Where to buy N scale Unimate couplers (the old Red Caboose couplers)?

[Sokramiketes]

This is important on the Shinkansen because the couplers are so short (for close coupling) that it would be difficult to couple by sliding one over the other.

Do they remain permanently coupled in this configuration then?  <grin>

[peteski]

Do they remain permanently coupled in this configuration then?  <grin>

Pretty much.    Well if I take them off the track and do some serious twisting of the adjacent cars, they will eventually uncouple. 

[Sokramiketes]

Pretty much.    Well if I take them off the track and do some serious twisting of the adjacent cars, they will eventually uncouple. 

That was my general frustration with working diaphragms on passenger cars too!  LOL

[mark.hinds]

Then there's this method (IMR F7s, not Kato, but same idea) ...

There was a guy on another Forum who used HOn3 couplers from "Rail Line"; part number #116.  They are a soft-ish plastic, and you cut the shaft to the desired length, and drill a mounting hole.  I modified his design by putting a Micro Trains spring on the mounting screw, as you can't torque it down for obvious reasons.  I also carved off the top portion of the coupler to get the look I wanted for N-scale; note how the side-view image of the couplers looks flat on top.  The close-coupling couplers can be substituted for the standard Micro Trains couplers on the Intermountain F-units, at any time desired.  So, if I want 2 A-units back-to-back, I can switch them out appropriately.  BTW, these can't be uncoupled during an operating session, so are most appropriate for multi-unit diesel sets, such as 1950s-era F-units, which the prototype operated in sets. 





MH

[atsf_arizona]

Hi, all,

Thx for the info.  Here's my latest update.

After receiving the info about, I ordered directly from FVM's website (they still sell products separately from Scale Trains).

At:  https://shopfvm.com/ then click on "PARTS" towards the bottom of that page.
That will got me to:  https://shopfvm.com/collections/parts

The good news:  I ordered two packages of medium-shank Unimates on January 17th, 2025, and they arrived today January 24th.


Now the (hopefully temporary) bad news:   at  https://shopfvm.com/collections/parts   , the medium-shank Unimates now show Sold Out / Out of Stock as well.   Hmmm.

I hope that Matt will be running more.    Anyone in Chicago area who knows Matt (owner of Fox Valley Models), what his plans are, if any, for re-stocking these?


So in the meantime, finding these "Unimate couplers" has gone back to "search online or eBay, and hope/pray".


It's been good that additional info has been provided here on this thread, on other similar alternatives.  In the meantime, I/we should prioritize/use our personal stocks wisely.


Thx for any updated info that anyone wishes to provide.

[EspeeGoldenState]

Wonder if you could order from Scale America? Their catalog shows them available?

https://scaleamerica.com/collections/n-scale-coupler

Yes, I know its Matt's company as well that holds the old Red Caboose and Deluxe Innovations stuff as well as his parts.

[Pizzaparty]

Wonder if you could order from Scale America? Their catalog shows them available?

https://scaleamerica.com/collections/n-scale-coupler

Yes, I know its Matt's company as well that holds the old Red Caboose and Deluxe Innovations stuff as well as his parts.

Off topic but do you think the with Matt holding the old delux innovations IP he may run some more road railers? Seems weird the 3d print crowd hasn’t made them yet either

[atsf_arizona]

Hmmm, interesting.......

1)  Scaleamerica.com website has exactly the same look/feel as  https://shopfvm.com/ and https://shopfvm.com/collections/parts   (from whom,  as described above, I have just successfully ordered two packs of medium-shank "Unimates")

2)  Scaleamerica.com 's physical address is exactly the same address the "shopfvm" website and the return address on the shipping box that delivered the two packs of medium-shank Unimates to me today

3)  Scaleamerica.com webpage does show having both the short-shank and medium-shank Fox Valley Unimates in stock: https://scaleamerica.com/collections/n-scale-coupler

4)  However,  in today's scam-ridden internet....... I don't know if I trust the Scaleamerica.com website..... it doesn't have clear indication of who owns it, who is behind it, how long they have been in business, etc.   The similarities to the apparently legit "Shopfvm.com" and the same address are odd, it's implying it's the same company.   When you say "I know it's Matt's company", I don't know what you meant.   Is Scaleamerica.com owned by Matt?   Does anyone know for sure if  "shopfvm.com" and "scaleamerica.com" are same company and same people, or are they owned by different people?   Can anyone independently verify that "scaleamerica.com" is legit?   Is there a reason that as of today (Jan 24, Friday, 2025),  the "Shopfvm.com"  shows out of stock on both short-shank and medium shank Unimates, but "Scaleamerica.com" shows both of these in-stock?

 Out of an abundance of caution, I must ask these questions.   Thx.

[GaryHinshaw]

They are both run by Matt.  I don't recall the details, but this is the portion of FVM that was left after the sale of FVM to Scale Trains.  It is legit.

[atsf_arizona]

Ah, great, GaryHinshaw, great to know that, thx for the very fast response.   This says that Scaleamerica.com, sounds to be safe.

Now, the only question unanswered is a small one..... since ScaleAmerica.com and shopfvm.com are both owned by Matt (that explains why they're at the same address).... 

Is there small "out-of-sync-on-stock" situation?   Scaleamerica.com at https://scaleamerica.com/collections/n-scale-coupler on Jan 24, 2025, shows "in-stock" on both short-shank and medium-shank Unimates,  but.......
https://shopfvm.com/collections/parts  shows both of these "Sold Out".     

I wonder if there is a "out-of-sync-on-stock" condition on these two websites? 

Small question, to be sure.... but since these internet threads may be a source of information for a long time, if Matt or someone here can substantiate that one could order these Unimates safely, that would be great for Matt and for us.   

Not to be pedantic, but on today's internet, I just want us model railroaders to feel comfortable/safe about their online orders and hard-earned cash.

And let me be clear, in my experience, Matt Gaudynski and Fox Valley Models has been superb supporters of N scale and his customers.  So we should always give Matt and his model railroad businesses, the benefit of the doubt and our trust.   
To be further clear, on Jan 17, 2025, I ordered two packs of medium-shank "Unimates from "Shopfvm.com" (they were showing 'in-stock' at that time), and they safely arrived today Jan 24, 2025.

[atsf_arizona]

FYI, I just checked Matt Gaudynski's Fox Valley Models website, and he has more short-shank "Unimates" in stock:

https://shopfvm.com/collections/parts



I just ordered and re-stocked myself.  They arrived quickly 

Thx, Matt, for supporting us N scale model railroaders.