I have a box of hundreds of Rapido equipt trucks! I labeled it "The Ever Present Rapido Nightmare" I think the NMRA has carried this joke just a little too far! Who is getting the kickback anyway? After 30 something years, it's time to pick a new standard. Who likes being forced to buy something that must be replaced before usage anyway? What do we have to do to end this nightmare? How do you guys feel about this situation?
Being a former HO modeler I can say that they have an equal to the Dreaded Rapido, The Fearful Horn-hook. Like our fellow HO modelers, we are closer to a standard coupler other than these beasts. Just because the NMRA doesn't name the Kaydee, MicroTrains or Accumate couplers as the "standard", doesn't mean they aren't. I think most of us use the magnetic type couplers and buy equipment that has them already installed. MicroTrains and Atlas seem to be on the leading edge in N and now both are using the magnetic couplers standard on their equipment. ------------------ MAX-RAILROADER
But wait Max, At least the Horn Hooks can stay toghether for the most part. Those ****ing Rapidos don't even coule toghether with out the help of the god from above, also known as a hand. Atlas's newest release will have Acu Mate colpers, so I see an end to this night mare. Also, Kato has already switched, and well need I comment on MT? ------------------ Have a good day, //BC Rail King
I would vote for a new coupler standard in a second. I have many bags full of the Rapido trucks myself. I estimate that I've spent close to $500 over the past few years replacing trucks on about 150 cars and couplers on engines. I would like to see a better truck as well come from the dealers. The free rolling trucks by Micro Trains work well in a long (50-100) car train. The out of the box trucks have too much drag and alignment problems and not worth replacing just the Rapido coupler. Then there is the matter of short or long coupler extensions to contend with..... passenger cars, spine cars ...etc. I'm more than ready for change. Eddie
Well fellers I cannot blame the NMRA for RAPIDO couplers, because they did not really have any thing to do with the couplers at first. RAPIDO couplers were out and on N-Scale cars long before the NMRA even recognised that N-Scale was coming of age. I admit that maybe they aren't the best coupler ever made, but at least they usually work most of the time. N-Scale has grown the way it has because N-Scale at least had a okay coupler at first, and didn't have to work through 4 or 5 different types of couplers as HO did. Most N-Scalers will change over to Micro-Trains couplers anyway. This is why almost all new engines have a coupler pocket that will take a MT coupler. ------------------
As soon as auto knuckle couplers are excepted as the standard the better for all of us. I'd much rather pay a few more dollars than have to wait for the right conversion to be available. ------------------ http://members.optusnet.com.au/~pcassar/index
What bugs me is every time I buy a car that is not Microtrains, I also have to buy a new pair of M/T trucks/couplers just to get the coupler I want. All those redundant trucks are a waste, so the sooner every manufacturer supplies knuckle couplers as standard the better. ------------------ Alan www.ac-models.com http://Andersley.homestead.com http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com http://eurogallery.homestead.com
one more thing is even if they cars do come with knuckle couplers is if they dont come with decent trucks they will still have to be replaced with MT to get good running ------------------ wheres all the C636's???? http://www.stickymonk.com http://monkhome.homestead.com
What ever happened to InterMountain's new trucks. They were supposed to be a close contender to MT at half the price. Why have these not taken off?? ------------------ Mike Drzycimski Arlington, TX www.crosswinds.net/~mdrzycimski
Heres the reason why the Intermountain trucks haven't taken off, THERE LOUSY!!!!! I bought 24 SF Drluxe Innovation wood chip gondolas, all the 24 cars came with the InterM. trucks. It took 3!!!!!! C44's to pull the cars on straight track!!!! I met Craig at Deluxe know abuot the problem via letter and he told me that Intermountain is "hot dropping" them out of the molds because they have to make so many(the trucks aren't fully set up so they have a tendency to bend). Also, the couplers don't mate very well with each other. Hope this info helps! Craig.........BLMA
Thanks for the insight Craig. I have some of the first-run DI woodchip cars and they have marginal trucks on them, but I suspected they were the Con-Cor types, simialr to what PM used to use on the 3-bay hoppers. Are the woodchip cars you are referring to using the IM 36" 100-T trucks? Do they have the IM knuckle coupler in them? Thanks, Gary.
My experience with Intermountain couplers and trucks is poor. Only about 50% of the trucks roll decent. I use them on my walthers double stacks. With the metal car as weight they will roll. However 24 E&C Shops coal porters needed two SD40-2's and a SD60 to pull it around an Ntrak layout and that was with no grades. With MT trucks 2 SD40-2's pull 48 of the same car(all I have). Some of the Intermountain wheels looked like hex nuts!
Intermountain is bad too...... I have had the exact same problems. One one I actually had the wheels fall out! Geez..... They must be so embarrased! Good! BC Rail King [This message has been edited by BC Rail King (edited 21 April 2000).]
Like you all, I change to Kaydee and aside from the great couplers I find the standardising of trucks helps my trains to run smoother. Not only should the industry adopt a coupler standard but also trucks and standard flange depths. It is a long exchange process for now as my budget is limited so the old Rapido does reasonably in the meantime but I can hardly wait. Robin
As you may know, I manufacture N scale Spine cars and other cars, and supply M/T trucks/couplers with the kits. Some customers would like low-profile wheels, but I cannot buy these in bulk packs, and to buy bulk packs of wheels only to exchange would escalate the cost. I must pressure M/T to supply the low-profile ones as bulk packs, they look much better on cars where the trucks are exposed, like spine cars, tank cars, etc. Do any of you use low-pro wheels? I wonder what is the percentage of users. ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.ac-models.com http://Andersley.homestead.com http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com http://eurogallery.homestead.com
Alan,I have used the low-profile wheels and gave up on them. The reason being I am an NTRAKer and not all modules are created equal. I just got tired of rerailing my cars because they derailed on other peoples modules with less than quality track work. Aside from that I can't really tell the difference at the normal viewing distance, and if your close enough to tell YOUR TOO CLOSE. ------------------ Catt!
Point taken, Catt It's just that some people ask for them - must have perfect track, then? ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.ac-models.com http://Andersley.homestead.com http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com http://eurogallery.homestead.com
Hi Guys, April 16th/2000. I settled the Rapido Night Mare a few years back. I switched to Unimates, and also to Intms and also use the KDs as well. Unimates fitted my Pocket Book nicely and the rest are what I can afford being the Intms or KDs. I've had NO COMPLAINTS on all 3 Brands but don't mind at all. My Brother went with KDs as he had a lot less then I did, but I'll consider something more Economoical for Psgr Cars as I have the Con Cor & RR cars. I am open to opinions etc, Thanks. Andrew grandtrunkent@RRmail.com ------------------ Best Regards, Andrew, Calgay
Alan,I don't think anybody has perfect track but some people aren't even close. I'm not againest the low profile I've just had bad experience with them. I would probly use them for the home layout but everything I run at home makes it's way to the NTRAK sooner or later. ------------------ Catt!