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I recently bought my first trains.View attachment 21782These ar the couplers that camewith everything. I would eventualy like to upgrade to the system where a magnet is under the table.
How much will this cost? what kind should I get? Where do I get them?
Yes I only use Kadees, they are a must on any layout. I have their under-the-track magnets as well, and they work OK, not great, but it's nice to have when you need uncoupling in places you can't reach. You'll learn how to do the Kadee Shuffle. They have a video on their site that shows how it works.
You will probably want the #5's, as they are the most standard compatible with various rolling stock manufacturers.
The only scale size Kadee coupler I use is the #119 whisker shelf coupler. If they come uncoupled due to variations in track work you have a serious track problem that needs to be addressed ASAP. The shelfs actually work and keep the couplers locked together. Like all Kadee's they work with any other knuckle coupler with the exception of the Sergents couplers. Sergents work well only with other Sergents couplers.
But not by simply backing the car into it. The knuckle of the Sergents coupler must be manually closed around the knuckle of the Kadee coupler. I tried the Sergents on a trial basis. They're good for what they do and look fantastic. But as my friends all use Kadee's and we sometimes exchange rolling stock I see no reason to change. I also don't like that I had to align them manually. The Kadee's are automatically aligned and I can uncouple them over an under track magnet instead of having to reach across the layout to insert a magnetic probe between the cars. Use Sergents if you want to. I have no use for them.
I like the #148 whisker coupler the best. I know in real life that the coupler face would be bigger than the prototype, but I find them easier to couple than the "scale" head whisker. The whisker is great in that you dont have to put in the brass coupler boxes anymore. JMHO.
I like the #148 whisker coupler the best. I know in real life that the coupler face would be bigger than the prototype, but I find them easier to couple than the "scale" head whisker. The whisker is great in that you dont have to put in the brass coupler boxes anymore. JMHO.
I also like the #148 Whisker coupler and use it whenever I can get some. I also use the Kadee #119 shelf coupler.on my tank cars, covered hoppers and some other assorted cars.
Theres a scale head whisker, the Kadee #158. I use #5s or Walthers ProtoMAX couplers on all of my cars except for the tank cars. My Atlas and Athearn tank cars have 119s (scale head double shelf coupler) and my Walthers tank cars have 118s (double shelf coupler with a coupler head the size of a #5) because the Walthers tank cars suck and I don't trust them
I use a lot of the diff. #'s of Kadee's. I use upper & lower shelf & a lot of #5's. I like the Whisker coupler for a lot of engines & I do use some Mchenry's on freight cars. Only the one's w/springs.
Yes, but they are going to turn them into whiskers. Same size coupler head, only without the brass centering spring. They will renumber the new product for continuity, but the coupler will still exist.
I used #5s til the whiskers came out. Im a big fan of the 148 but use the protomax on walthers if they come so equipped. I also leave the mchenry's on my athearn genesis bc im not into the drilling of holes required to modify the coupler boxes that the kadee website says is required.
anyone had any luck with their athearn genesis' and kadees not doing the drilling mod?
I don't have any genesis cars, but Athearn did redo the coupler boxes before re-releasing the genesis as retooled RTR. I have some cars that are "retooled" (dumbed down genesis) and they have etched metal walkways, and full brake rigging. The coupler pockets are held in by screws and they readily accept Kadee #5s.
I bought ProtoMAX couplers because they were less expensive than Kadee #5s and are all metal, and pretty much identical to kadee #5s.
I'm a big fan of the #148's and have been able to use them for all of my upgrades so far. The #153's are exactly the same whisker design except they're shorter if you want closer coupled cars. And the #205 coupler height gauge works like a charm. I think Kadees are one of the very best model train products your money can buy.
