keitaro Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 hi all I want to get the knuckle coupler so i can couple to my tomix and real line steamers. 10-809 i have this set http://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.katomodels.com/n/jnr_f/&ei=gAMoTu6JM46IrAeanvGPCQ&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCwQ7gEwAQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dkato%2B10-809%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1170%26bih%3D615%26prmd%3Divns and i have http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10003567 and this http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10053788 kawai set I have some more kawai on the way several different frieghts. the tomix c57 has the usual tomix knuckle coupler. what should i use i looked at the ones on hs but they don't seem to be right fo these cars and kato does not make mention of this thanks Link to comment
The_Ghan Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 Keitaro, Please don't post links with google.translate in them. They don't open on many computers. I think you mean this link, right? http://www.katomodels.com/product/nmi/jnr_f.shtml Cheers The_Ghan Link to comment
clem24 Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 Yes I've mentioned this before.. Keitaro please post the original link, and not the translation. In response to your question, the best solution is to convert the C57 to standard knuckle by means of MT. I know the C57 is an odd beast as it uses some new type of swing out coupler, but an MT conversion shouldn't be too hard. I haven't really looked at my C57 so not sure if you can possibly stuff something else in there (like a Kato loco swing type). If you don't want to do that, then you need Tomix 0391 (pack of 24) in the leading freight car: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10009876 But believe me, TN couplers are very hard to couple when they are spring loaded... Link to comment
Nick_Burman Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 hi all I want to get the knuckle coupler so i can couple to my tomix and real line steamers. 10-809 i have this set http://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.katomodels.com/n/jnr_f/&ei=gAMoTu6JM46IrAeanvGPCQ&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCwQ7gEwAQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dkato%2B10-809%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1170%26bih%3D615%26prmd%3Divns and i have http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10003567 and this http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10053788 kawai set I have some more kawai on the way several different frieghts. the tomix c57 has the usual tomix knuckle coupler. what should i use i looked at the ones on hs but they don't seem to be right fo these cars and kato does not make mention of this thanks Micro-Trains 1128 or 1129 (if I remember well...check the M-T conversion pages) will fit most Kato and Kawaii freight cars. You'll need to make an adaptor car (Tomix on one side, M-T on the other) to mate with your Pacific, or exchange the coupler in the loco for a M-T. Cheers NB Link to comment
keitaro Posted July 21, 2011 Author Share Posted July 21, 2011 are those $5.80 for 1 coupler ? http://www.micro-trains.com/pl-NCouplers.php if so ouch. btw just added this to my july pre-order http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10139829 i couldn't find a pic freely on the net as on phone and hard to find but similar to this http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10100535 1 Link to comment
The_Ghan Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 are those $5.80 for 1 coupler ? http://www.micro-trains.com/pl-NCouplers.php if so ouch. btw just added this to my july pre-order http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10139829 i couldn't find a pic freely on the net as on phone and hard to find but similar to this http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10100535 Oh .... all my money's gone ... and Mrs_Ghan bought two new jackets yesterday. Also, I H.A.T.E the look of the couplers on this set http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10100535 and one of my projects in the future will be to change as much as my rolling stock as possible to something else. Cheers The_Ghan Link to comment
Martijn Meerts Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 The rapidos definitely look more and more silly the smaller the cars get :) I've started the process of replacing all rapidos as well. Recently bought several boxes of the Tomix couplers used for many of their car sets. Link to comment
keitaro Posted July 21, 2011 Author Share Posted July 21, 2011 luckily the micro ace are easy to convert to the tomix ones. the kato however look like they won't be so easy. theres always super glue i guess haha Link to comment
clem24 Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 luckily the micro ace are easy to convert to the tomix ones. the kato however look like they won't be so easy. theres always super glue i guess haha Not sure what you're talking about... 95% of freight rolling stock that uses standard rapidos use a standard coupler pocket that can be replaced with a compatible coupler from Kato (11-702), Tomix (0391 if you want to go TN but I don't really recommend) or MT. Freight rolling stock is almost *never* the problem. The only time you'll need to do surgery is if you want a body mount MT vs. bogie mount. Otherwise, on Kato bogie mounts, it's just twist and out it comes from the pocket. On Tomix, you just need a tiny flat head or plier to remove clips on the metal retainer. The real problem are locos. Kato comes with MT compatible knuckles, so no issue. Most Tomix locos can be easily converted to MT, and I did a write up on Mark Veneman's page: http://raicho.home.xs4all.nl/mcorner/mtconver/tomixcon.htm The other problem is the Tomix C57 which has a non-standard coupler on the tender. I have yet to investigate but I think conversion shouldn't be difficult. BTW, on the price issue, you don't need MT on ALL your cars. Just put it on the lead car so you can have auto couple/uncouple of the whole consist, and then use a cheaper coupler like the Kato 11-702 or even TN to (semi)permanently couple the remaining cars. In fact, I prefer to not use MT cause I find it's not always the most reliable/strongest. Link to comment
keitaro Posted July 22, 2011 Author Share Posted July 22, 2011 thanks Clem. So these arnold ones they just go in to where the rapido one goes into ? i.e. pull out the removable clip take the rapido of the spring and connect this one on, and clip back onto the model? Link to comment
David Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 thanks Clem. So these arnold ones they just go in to where the rapido one goes into ? i.e. pull out the removable clip take the rapido of the spring and connect this one on, and clip back onto the model? If you use the Kato 11-702 couplers then yes, that is exactly what you do. I've converted Kato, Tomix, Kawai and Microace rolling stock using these couplers and it was very easy. Only the locomotives require a different or special coupler (some steam engine tenders can be converted with these) Link to comment
clem24 Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 So these arnold ones they just go in to where the rapido one goes into ? i.e. pull out the removable clip take the rapido of the spring and connect this one on, and clip back onto the model? Arnold = Rapido. On Kato cars, it's just a pocket on the bogie, no clip. Grasp the coupler, twist 90 degrees, yoink. Remove the spring if you plan on using Kato 11-702. Keep the spring if you plan using Tomix 0391. BTW if you want the trip pins (for auto uncoupling) and don't want to spring for MT, Kato also sells their own version Look up part 923500 on katousa.com (4 couplers for $4). These are a direct replacement for Rapidos as well. They look much nicer than 11-702, and will fit regular cars using Rapido, and any Kato loco that uses a body mount coupler. It's a very ingenious design. I've got these on all my Kato locos right now (actually it's the same knuckle coupler that comes standard with all recent locos). Kato Japan also has these (no trip pins included), but I don't remember the part number off hand. I picked them up (comes in packs of 10 I think) at Hobbyland Pochi for about 1,000 odd yen. 1 Link to comment
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