Best Of Notes on body-mount couplers (work-in-progress)

[DKS]

Now I'm going to need a few more so I can model this train, which is headed for Tehachapi:

Yikes! Just a few more...

[ednadolski]

The net effect is to give the car a much lower profile, both in ride height and overall height of the end bulkhead:

I'm always impressed at how much better these centerbeams look when lowered.    Great work, Gary!   

With the lowering & body-mount couplers, what kind of curve radii can these cars negotiate?

Thx,
Ed

[GaryHinshaw]

Hi Ed.  I haven't tested this rigorously, but so far I've had no trouble with the 19" curve on my test track (w/o easements), either alone, or coupled to the short-wheelbase corn syrup car, also w/ body-mounts.  Since I'm still intending a 20" min. w/ easements, I'm happy with that. But I can do a little more testing with smaller radii to stress it -- I'll report back.

Note that the truck side-frames just clear the lower edge of the sidesill (close to prototypical), so that is not really an issue unless you have sharp vertical curves.

Cheers,
Gary

[DKS]

Interesting message:

http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=125910

[GaryHinshaw]

Interesting indeed.  I just posted a link there to this thread; hopefully that doesn't ruffle any feathers over there.

-gfh

[Ian MacMillan]

Good to hear!

I need to get cracking on lowering the TLT cars. Man those cars ride on stilts. I added Atlas trucks and those dropped it a smidge..but they are still taller than MT cars!

[wcfn100]

Oh man, a Mr. Yuk moment.



Jason

[tom mann]

Interesting indeed.  I just posted a link there to this thread; hopefully that doesn't ruffle any feathers over there.

-gfh

Deleted.

[DKS]

Deleted.

Almost immediately. Methinks a feather was indeed ruffled.

[GaryHinshaw]

Deleted.

???  I still see it in reply #3:

http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=125909

-gfh

[tom mann]

Odd - it's back now ???  They must be reading this.   

To get back on topic, I just installed AZL couplers using Gary's methods to one of the nice Athearn 60' auto part boxcars.  Adding 100t BLMA trucks helped the ride height - no bolster filing necessary.  The AZL couplers are at a good height, but seem to come apart when a sufficient force is applied to them.  I'll certainly try out the Bowsers when they are offered separately (and hopefully with a nice way to mount them).

[wazzou]

I'm definitely in.  Will someone please update this thread when these are announced as available?

[DKS]

I'm definitely in.  Will someone please update this thread when these are announced as available?

Absolutely. I have a vested interest in what happens along these lines.

[Ian MacMillan]

Odd - it's back now ???  They must be reading this.   

Yeah it was gone too when I checked when Gary posted. Now it is back.

Anyways...I too would be into getting them for the couplers.

[GaryHinshaw]

This just in from Uncle Will:

Dear Creative N Scalers,
     OK!  I was in touch with Lee from Bowser, and here is the story.  He is hesitant to market these for N Scale because he doesn't have any idea how well they will work with the larger heavier Scale!  They were, of course, made for a much lighter Z Scale use.  But if they work for you he sees no reason not to sell them without the wheelsets for you.  He did want me to give you a caveat, that there can be no guarantees on them since they are being used for something not originally intended.  Also, he has no idea how many would be wanted/ordered.  Hopefully this is not just a flash in the pan, but the "Bucklers" will continue be useful for our N Scale friends.
     All that being said, he will experiment for ways to package them when sending them to me and thus, I will be experimenting for a way to send them to you.  I think small baggies of pairs is in the making, but not sure just yet.  Also, he said he will leave the trip pins long (like on the MTL talgos), as some of you had wished, and if you want them cut off, a little nipper on your end will work.  The cost per pair will be approx. $3.50.  Depends on how we package them for you.  We'll do it as cheaply as possible!  And it will be no muss-no fuss packaging.  They will, no doubt, be sent in plastic cases that I use for either the truck/couplers or rolling stock.  Or, perhaps, the Bowser plastic cases may prove more suitable?  You will be ordering through Full Throttle, directly, as a specialty item for N Scale.  They will not be available on the open-market.  In all likely hood they will come in 5 or 10 pair units...still to be determined.
     Now, here's the catch.  How many?  I told Lee that Tess should get right on it and that we should make about 2-300 pairs so that I could have them here, ready to go.  But, I don't know if that is a good projection or not?  So, now I need specifics.  If you all would be so kind as to get back to me with some sort of definite order, I can figure out how many of these "Naked Talgos" (without wheelsets, and with trip pins) we should construct.  That should let me know how many I should plan to have on hand at any time, so that Tess can assemble a correct amount, enough to always have some available here at FT, and not so many that I will be buried with them.
     Please get back to me on this matter, and let me know your thoughts and wishes.  Thanks!
Faithfully,
Will


I'll post his email address as soon as he gives me the ok to, but you can PM me for it in the meantime, if you want to try some.  I highly recommend them.

-Gary

Note added: Will wants to hear from you: <dewaa128@aol.com>