly to True-Scale couplers while my fleet is still relatively small? Does anybody have experience with them? How much of a difference does it make at normal viewing distance? I am not particularly concerned with being extremely prototypical (mostly because I don't have the skills for it, and I admire those that do), I am more concerned with smooth running operations.
7. It seems some couplers have springy side bits (is there a technical term for that) and some do not, e.g. these from Kato. What difference does it make? Will they go into an existing draft gear box?
8. I have some number of truck-mounted couplers. Should I replace those? Or again, is it a matter of "only if it bothers you"?
I did find this general guide to N scale couplers that gives some of the history, but doesn't get into this level of detail or, most particularly, first hand experience.
