New Improved Couplers from ScaleTrains.com - DaBob's ManCave 🚂🚋🚋

There is a major complaint among model railroaders about ScaleTrains.com's couplers in N scale, they are difficult to connect. This issue is fixed with their new couplers on the C44-9W locomotives. A complete redesign has allowed for easier movement of the knuckle to open and close effectively. I tested this coupler against other manufacturer's couplers to see if they are compatible or not. Do they make operations a breeze and removing the need to replace them with Micro-Trains couplers, which make them look less realistic. This coupler is awesome.
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[@DaBobsNScaleMancave]

This coupler test sure surprised me, I didn't expect some of these to work as well as they did. They really worked on all of them outside of the old couplers they had. Great improvement.

[@waltersobchek2465]

Right on Da Bobs! great demo and insight on a testing a new product and putting it through it's paces - much appreciated! 👍👍

[@charlespyle4528]

Well done; I learned a bite. Thanks

[@DaBobsNScaleMancave]

Glad it helped

[@jurigelato4366]

Most useful test in ages. Thanks. I will upgrade my Scaletrains inventory for sure.

[@DaBobsNScaleMancave]

To be fair, I forgot to include Bachmann in on the test, not sure if they use someone else's couplers, but they also work flawlessly with these. There are some really old couplers out there that are no longer made, I had a couple that wouldn't work with these because their design was too small to allow the knuckle to slide in or a completely incompatible design.

[@StevenJam]

Always interesting seeing what is going on in the N Sale community, never realized how many different styles of couplers with N Sale. Seems like HO's been fairly standardized now. Awesome video as always !

[@IMRROcom]

N scale has been stadrezied too. basically it is MTL couplers. You convert from most everything to MTL

[@dwightatnorthernstar1820]

Didn't get a notification on this Bob, found it by surfing

[@DaBobsNScaleMancave]

At least you found it. It should have sent one off, but then again KZbin is doing what it wants to.

[@ericcallender1575]

Thanks for sharing. 30 is way above yard speed! TMRCI

[@mrjsanchez1]

I'm glad to see Scale Trains making this improvement and still staying in the N scale business, I know they were disappointed with the carbon black car sales, but the other items seem to be catching on well with N scalers.

[@davebnsfnscale4433]

Also on the new run of the 5188 cu.ft Gunderson covered hoppers

[@DaBobsNScaleMancave]

Cool, I just checked the ones I bought and they are the new ones. Great catch. I hadn't pulled them out of the boxes yet, now I have to.

[@jschmid]

Ho scaler here. Those MT and accurail N scale couplers look like half the coupler is real (the knuckle side) , and the other side looks like a plate of steel at an angle. The ST coupler looks very real though a bit over sized it looks a lot better than most. I use a small phillips screw driver to uncouple my couplers. I cut the pins off and i insert the head of the screw driver between the knuckles as you do on yours and twist. Add plastic or rubber air hoses and you've got an even better looking model.

[@Joe-d7m6k]

Rarely have an issue. Still use the old RAPIDOS. Not a problem, at all.

[@joshuawilliams8024]

That is the exact reason why Vinny had to change all of his locomotives and his rolling stock from Kato couplers to Micro-trains couplers

[@DaBobsNScaleMancave]

Yep, now with the improvements made with these, they work with everything I have tried from other manufacturers, no need to swap out these for MTL ones.

[@ErnestImken]

This is why I converted all my rolling stock to K-D couplers.

[@DaBobsNScaleMancave]

If I was doing HO I would too. But down here in 1:160 scale it is a battle for the ultimate coupler design that emulates what KD has done..

[@philipaguece8085]

Great job How difficult is it to change couplers

[@DaBobsNScaleMancave]

It all depends on what you are trying to change from and to. Currently, Scale Trains doesn't make just the couplers for resale like Micro Trains does to install on other brands rolling stock. I was told that at some point they will be making more than what they need for cars so they can sell replacement sets. It is pretty easy to replace the ST couplers and put on MTL couplers, the receiver box is made to accept them if you choose to do that. ST is always improving their design, so these may get even better some day. It is all in the spring tension with these.

[@BHS-RR]

Would you know if ScaleTrains will offer these as replacements or a fix for the originals? Thanks for the video.

[@DaBobsNScaleMancave]

The plan is to offer them up for sale as replacement parts Possibly replaced during warranty work if requested. That is just my guess though, it is up to them to determine that option.

[@stewarttrains98]

Why when I was actively doing N scale I used MT couplers. The Knuckle couplers on my athearn cars work fine with Atlas or MT. but the only problem I had is they are way too big. Soon as someone can get a HO equivalent of the Kadee 58, they hit a gold mine. Until then it's all too big for scale.

[@mrjsanchez1]

Micro-trains does offer a scale N coupler now, they are called True Scale . www.micro-trains.com/true-scale-couplers

[@metroredline]

Glad to hear this, but disappointed they aren't brown anymore.

[@dwightatnorthernstar1820]

Thanks, Bob, very interesting. BTW, Where did you get the single stall engine house next to your roundtable? I am looking for one, but I only have 6" to work with....D

[@doublediamondrailroad5949]

My 2-3 year old ST Gevos couplers don’t work worth crap. Always locking open or closed. Hands on coupling manipulation. Fine long Needle Nose pliers to click closed. Otherwise won’t stay coupled. Then they click when opened. Takes force with a Rix Pix uncoupling tool. Maybe they put old on hand couplers on my 3 yr old Gevos.

[@dalecherne5377]

Could just replace everything with Kadees and never have to worry about having issues.

[@briancooney4185]

You didn't try the bachman I'd like to know if they are compatible

[@DaBobsNScaleMancave]

To be fair, I don't by Bachmann stuff very often. They seem to use a coupler similar to Atlas or Athearn's McHenry coupler. My DDA40X's seem to hookup fine to ScaleTrains. I could do a deeper dive just to be sure. Thanks.

[@jim874]

So I checked Scale Trains web site and as far as I can tell, they do not offer couplers except if you buy them attached to their locomotives. I may have missed something.

[@DaBobsNScaleMancave]

They are still building them, not yet available for sale, my guess is sometime in 2020 since there isn't going to be anything new announced. Second runs of things most likely though.

[@jimkray5159]

What is that loco buildint to the left side of your face on this video?

[@DaBobsNScaleMancave]

I believe that is a car shop from cornerstone or something similar, I forget the actual name.

[@marblox9300]

Yea, but if you pick one unit up and lower it - it'll couple, or just use twist ties off the bread you buy..

[@BobZoom2U]

McHenry. None of the ugly slinky you get with MT. McHenry works with MT or Accumate.

[@davebnsfnscale4433]

Rix pix works better

[@DaBobsNScaleMancave]

I can get 100 skewers at the grocery store for about a dollar fifty. 600 on Amazon for $8. Whatever works right?

[@123jerro]

The spring is way too stiff.

[@DaBobsNScaleMancave]

On the old ones yes (brown rust colored couplers), not the new black ones.