Joined
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4,914 Posts
Little plastic time-bombs
Tuned to Murphy's clock.
Ok, so your new boxcar comes with plastic McHenry, or Accumate, or E-Z Mate couplers, and you decide to run it with them for awhile.
Maybe you can let me know how that works out for you.
I can almost guarantee it won't end well, because Murphy will almost surely be laughing his butt off at the worst time... in a tunnel, on a bridge, into a passing siding, or at some 'just-out-of-reach' area.
Plain and simple:
If you don't change over to Kadee or ProtoMax couplers right out of the box, you're only prolonging the inevitable.
You can find Kadee and ProtoMax couplers for about a buck each in bulk, so if you can afford them you should get as many #5's or 148's as you can... reserving a few dollars for other types in less generic applications.
Most clubs forbid cars on their tracks without Kadee or ProtoMax couplers.
And for gosh sakes, don't hesitate to install Kadee 5's or 148's or ProtoMax couplers on an Accurail kit! It's a simple drop-in procedure.
While you're at it, TruckTune and install metal wheelsets. It'll roll and perform as good as (or better than) most expensive premium cars.
Athearn stuff comes with McHenry's. They flat out s*ck. The old 1950's dummy couplers were no less functional.
Toss and replace.
Deciding to stick with the junk will only end in disappointment. It's only a matter of time. Maybe months... but usually only weeks (or less). Plastic couplers are a failure waiting to happen.
Tuned to Murphy's clock.
Ok, so your new boxcar comes with plastic McHenry, or Accumate, or E-Z Mate couplers, and you decide to run it with them for awhile.
Maybe you can let me know how that works out for you.
I can almost guarantee it won't end well, because Murphy will almost surely be laughing his butt off at the worst time... in a tunnel, on a bridge, into a passing siding, or at some 'just-out-of-reach' area.
Plain and simple:
If you don't change over to Kadee or ProtoMax couplers right out of the box, you're only prolonging the inevitable.
You can find Kadee and ProtoMax couplers for about a buck each in bulk, so if you can afford them you should get as many #5's or 148's as you can... reserving a few dollars for other types in less generic applications.
Most clubs forbid cars on their tracks without Kadee or ProtoMax couplers.
And for gosh sakes, don't hesitate to install Kadee 5's or 148's or ProtoMax couplers on an Accurail kit! It's a simple drop-in procedure.
While you're at it, TruckTune and install metal wheelsets. It'll roll and perform as good as (or better than) most expensive premium cars.
Athearn stuff comes with McHenry's. They flat out s*ck. The old 1950's dummy couplers were no less functional.
Toss and replace.
Deciding to stick with the junk will only end in disappointment. It's only a matter of time. Maybe months... but usually only weeks (or less). Plastic couplers are a failure waiting to happen.