N-Possible Coupler Announcement (Nashville 2022)

[signalmaintainer]

[amato1969]

Did they eclipse the market? No. Are they drop-in compatible with common coupler boxes, including Bluford Shops? No.

Fail.

Seriously with the negativity?  Just because a new product may not do everything YOU want does not make it a failure.

  Frank

[signalmaintainer]

[dem34]

Shocking, a coupler that functions completely differently to the old standard in order to eliminate a very specific design quirk may need a different coupler box. Shouldn't be too much of an issue, coupler box swaps aren't rocket science.

[learmoia]

Shocking, a coupler that functions completely differently to the old standard in order to eliminate a very specific design quirk may need a different coupler box. Shouldn't be too much of an issue, coupler box swaps aren't rocket science.

With everyone molding coupler boxes into under frames these days, a replacement box would be tough... but based on the earlier photos, it seems he was keeping the modifications limited to the coupler and the box lid which seems totally manageable. 

Micro-Trains TCS could have done the same thing and made the coupler easier to adapt... but, we have what we have... or as @signalmaintainer would say... FAIL!   

~Ian

[signalmaintainer]

I agree, Ian.

Context: I am referring to MT TruScale Couplers, not the OP's product.

All MT really needed to do was provide a means to easily adapt the TSC to a wide range of existing coupler boxes, including Bluford's, into which McHenry's and Accumates practically fall into. Sure, it would add some to the cost, but not much.

[Bill H]

Adapting the TSC to other boxes was not the principle issue as to its unpopularity. It was not a coupler that played well operationally. Very hard to couple. OK for unit trains and coupling between power units. Hence the interest in the "new and improved" variant.

[Spades]

For those of us who were Kadee users back in the 1970's.  Kadee did offer some conversions for your rapido truck mounted couplers.  The choice of most modelers was to body mount the kadee coupler and its box to your rolling stock. 

If Kadee and Micro Trains had not split I wonder if MT wouldn't have a whisker spring scale coupler.

As for the new modified n-possible coupler. I don't see as improvement over the Accumate. 

If I could purchase Accumates in bulk with a Goemon style knuckle, I would be all over that.

[signalmaintainer]

Adapting the TSC to other boxes was not the principle issue as to its unpopularity. It was not a coupler that played well operationally. Very hard to couple. OK for unit trains and coupling between power units. Hence the interest in the "new and improved" variant.

Indeed! I agree the adaptation issue was not the TSC's key problem. A problem? Certainly, and the principle issue for me.

But as you said, it was the difficulty coupling that apparently turned off many people. I was only able to try that with a TSC-equipped Atlas caboose running cab hop behind a TSC- equipped locomotive. No gentle couplings, for certain.

[wcfn100]

But as you said, it was the difficulty coupling that apparently turned off many people. I was only able to try that with a TSC-equipped Atlas caboose running cab hop behind a TSC- equipped locomotive. No gentle couplings, for certain.

The long shank can be modified for easier coupling, but it comes at a cost of the centering functionality.

Jason

[robert3985]

The long shank can be modified for easier coupling, but it comes at a cost of the centering functionality.

Jason

Personally, I don't mind the lack of centering.  But, I'm mostly doing rail fanning on my layout, not much ops.  Lack of centering is a small price to pay for scale looks/size and no slinky effect.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[pedro]

Text of an email update received today:

It’s been a year since the initial unveiling of the N-Possible coupler, and I’m sure you are wondering just what has been happening.
 
I’m pleased to announce that development has progressed to the production phase now!

I expect to have product available this fall.
 
The production design is substantially refined from the prototypes previously demonstrated. Most importantly, the production N-Possible coupler is truly “drop in” compatible in a wide range of factory body mount coupler boxes, and very easily adaptable (i.e., some simple trimming) in most other cases. N-Possible couplers are easy to install, and are compatible in a wider range of different box configurations than any other design presently marketed, needing neither box sides or slots.

The launch N-Possible coupler will be a perfect scale design, which are MTL TSC compatible but not compatible with traditional N scale couplers. They drop into a wide variety of factory body mount scenarios (i.e., “1015 boxes”, but not limited to them), including designs that are not MTL compatible at all like Athearn. They also drop into MTL truck mount boxes too!
 
Stay tuned, a full website is forthcoming, and expect a series of instructional demonstration videos closer to launch time, showing just how easy conversions are!
 
Thank you for patience and support.
 
Andrew

[learmoia]

This was a welcome surprise in my inbox..

[C855B]

Standing by with baited breath. (Chum is pretty tasty with enough hot sauce.)

[Maletrain]

If they are as good as implied, I hope he is gearing up for high production rates.