Announcement: All-New Rivet Counter N Scale Multi-Max

[Englewood]

I got 3 emails also. Hope they don't charge me 3 times!

[kscessandriver]

3 emails, 8 cars. 

I ordered 7, no emails. Maybe mine are free? 

[jereising]

Mine are on their way from Lombard Hobbies,  I love these guys, they run the business the way it should be run...did a pre order, got all the numbers wrong and only showed five instead of the six I wanted, they called and said they were in, we had a brief conversation and bada bing bada boom,  we were in business.  And they ship same day.  And the pricing is super.  What's not to like?  MTS/MBK used to be my goto, not any more...Kudos to Lombard!

[kscessandriver]

I ended up finally getting the email for my 7 that I preordered. Debating maybe finding a few more, but then I know the Intermountain/FVM (former Red Caboose) autoracks shouldn't be too far behind these... Decisions decisions.

[ljudice]

Lombard has posted most of them - but they are going fast!

[jereising]

As expected they are lovely - like all the ScaleTrains stuff - superbly packed, roll freely...what's not to like?

[Englewood]

Nice! Mine are on the way.

[GaryHinshaw]

As expected they are lovely - like all the ScaleTrains stuff - superbly packed, roll freely...what's not to like?

The couplers! 

[jereising]

Very minor issue for me, @GaryHinshaw,as long as they work - and I've had no trouble with them.   
What REALLY gets my goat is the way MTL started something good with the TSC and now appears to have said "Never Mind".  I would have converted the entire fleet...I do think ST has made improvements though, coupling is flawless thus far.  (Fingers crossed)

[MetroRedLine]

Very minor issue for me, @GaryHinshaw,as long as they work - and I've had no trouble with them.   
What REALLY gets my goat is the way MTL started something good with the TSC and now appears to have said "Never Mind".  I would have converted the entire fleet...I do think ST has made improvements though, coupling is flawless thus far.  (Fingers crossed)

I agree, the newer versions of the ST coupler is MUCH better. Does ST even sell the coupler by itself? I'd like to upgrade the older ST ones to the newer ones.

The MTL True-Scale Coupler concept died once it couldn't mate with other knuckle couplers. <sad trombone>

[Englewood]

ScaleTrains has done an incredible job with these cars. I was a bit apprehensive at first because the stainless steel sides were going to be plastic. But they've nailed to look and color of them. Plus, they are a lot cheaper than the MT or the soon to be released FVM/IM versions. I will probably pick up a few more so I can finish off my autorack train.

[peteski]

I would have converted the entire fleet...I do think ST has made improvements though, coupling is flawless thus far.  (Fingers crossed)

Flawless or not, the Scale Trains coupler continues to be a big disappointment for me.  ST produces super-detailed, prototype-specific models with lots of added-on details, and they even call them "rivet counter" models, yet their coupler IMO has the second-worse size and appearance among all the N scale knuckle couplers.  The only one worse than theirs is the Bachmann "boxing glove" coupler.  ST couplers are just as poor looking as McHenry couplers.  That  rather large knuckle spring is an eyesore for me, and it can easily be misplaced.  Maybe some day Scale Trains will produce a "scale coupler" worthy of their name (or at least one that is close to scale, while remaining compatible with other knuckle couplers).

[Missaberoad]

Flawless or not, the Scale Trains coupler continues to be a big disappointment for me.

Unfortunately you could say that about every coupler used in N scale today. They all have inherent flaws in looks, operation, installation or all of the above.
N scale still needs a coupler/draft gear that looks real, works reliably and is universally adaptable (within reason).

At best right now all we have is compromises...

That being said I agree with you that the Scaletrains couplers are a non starter and they hurt the appearance of their otherwise excellent models...

[peteski]

Unfortunately you could say that about every coupler used in N scale today. They all have inherent flaws in looks, operation, installation or all of the above.
N scale still needs a coupler/draft gear that looks real, works reliably and is universally adaptable (within reason).

At best right now all we have is compromises...

That's correct, but even so, if ST used any coupler other than Bachmann, their own, or McHenry, that would be a visual improvement (and operationally all those other couplers are also satisfactory).  The ST N scale knuckle coupler is like a big ugly wart on Scale Train's nose.

[ednadolski]

Unfortunately you could say that about every coupler used in N scale today. They all have inherent flaws in looks, operation, installation or all of the above.
N scale still needs a coupler/draft gear that looks real, works reliably and is universally adaptable (within reason).

At best right now all we have is compromises...

That being said I agree with you that the Scaletrains couplers are a non starter and they hurt the appearance of their otherwise excellent models...

Doesn't seem to have hurt their sales much tho.  I'm willing to bet that ST figured that most (if not all) customers would just want to replace them with MT's anyway. It would be a losing proposition for them to try to make a coupler that solved all of N-scale's historic coupler woes (with all the conflicting requirements that entails), when realistically their goal has to be to sell their product without adding cost and/or taking a critical supply chain dependency on another vendor or competitor.

Even if a 'perfect' coupler could be made to exist, a substantial number of N scalers simply would never be interested in it.  Either they would not want an aftermarket part, or they would not want something different, or the existing stuff already works well enough for their purposes not to be an issue.

Ed