Kato Morning Daylight 10 Car Set: Flush Diaphragms Between (Coupled) Cars

[tehachapifan]

Regarding the (now-hard-to-find) kinematic couplers for these cars discussed in the other thread, I'm now wondering if there might be another (better?) way to go to achieve that continuous, streamlined, snake-like look these cars had. After watching some old footage of these trains, it appears that, in addition to the cars connected by articulation joint, each regularly coupled car also had an almost completely seamless diaphragm section between them. These diaphragms were also flush with the outer walls and were fully painted to match. Curious if these diaphragms could be modeled in N scale and how. Flexibility will be a big issue with curves and crossovers. There are the American Limited Diaphragms, but I believe those are all the standard type that are only a little bigger than the passage door openings. Thought? Ideas?

[thomasjmdavis]

Des Plaines Hobbies made a full width diaphragm that works similarly to the ALM (which were, I think, originally made for Des Plaines car kits).  At the present time, I don't see them on their website, but I bought a couple pair a few years ago.  Might be worth a call to them. They do also show up on eBay every now and then.

I haven't yet finished a model with them (everything is in a box, the question is WHICH box??) and can't speak to how they handle curves, other than to speculate that they will restrict the radius to something pretty wide.  If I come across them in the next day or 2, I will post a photo.

[tehachapifan]

Good info, thanks!

[peteski]

Regarding the (now-hard-to-find) kinematic couplers for these cars discussed in the other thread, I'm now wondering if there might be another (better?) way to go to achieve that continuous, streamlined, snake-like look these cars had. After watching some old footage of these trains, it appears that, in addition to the cars connected by articulation joint, each regularly coupled car also had an almost completely seamless diaphragm section between them. These diaphragms were also flush with the outer walls and were fully painted to match. Curious if these diaphragms could be modeled in N scale and how. Flexibility will be a big issue with curves and crossovers. There are the American Limited Diaphragms, but I believe those are all the standard type that are only a little bigger than the passage door openings. Thought? Ideas?

Yes, the full-width diaphragms gave the train that seamless snake-like look.  Other railroads used those too (like some versions of the NYC 20th Century Ltd.) On the Daylight they were even color-matched to the car sides.  If you look at the cars, Kato molded those diaphragms with the car ends.  Even if you tack on some flexible full-width (color matched?) functional diaphragms, I'm not sure how that will work.  The Kinematic couplers are the ideal solution. They close-up the gap between the cars, yet add enough separation between them when needed on the curves.  I sure hope that Kato will run another batch of those couplers for this new run of the Daylight set.

[tehachapifan]

Yes, the kinematic couplers will do the trick on straight track, but on curves there is quite an un-prototypical gap... especially on the outside of the curve. Since model railroads typically spend a lot of time on a curve (what, maybe 50% of the time or more?), the kinematic couplers only get you so far. Still, they may be the best option.

[Cajonpassfan]

Well, that's what happens on overly sharp curves...no coupler, no matter how ingenious, can make the outside gap look realistic....
Gotta give Kato credit for trying to keep the car spacing somewhat prototypical.
Otto K.

[tehachapifan]

I don't have overly sharp curves. I have 21" minimum radius curves and the American Limited diaphragms I installed on my Kato Superliners work great and stay connected on my curves just fine. Without the diaphragms the gap was far too apparent on my superliners as it is on these cars, even on my 21" and larger curves.

[peteski]

Well, that's what happens on overly sharp curves...no coupler, no matter how ingenious, can make the outside gap look realistic....
Gotta give Kato credit for trying to keep the car spacing somewhat prototypical.
Otto K.

The Kinematic-mounted  coupler is pretty much standard on all most of the recently produced European prototype N scale equipment (cars and locos). Even the shorty 20 and 30' 2-axle cars.  That is because the goal is to have the buffers of coupled cars as close as possible, while also allowing for very sharp curves.

AFAIK, the FVM Hiawatha set was the first (and only) American passenger car set which came equipped with Kinematic-mounted MTL couplers.  No retrofitting needed.  I don't think any other American prototype manufacturers jumped on the Kinematic bandwagon.  Might be because the knuckle couplers we use do not lend themselves to that type of operation.

European models use the standardized NEM 355 coupler socket along with rapido couplers.  Those couplers in that pocket only tilt up and down (for uncoupling), not side to side, so Kinematic arm allows them to swing to the sides, while extending the coupler sway from the car's end.

[motofavorite]

Check out the magno-electro couplings from Tramfabriek (https://tramfabriek.nl/couplings.html). Magnets in the diaphragm plates could keep them connected. Wired magnets could pass current for car lighting, as Tramfabriek’s couplings do.

[peteski]

Check out the magno-electro couplings from Tramfabriek (https://tramfabriek.nl/couplings.html). Magnets in the diaphragm plates could keep them connected. Wired magnets could pass current for car lighting, as Tramfabriek’s couplings do.

Those are clever, but the link you posted shows H0, and we are discussing N scale. Besides, those are just couplers (non-Kinematic), so they don't extend when swinging to the sides.  The train we are discussing has full-width diaphragms, which creates the need fro Kinematic couples.  Connecting power between the cars is also non-issue here.