Hi all! On the small layout I'm workin' on, I deliberately wanted to insert MTL uncouplers on my main line. Result, I'm removing them due to too many unwanted uncoupling issues. But if it's necessary for flawlessly running operations, it's an issue as it prevents me from performing switching operations. So today my question is: are there any electromagnetic uncouplers available "ready to run", although a few years ZTrack as well as Model Railroader wrote articles about scratchbuilding of electro-magnets. Furthermore, my goal should be putting the electromagnets about 3/4 inches lower than my track as itself is fairly higher than the benchwork at the requested location. Thanks for any help, Dom
Dom, my solution to your problem was to use a removable magnet. During normal operation, the track is supported by foam, but during switching, I insert a MTL magnet. I have seen someone use a HO Kadee electromagnet, but he had to play with the voltage.
Hello Dom, in the main we use the "Jörger Magneten": Link:http://www.system-joerger.de/html/entkupplung.html They are made for Z and work also fine with MTL Couplers. Heiko
Thank you Heiko, that should be useful! Are you aware of an english written sample of this website? Dom
Hi Dom, I use the Kadee electro uncouple magnets, which are intended for HO . Have a look at my homepage 'Z Scale anfd Real'. There are some pictures to be found, which illustrate how I did install the electro magnet. http://www.home.zonnet.nl/frank.bergmans/ Regards, Frank
I had to go back through the libraries. The July/August issue of Ztrack (9 #4) featured an article on building hand held magnetic uncouplers. The January/February issue of the same year (9 #1) contains an article on how to make elctro-magnetic uncouplers. Back issues are still available. Ztrack: 2003 Back Issues Rob
Thank you Rob! I'm still holding all my past issues of Ztrack since the beginning of my subscription in 1998, and I remember this article. But as I'm not very fond of electrics, furthermore scratchbuilding of these, I prefer RTR stuff. And to that prospect I think I'm gonna rely on Kadee electromagnets. Dom
Dom, Any update on a solution to your problem? Did you find anything RTR? Were you able to find any Kadee electromagnets?
The Kadee magnetic uncouplers work for me. See next link.http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=en-GB&v=T6pfB2TMUy8
Frank, Yes... I've seen this video before. Are you useing the Kadee electro-magnet uncoupler or the current MTL under-track magnet? Alex
Allex, I use Kadee uncouplers. see next pics. I make my own aluminium brackets to install it under the layout. The two magnet poles are flush with the cork.
Hi Alex, unfortunately not: I ordered 3 Kadee elctromagnets on last april. After nearly 3 months waiting for nothing I emailed them. No reply. I phoned them: they told me they would send me a new set. Nearly 3 months later, no news. So I'm affraid I have to give up and consider my 50 worth dollars lost.... That's why I'm finally going to deal with Ztrack's article to scratchbuild them. The only thing I'll follow will be an independant electrical feeding in order not to destroy all the electrics (it has been pretty long to set them) on my layout. Dom
John, my only problem with simple magnets: you can't put them on main line otherwise you'll experience parasite uncouplings even when you don't plan to do any switching. In my opinion simple magnets are to be only put on sidings or spurs... Dom
I am putting together a collection of stock. My older steam engines are Marklin with Marklin couplers, and I have a few older Marklin rolling stock. Due to cost, I am filling in my rolling stock with MT, that come with MT couplers. I also have a few (expensive) Marklin de-couplers. Opinion: should I convert everything to Marklin or MT couplers?
You can just use a transition car, made from an MTL car. Pop one truck off and drop on (lieterally) the Märklin equivalent, then put the truck and bolster pin back in. I can send you one if you wish. PM me. I don't think it is worth the trouble to convert the Märklin cars. .
It depends on what you're looking for: Marklin couplers are known to be totally reliable, but in my opinion their look is somewhere between weird (to speak politely) and ugly. On the opposite MTL couplers need time to be spent on them for fine tuning but they're far more prototypical and work fine when fine tuned. Myself I naturally chose MTL couplers as I've no Marklin rolling stock and I don't plan to swap. Dom
I have converted my Märklin rolling stock to MTL. I got the couplers and Kadee electro magnets from Caboosehobbies in Denver through mail order. But that is already a couple of years ago. The MTL couplers are a little weird looking on european rolling stock, but it looks much better than the Märklin fish hook. What I like most of the MTL coupler is the delayed uncoupling You are able to uncouple a car and spot it where you want it. If you do'n't have tight curves, you can use the short shank couplers on passenger cars. And if you create conversion cars it isn't needed to convert everything.
