Preview of upcoming MTL True-Scale Coupler system

[Chris333]

Most places really don't tell their sales secrets. Sometimes MBK will put a first batch up and then get more in later on. At least with MBK you know if it's in stock. Plus maybe MTL didn't have time to make a million of these right off. If there is a shortage I'm sure they will catch up.

[draskouasshat]

I really like them so far. The first to get these will be my passenger fleet. I've mounted them on 2 Pecos River Brass Santa fe heavyweights.
After watching them operate, mine have little to no side to side play. The pivot is actually between the coupled knuckles. I'm curious how this will effect heavy strings rounding curves on grades.
I will definitely have to use a string passenger cars and a string of freight cars with these couplers to test my track work as i continue construction on the layout.

Adam Draskovich [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[cjm413]

Jim.. Did you trim the box and omit the top plate to lower the car, or are you using the complete box..?

We know they are on the streets so that's cool!

Today I'm working on a conversion for the Atlas 90 Ton Hopper.  Thinking about starting a conversion Thread Similar to the Notes on Body Mounting..
(Or should I continue that thread with True Scale instillations?)

~Ian

Are you working on that conversion from scratch or modifying the Trainworx part to accept the True Scale couplers?

[Kentuckian]

I just completed assembly of my first bulk pack. I've only installed them on two cars; thanks to inspiration from C855B the glue on my styrene height gauge is drying so I want to wait until the gauge is ready before doing anymore installations.

For some reason microtrains put in twice as many air hoses as needed, which is appreciated. It would be better to have at least one extra of all three types of sprues for the inevitable parts loss. I dropped three or four pieces, but did find them all. 

Both the written installation instructions and the video reference the clearance drill size 56 bit. It makes more sense to me to reference the tap drill size 62. Good thing I have some 00-90 nuts!

Overall I like the product, and I'm anxious to see how a train of them operates on my HCD layout.

[learmoia]

Are you working on that conversion from scratch or modifying the Trainworx part to accept the True Scale couplers?

Well.. A while back BBussey suggested using the Micro Trains Open Hopper End of Car bracing part - Modified to glue into an Atlas 90-Ton Car - With some trimming.. it works when installing a MT 1015 coupler screwed in place - but I have yet to get True scale couplers to check height.. but from the looks of others, it seems like we will need to lower cars if anything so that's good news.

I have an idea to modify the Bluford/Trainworx/BLMA/ESM 'built in' body mounts for True-Scale couplers.. but I need couplers to test it.  In the grand scheme of things, if Micro-Trains were to create a Drop-In True-Scale coupler to fit these applications, that would be ideal.

If someone else wanted to test it..
Drill a hole just ahead of the screw mount and take a piece of styrene tube with the diamiter of a 00-90 screw to hold the short-shank coupler in place.

OR..
See if the long shank coupler hole lines up with the normal 1015 screw location.. If so, cut the center post off the box and drill/retap the screw hole further into the body and insert a Long shank coupler using the coupler lid screw to hold the coupler in place.. then you'll have to glue in a 'spring box' just behind the screw hole so the wiskers have something to center on.

~Ian...

[peteski]

We seem to have 2 threads on these couplers (the other one is "recommended height"). I posted some info there which might be of general interest to the users of these, so I'm re-posting it here.

As an interesting side-note I found out that the MTL Scale Couplers mate fairly easily with those awful Kato knuckle couplers.  There is some sideways stress there but they do mate.  If the MTL coupler whisker springs can be made much less stiff, this combination of couplers might work.8

[Peter Amling]

I finally had a chance to play around with these. After waiting for long and looking at so many test photos in this thread I did not realize how tiny these things are! Many they are small. Huge contrast between them and the magnematic and even the kinematic.

I have installed a few and all I can say so far is great job! Easy to assemble with no springs. No slinky. close coupling, and more realism. Bring on the next sets of these for more applications. And also brown please!

[Mark5]

Most places really don't tell their sales secrets. Sometimes MBK will put a first batch up and then get more in later on. At least with MBK you know if it's in stock. Plus maybe MTL didn't have time to make a million of these right off. If there is a shortage I'm sure they will catch up.

They probably underestimate demand and sent out a set amount to dealers. I am sure MBK will re-stock.

Mark

[nkalanaga]

My first experience with those Kato couplers was on their SDP40Fs.  After finding that 1015 couplers aren't a drop-in replacement, because the retaining clip won't hold them, I screwed one 1015 on the front of one unit, and left the Katos on the other end, and other unit.  To me, they look very nice, but don't work well with standard MT couplers.

If they work with these new MTs, Kato might find a market for loco conversions, where installing the True-Scale would require too many changes to the loco.

[peteski]

If they work with these new MTs, Kato might find a market for loco conversions, where installing the True-Scale would require too many changes to the loco.

"Work" is a bit optimistic. They connect, but so tightly and at an awkward angle (see how the Kato coupler is slightly twisted to the side?) that they might not work well, derailing cars when traveling over turnouts or curves.  I simply tried to mate them and they did mate.

[jagged ben]

I've found that MT and kato couplers work well together once coupled.  They're no good for switching operations but fine for running trains.

[jmlaboda]

Are those the short shank couplers?  Trying to figure out just what type to buy for passenger cars...

[draskouasshat]

Are those the short shank couplers?  Trying to figure out just what type to buy for passenger cars...

Yes jerry. Those are short shanks using the factory threaded hole on PRB heavyweights.

Adam Draskovich

[nkalanaga]

Peteski:  In your top-down photo the MT coupler and its mount is angled.  Is that causing, or caused by, the angle of the Kato coupler?  I assumed (you know what that leads to...) that it was causing the misalignment, and that if both couplers were straight, they'd look right.

I didn't pay much attention to it, as my Kato couplers stick straight out, and just thought that it was a quick-and-dirty photo to show that they would couple.  If the Kato coupler is causing the misalignment, then no, they won't work together, as at least one of the cars would probably derail.

[peteski]

The way the Kato and MTL couplers engage causes them to connect at an angle. Just like the photo shows. They don't couple straight on. But even though that seems to be the case jagged ben confirmed that they work together.

I've found that MT and kato couplers work well together once coupled.  They're no good for switching operations but fine for running trains.