N-Possible Coupler Announcement (Nashville 2022)

[ednadolski]

That makes me want to take out some of my Atlas O cars that have the 3-rail lobster claw couplers on them.

Ed

[robert3985]

What's the venn diagram of folks "worried about backwards compatibility" and "are actually, really considering converting to scale couplers in bulk"? 

We made it through the Rapido era just fine... I heard the same concerns working at a hobby shop in the 90s.  Then it was DCC.  "I'll never be able to convert my entire collection of engines!" 

What they were really saying is "I'm good where I'm at, but have fun with the innovation without me"

I remember transitioning to Kadee N-scale couplers well.  No thoughts about "compatibility"... I just made four transition cars with Rapidos on one end and Kadees on the other.  No problemo. 

I had literally a bucket of old Rapidos that I held on to for some reason for about ten years, but in a moment of lucidity, dumped the bucket contents into my trash can one evening before garbage day...with zero regrets.

It felt like a ceremony of sorts when I took the Rapidos off of my transition cars and replaced them with Micro Engineering, not ever going to need those types of cars again.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[Ed Kapuscinski]

What's the venn diagram of folks "worried about backwards compatibility" and "are actually, really considering converting to scale couplers in bulk"? 

We made it through the Rapido era just fine... I heard the same concerns working at a hobby shop in the 90s.  Then it was DCC.  "I'll never be able to convert my entire collection of engines!" 

What they were really saying is "I'm good where I'm at, but have fun with the innovation without me"

I think you're onto something, but I wanted to give Andrew the option to say "well, there is a solution", plus it also helps ME get over the hump, especially for things like my SRR 89 project. I wanted to use N-Possibles on that but also wanted the ability to use it when "visiting" places too. This solves that problem nicely.

[N Scale Train Boy]

Well, I feel kinda weird posting this before @turbowhiz , but I got the email and want to share my excitement! The new N-Possible website is up, complete with preorder links, assembly instructions, the whole 9! https://www.n-possible.com/

[turbowhiz]

Well, I feel kinda weird posting this before @turbowhiz , but I got the email and want to share my excitement! The new N-Possible website is up, complete with preorder links, assembly instructions, the whole 9! https://www.n-possible.com/

Yes! Long time coming.

A huge shout out and thanks to our own @Ed Kapuscinski for his awesome work helping me get this over the line. He’s also been a huge help in the printed instructions in the packaging too, helping me with “de-techogibberishing” (that’s a technical term) my work.


Still some detail work to fill out on the model specific resources in the website, so it’s still work in progress but that will be polished over the weeks to come.

I hope to have initial deliveries over to the launch dealer (cvrco.ca) when I get back from the NTS in Novi next week. And other dealers on-boarded shortly thereafter too.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Yes! Long time coming.

A huge shout out and thanks to our own @Ed Kapuscinski for his awesome work helping me get this over the line. He’s also been a huge help in the printed instructions in the packaging too, helping me with “de-techogibberishing” (that’s a technical term) my work.


Still some detail work to fill out on the model specific resources in the website, so it’s still work in progress but that will be polished over the weeks to come.

I hope to have initial deliveries over to the launch dealer (cvrco.ca) when I get back from the NTS in Novi next week. And other dealers on-boarded shortly thereafter too.

Truly my pleasure. As I said, I love being able to help people making stuff in this hobby out. Even more so when I get to play a small part in "the future".

[nscaler711]

That makes me want to take out some of my Atlas O cars that have the 3-rail lobster claw couplers on them.

Ed

Sir, I'm going to need you take that statement back.


 

[garethashenden]

Is the bottom of the box flat around the screw hole? I've been using flathead screws to install couplers recently, with the necessary chamfering of the box, and will probably continue to do this for clearance reasons. It should be ok to chamfer the hole right? I've been using M1.2 screws, they're basically the same size but a fraction of the cost.

[ednadolski]

That makes me want to take out some of my Atlas O cars that have the 3-rail lobster claw couplers on them.

Sir, I'm going to need you take that statement back.

I might, but those look like the OW5 2-rails to me 

(gotta love the trip pins tho)

[turbowhiz]

Is the bottom of the box flat around the screw hole? I've been using flathead screws to install couplers recently, with the necessary chamfering of the box, and will probably continue to do this for clearance reasons. It should be ok to chamfer the hole right? I've been using M1.2 screws, they're basically the same size but a fraction of the cost.

There is a subtle inset (.1mm) around the screw hole, in an effort to have the screw as "invisible" as possible. There isn't a whole pile of material left to work with, so I wouldn't suggest too much additional chamfering around the mounting screw.

Note that the box bottom thickness is half of a 1015 box; So you're going to have a significant amount of additional height clearance relative to those. And they're significantly narrower too, so loads of clearance in that respect. The box is akin to a 905 Z scale box outline, although its actually a bit smaller then that too. So you shouldn't need to do any mods of screw clearance, at least from my install experience.

[GaryHinshaw]

I have been using flat head M1.2 screws on my scale box installs with excellent results.  No box modifications needed.

[pedro]

I’m happy they are finally available to order. What a journey for you. Any leads on a US-based supplier yet? I did a “one of each” reservation order with Credit Valley, can’t wait to experiment.

[robert3985]

I have been using flat head M1.2 screws on my scale box installs with excellent results.  No box modifications needed.

@GaryHinshaw - Gary, what length M1.2 screws are you using?  Also, slot or phillips drive?  And, maybe you could tell us where you got 'em??

Thanks in advance!

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[garethashenden]

@GaryHinshaw - Gary, what length M1.2 screws are you using?  Also, slot or phillips drive?  And, maybe you could tell us where you got 'em??

Thanks in advance!

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

I got mine from Amazon. Less than one cent each. https://a.co/d/2fETyYw

[ednadolski]

@GaryHinshaw  which (scale box) NPs do you use for the Rapido centerbeams?     What size curves can those negotiate, and do they need any subsequent lowering?

Thanks,
Ed