N-Possible Coupler Announcement (Nashville 2022)

[Jimbo]

Here are a few thoughts that I have had on these couplers:

Initially, I dismissed this product as it's unlikely to be compatible with current knuckle-style couplers.  However, seeing the photos and reading the "beta test" reviews from a few of you, I think that I may take the plunge.

THINGS THAT THIS PRODUCT HAS GOING FOR IT:
1)  Appearance.  WAY better looking than the current crop of couplers.  I am especially impressed with the installation on the Bachmann Consolidation!  I am a steam modeler, and the current knuckle couplers always appear outsized on the pilot of a steamer, especially the Bachmann "boxing glove" on the front of my tiny Bachmann 2-6-0!
2)  Performance.  While some products are better than others, sometimes cars need to be smashed at each other to get them to couple.  Not good for low-speed switching operations.  And, now that I've been introduced to OPS, I'm hooked.  Performance matters!!

HEADWINDS TO SUCCESS:
1)  Conversion will require additional investment to upgrade the current fleet, and to upgrade future purchases.  I doubt any manufacturer will be willing to provide it from the factory anytime soon; it will be a while before there's sufficient market penetration for that.  Early on, even Kadee offered Rapido couplers as an option!
2)  Long-term viability.  Not sure how solvent N-Possible is, but I'd hate to convert my fleet only to have them go under in 10 years, leaving me in the lurch.  Also - is the company sufficiently funded to continue development of new versions of the couplers to meet specialized installations?  (Kadee was a well-established company when they took the plunge into N scale in the late 1960s...  viability wasn't a question.)
3)  Remains to be seen how many people care about magnetic operation; I for one don't.  I use picks, as does everyone in my circle.  (Of course, that's not a huge sample size.)

On the one hand, it would have been nice if an established company bought the rights and paid Andrew a royalty (vs. having Andrew start a whole new company.)  At the same time, with N-Possible being a one-product company, it will be fully committed to developing and improving this product and aggressively marketing it to grow the business, unlike another company's strategy on THEIR scale-sized coupler where it's treated as a sideshow at best.

I am at best an intermediate modeler, but one who is curious about experimentation.  I'll likely try these out on some easily-reversible conversions that are in captive service (such as passenger cars or strings of hoppers) to verify my satisfaction with the performance.  To me, appearance and performance are sufficient to justify the investment to upgrade my fleet.

-Jim

[kiwi_bnsf]

Count me in as someone who is willing commit to converting my entire fleet of 1500+ freight cars and locos to N-possible couplers if these function as well as advertised and survive shake down testing.

I'm also a bit concerned about longevity of availability, but this is already an issue for LEZ couplers (and basically any coupler other than Micro-Trains, Accumate, and McHenry).

I'm planning on putting my money where my mouth is over the next 12-18 months to stockpile a lifetime supply of N-possible couplers.

Exciting (and expensive) times for N scale!   

[peteski]

1)  Conversion will require additional investment to upgrade the current fleet, and to upgrade future purchases.

Yes, but not only monetary investment.  The hobby time spent by the modeler to convert their fleet.  If you have hundred cars, that is not a big thing, but with over a thousand, that is a fairly sizable investment of hobby time.

[Jimbo]

Yes, but not only monetary investment.  The hobby time spent by the modeler to convert their fleet.  If you have hundred cars, that is not a big thing, but with over a thousand, that is a fairly sizable investment of hobby time.

Good point!  Didn’t think of that!

HMMM…. if they’re THAT good, I’m still doing it!   

Jim

[u18b]

I'm VERY interested in these.

But here are my unique needs.

I hope to build a layout of the Chaffee branch for my WM Shay.

STEEP grades.   4% and even 6% at one section!   (yes you read that correctly.   I've even experimented with an 8% grade).

I want zero slinky effect.   I noticed going downhill, gravity messes with a loco and it is not quite as smooth (as going level or uphill) and slinky looks stupid when going down a steep grade.

Couplers Must stay coupled on grade transitions.  Part of this is on me.  I have to have good transitions so one coupler does not slide under and get loose from the other at a grade change.    The smaller the coupler, the more this is a risk.

And if possible, I would like to have magnetic remote uncoupling.     Given the layout I'm designing, reaching up into the tipple yard to uncouple might be a hassle.   At this point- not sure if this will be a deal breaker or not.

Will this be the best coupler for me?    I don't know yet.   But I do know it won't be MT for my application (as much as I have loved and appreciated them through the years).

I can't wait to try these new couplers and experiment with them.

[ednadolski]

I only have about 100 N-scale cars, so mass conversion isn't really an issue for me.  I'm quite optimistic these will work as advertised, in which case I'll want to convert all of my cars including the ones that are currently equipped with LEZs.  (The LEZs are a bit 'stiff' for operations.)  Those cars mostly have the etched pocket, which I will have to remove and replace with Andrew's 'scale' pocket.

@GaryHinshaw, are you thinking of printing new car ends (such as for the corn syrup tank car) with an NP-compatible pocket?

Ed

[pmpexpress]

@GaryHinshaw, are you thinking of printing new car ends (such as for the corn syrup tank car) with an NP-compatible pocket?

Ed

Was about to ask a similar question about the Kato Gunderson MAXI I and IV Well Cars.

[GaryHinshaw]

@GaryHinshaw, are you thinking of printing new car ends (such as for the corn syrup tank car) with an NP-compatible pocket?

Most definitely, to all of the above, if I decide to adopt.  I have basically put all of my rolling stock work on hold until the coupler situation clarifies....

[jagged ben]

Was about to ask a similar question about the Kato Gunderson MAXI I and IV Well Cars.

Yeah, these are a top candidate for me.  Coupler upgrades have long been on the project list, and basically I run them in unit trains, so they mostly need to be compatible with each other or other stack cars I'd be happy to upgrade.

[pmpexpress]

Yeah, these are a top candidate for me.  Coupler upgrades have long been on the project list, and basically I run them in unit trains, so they mostly need to be compatible with each other or other stack cars I'd be happy to upgrade.

+1

[garethashenden]

I have basically put all of my rolling stock work on hold until the coupler situation clarifies....

Same. Haven’t done anything with rolling stock in months while waiting for these to be released.

[ednadolski]

... basically I run them in unit trains...

Possibly that's an ideal situation for conversion -- all you need is one transition car, at the EOT, then moving forward as more and more like cars are converted.


Ed

[jagged ben]

Yes.  Also thinking of my Athearn tank train.  But those would need self couplers.   

[EspeeGoldenState]

I keep following this thread for all my freight, but in building the Union Pacific business car fleet, I've acquired a few Overland Models brass cars. While the overall looks are great, the MTLs and distance between the cars compared to the Kato cars are enormous.

I'm hoping they will drop in and fit in the OMI box.

[Hedron]

I visited the demo booth at Altoona today. These really looked great.