KD Couplers For Your Coaches, Wagons, And Vans

[@iamchosenman]

Watched your American videos for quite a while and have only just discovered your U. K. Channel. Excellent!

[@alastairwilson457]

Hi Larry, I am in the UK and really appreciate this video. Thank-you!

[@UKModelRailways]

You are very welcome, thanks for watching and hopefully subscribing.

[@aaustin7532]

Even though I don't model UK prototypes I always find your videos interesting and full of useful information. Please keep producing content, and hopefully KZbin will sort their video promotion problems.

[@hansfriess]

I don’t model British railways but subscribed to help the Chanel, plus I learn from your videos and will be looking forward to what I can learn from this channel as well.

[@billlinge4598]

Ditto... Will support you here as well. Thanks for your hard work!

[@markgoodrich941]

Well said.

[@peterwalker6535]

Appreciate watching your channels

[@UKModelRailways]

I appreciate that

[@rgmichel]

Brilliant. So helpful, and confidence building.

[@chriscox4023]

Great video Larry! Always been apprehensive about Kaydee couplings until your explanation. Sadly can’t get to Warley to say hello. Have a good trip and enjoy the show, I’m sure you will be a star attraction ! 😊

[@stevenperry7493]

Thank you for your demonstration your site is an answer to my prayers ., it’s just what I need .😊

[@paulredding5864]

Useful video Larry. I would totally support your recommendation to have a look at the KD website and study carefully the different types before purchasing a few to optimise postage. The shank length is key so you need to measure the distance of the buffers from the headstock and then decide if you applying to old stock ie screw fitting or NEM fitting. I have applied several to rakes of kit built wagons and they work well. There are also dropped shank designs too IIRC and long nose rounded pliers can be used in lieu of the KD ones.

[@UKModelRailways]

The same is true for the Hunt magnetic couplings. At Warley Mr Hunt and I actually went over to the Hatton’s display and he figured out the correct size to use. Like KDs they come in various shank lengths. I also picked up a pair of the Hornby Southern Railway coaches so we’ll do a comparison and a close coupling video soon.

[@ooheaven8491]

Congratulations on the new channel

[@JohnBoyle-jd9so]

Great informative video, thanks John

[@brucewoods9377]

Now that was a video definitely worth watching. Not so terrified about converting my Hornby collection as I have always hated their tension lock couplers. I preferred the knuckle couplers of the KD type

[@cythree]

Good luck with the new channel! As always awesome video!

[@MrKlf1956]

Hi Larry, many thanks for doing what you do, it's much appreciated. I really don't like tension locks so I will be replacing them as soon as I can afford it. I have done a few as an experiment and it works better for some rolling stock, while others are a real pain. Still every day is a school day as a wise man once said. Thanks again, Kevin

[@stevenpotter3812]

Excellent Video Larry , Thank you .uk

[@UKModelRailways]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@dexterdog62]

I model North American prototypes in N scale, but always find your videos informative and well produced. I’ve subscribed to your new channel, and am looking forward to enjoying the videos.

[@UKModelRailways]

Thanks for the sub!

[@peterwrigglesworth7302]

Hi Larry Great video i use Kadees on my wagon fleet but have been but have started using magnetic couplers for my carriage fleet as costs of kadees have jumped up to silly prices here in the Uk i use small earth magnics under my track and works a treat for me Cheers Pete

[@UKModelRailways]

I picked up a set of Hunt couplings at Warley from Mr Hunt himself and we’ll take a look at using those on the Hatton’s and Hornby coaches in a future video.

[@pauldarke8024]

Best wishes for this new channel.

[@alfgeorge5003]

Congrates on your new site Larry, you make changing couplers over to KDs easy to follow, will be doing all of mine as soon as my order of KDs arrive in the post, hope new channel gets lots of followers.

[@derrickpensom5429]

Many thanks for this video. I've used NEM pocket version couplers but will give the #5 packs a go after seeing your demonstration

[@UKModelRailways]

Glad it was helpful!

[@luke_atthat]

I am here! Good success to this channel !

[@CraigsModelRailways]

Nice work Larry. Maybe you could do an update on some other manufacturer's older models. For example Mainline and early Hornby. They have a lot more material to remove in order to fit Kadees. Just a thought as, many modellers have older stock and, due to price increases the secondhand market is popular. Thanks for putting this together though. 👌 Craig

[@UKModelRailways]

I have examples of all of those but they have already been converted. It basically is the same process, cut off the old mounts, smooth the underside, drill a mounting hole if needed, then attach the KD#5 in its drat gear box using a screw. I used the Bachmann since it was the most common brand among my pre-owned rolling stock.

[@CraigsModelRailways]

@@UKModelRailways I've done my own already as well. I just thought it may help other modellers. Those older models can seem daunting at first.

[@bryan_lane]

Hello Larry, I’ve just joined you from the UK. Paul Smith makes a very good comment below regarding UK terminology (oh and by the way it’s colour not color !). It’s great to see you branching out to produce a UK channel and from what I’ve seen so far, terrific content and interesting stuff. But from a personal point of view, I find the use of American terminology to be annoying and a little offensive as well as just confusing at times. Well done for creating a great channel, but please could you ensure that you respect UK terminology while creating content on your UK channel. I look forward to joint you on your channel more often. Take care !

[@UKModelRailways]

Unfortunately, it is all too easy to occasionally let slip and use an American term, however I do try and keep things like aluminium and aluminum in their places.

[@michaelquinones-lx6ks]

A very informative video, I don't do British or European prototypes their not my thing but it's interesting, I prefer good old USA prototypes, Still, An interesting and informative video.

[@davidcrouch5272]

Larry good luck with the new channel Maybe you could do a video on how to convert older coaching stock which have the tension lock couplers attached to the boogies? David from Tennessee

[@UKModelRailways]

Fortunately my coaches are new enough to have NEM pockets. However I do have a pair of autocoaches with bogie mounted couplers that I may not have already converted. I also will be doing one on locos.

[@charleymartin9422]

Kadee have regrettably rocketed in price here in UK. I was purchasing No. 18/19 for £6.75 a packet a year ago, now £9.57 - £10. 50 !

[@charleymartin9422]

Hattons £7.50 a pack 😊

[@charleymartin9422]

Indeed, I use Hunt Couplings from West Hill Wagon Works for fixed formations.

[@colinssj4]

I’d be very happy if you could show how to convert Bachmann Thomas and Friends engines and stock to Kadee as well!

[@albertarkwright3349]

Just Subscribed and thanks for the content!

[@UKModelRailways]

Thanks for the sub!

[@geoffwilcock1519]

Good luck

[@PaulSmith-pl7fo]

Hi Larry. I just wonder whether you ought to you UK terminology on your new UK channel; e.g. "color scheme" = "livery" and "car" = "coach/carriage/wagon/van".

[@UKModelRailways]

I do try to use the UK terms but once I get on a roll it is easy to let things slip out and once I get the recording done and am in the editing process there usually just isn’t time to re-record.

[@iamchosenman]

Larry, could you show us how to replace the new Rapido OO gauge couplings for Kadees?

[@UKModelRailways]

I have not seen one yet and may never given their excessive price. However assuming they used the standard NEM coupler pocket then it should be essentially the same as Dapol or other similar rolling stock.

[@peters1127]

Hello Larry, Thank you for a very informative video. This video has convinced me to switch to Kadee couplers for my new Hattons Genesis coaches. Maybe you could give me your opinion on which coupling I should chose. I would like to use # 18 but I think I should probably use #19 or 20. My layout is 80% curves and all of the curves are 18inch radius. If I use the #20 would the gap be as long as if I kept the normal NEM coupling therefore not changing the look at all? Thank you.

[@UKModelRailways]

That is why I try to keep an assortment on hand so as to test which work best. I generally use #18 but then my modules are straight track except for turnouts and my large HO layout has a minimum radius of 30” so it is actually hard to find anything that requires #19. It really is a tradeoff since you want as close to prototype appearance as possible without buffer issues causing derails. I just checked and the KDs couple up about as close as the Hornby close couplings they provide with coaches but I don’t like the Hornby looks. I have a couple of the magnetic couplings, but also plan to look at the Bachmann ones that are made to resemble vacuum pipes. I plan to use some form of permanent couplings for the 4 car rake with KDs on the far ends to couple to locos, siphons, horse cars etc. I will be looking close at the selections at Warley.

[@peters1127]

@@UKModelRailways Thank you for the helpful comments. I will purchase #18 and #19 and see how that works for my layout. I will be waiting to see what you find out for permanent coupling on a four rack of coaches

[@tomtomtom731]

can you recommend a Kadee model number for UK O gauge?

[@erniepike3902]

Larry, why are you touring the poor Brits, show them whisker couplers. easer and more reliable than those phosphor bronze springs.