New N Scale Coupler Announced! NZT

[wcfn100]

Yeah, David, if you ever have the time and are up for, it would be great if you could post the specs for the smaller coupler pocket.

Jason

[Kisatchie]

...And yes, it will be licensed to interested manufacturers on an OEM basis (already have one very interested party).

That's great news! Hope everything works out fine for you.


Hmm... I could use a few
hundred bulk packs of
100 couplers each...

[DKS]

The large and small couplers will not be released at the same time. The larger one will be first, since it's likely to be the most widely used. While the smaller coupler is functionally identical to the larger one, the pocket design has not yet been finalized. I'm trying to develop one or two versatile pockets that will offer the most mounting options, rather than having a bazillion pockets to manufacture, package and sell. For example, I'm attempting to make the pocket mountable to things like tank cars and hoppers that aren't necessarily "body mount friendly." This will be quite the challenge, but I do have some preliminary designs in the works. And to answer the question about mounting method for the smaller coupler, an 00-90 screw will certainly be an option, but not the only one--and it won't be through the shank axis, as one might expect, as that would force the coupler pocket to be larger than it needs to be; the screw would instead go behind the coupler assembly. In other news, I am planning on some unique items like shelf couplers, but please be patient--I can't release everything at once.

[Ike the BN Freak]

The large and small couplers will not be released at the same time. The larger one will be first, since it's likely to be the most widely used. While the smaller coupler is functionally identical to the larger one, the pocket design has not yet been finalized. I'm trying to develop one or two versatile pockets that will offer the most mounting options, rather than having a bazillion pockets to manufacture, package and sell. For example, I'm attempting to make the pocket mountable to things like tank cars and hoppers that aren't necessarily "body mount friendly." This will be quite the challenge, but I do have some preliminary designs in the works. And to answer the question about mounting method for the smaller coupler, an 00-90 screw will certainly be an option, but not the only one--and it won't be through the shank axis, as one might expect, as that would force the coupler pocket to be larger than it needs to be; the screw would instead go behind the coupler assembly. In other news, I am planning on some unique items like shelf couplers, but please be patient--I can't release everything at once.

I like this, esp the shelf couplers.  Looking forward to it all, just need them developed over time so when I convert the fleet, I don't need to win mega millions.

[Cajonpassfan]

I've been in N since '68, but don't know what a "shelf coupler" is.... One without an enclosure?
David, I'm certainly looking forward to a viable new coupler to use as a my new standard....hope this one is finally IT! Waited long enough

[Ngineer]

I've been in N since '68, but don't know what a "shelf coupler" is.... One without an enclosure?

That's a shelf coupler:

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2139/2428017589_ee61a01096_z.jpg

See those protrusions going up and down? It stays coupled in case of a derailment and is usually used on tank cars.

Javier

[Cajonpassfan]

Ah, thank you Javier, NOW I get it. Not something I need to have (or needed to know about) for my circa '50 modeling.
I'll happily settle for a well done standard coupler...
Otto K.