N-Possible Coupler Announcement (Nashville 2022)

[turbowhiz]

@turbowhiz:  any chance you will be at Trainfest in Milwaukee in November? 


Scott

As I'm planning to be in Milwaukee for the NSE convention next year, I'm probably passing on Trainfest this year (and next probably) as I'd be in Milwaukee twice in less then a year.

Making the trip in the summer, as an added bonus I'll travel on the SS Badger, a bucket list item I've had for years.

[turbowhiz]

Good news. I'll be in Toronto for a week starting Wednesday and will be bringing home a lot of Jalapeno Cheddar Doritos, Coppa's spaghetti sauce, Custard Powder, and Coffee Crisp! And if Credit Valley has any N-Possible couplers I'll grab a few of those as well.

If its in the cards for you, I'll be in store on Saturday and Sunday 1-3 PM. Take note that they moved up the street not all that long ago, so its possible they're not in the same location as the last time you were in the area.

I'll have extra stock on hand so they can be instantly restocked for the event.

[lock4244]

It's crazy how things have reversed.  I have a mailbox in Montana to deal with the long-standing nonsense from Canadian customs and sellers that won't ship internationally.  But now I find myself on the right side of the border for unobtainium  .

I'm mostly on the right side of the border now, with the exception of N-Possible couplers... and Jalapeno Cheddar Doritos.

[Scottl]

I'm mostly on the right side of the border now, with the exception of N-Possible couplers... and Jalapeno Cheddar Doritos.

Yeah, we supply Doritos to a few people in the US

[lock4244]

If its in the cards for you, I'll be in store on Saturday and Sunday 1-3 PM. Take note that they moved up the street not all that long ago, so its possible they're not in the same location as the last time you were in the area.

I'll have extra stock on hand so they can be instantly restocked for the event.

I hadn't really picked a date to go, however I'm staying in Port Hope Thurs-Mon. Driving across Toronto, then a return trip, isn't appealing in the slightest. I'm looking for a few packs to test replacement in some cars where the stock couplers are unreliable - Prairie Shadows bulkhead flats (Rapido mfg'd), Prairie Shadows PSC vans (Rapido mfg'd), Prairie Shadows cylindrical covered hoppers (PS mfg'd). Some uncouple randomly and I figure your design might allow me to use these cars without the frustration of endless separations.

I might make the drive, probably be really beneficial to talk with you.

[lock4244]

Yeah, we supply Doritos to a few people in the US

I get mine on ebay. I'll probably bring 24-30 bags with me this trip (15 last year) 

[thomasjmdavis]

As I'm planning to be in Milwaukee for the NSE convention next year, I'm probably passing on Trainfest this year (and next probably) as I'd be in Milwaukee twice in less then a year.

Making the trip in the summer, as an added bonus I'll travel on the SS Badger, a bucket list item I've had for years.

Let me know when you are in Ludington, and I'll buy you lunch.

[Peter Amling]

Pioneer Trains (i.e. me) will be at Trainfest in Milwaukee and should hopefully have product on hand.

[sschnabl]

Great!  I'll be sure to look you up.

Scott

[Iain]

Would offset shank versions be doable?  It'd be nice for cars like my trainworx flats; it seems silly to me to add ride height in exchange for a proto sized coupler.

[turbowhiz]

Would offset shank versions be doable?  It'd be nice for cars like my trainworx flats; it seems silly to me to add ride height in exchange for a proto sized coupler.

You can usually replace an offset shank scenario with a NP coupler mounted without any box top to speak of and be close if not perfectly on height. I'm also well on the way to developing a box version that is entirely topless, making such conversions even cleaner and easier. It will have applications for some specific Kato locomotives too. I'm not familiar with the trainworx flatcars to know exactly how those cars are setup box wise to know if its an acceptable option or not. I'll add it to my list of cars to find an example of work with.

Practical considerations for existing models might mean that such a thing could be super duper handy. So never say never, but its not a near term thing. I'm much more inclined to develop bespoke adapters for particular models that still employ straight shanks, as ultimately offset shanks will introduce compromised reliablity. I'm thinking of a jog shank rather then an offset head if I end up developing such a thing.

[Iain]

there is no raising the coupler on the 86' trainworx flat cars without grinding away (already very thin) metal or lifting the car off the trucks.

[turbowhiz]

there is no raising the coupler on the 86' trainworx flat cars without grinding away (already very thin) metal or lifting the car off the trucks.

In the pictures I’ve seen it looks like a 2003 type coupler. Does it have a fully removable box?

[Iain]

No; it's a special setup.  It has slots molded into the bottom of the car for the top of the coupler, and the box is itself threaded and the screw comes in from the top.  The one install I did, I did a retrofit.

[turbowhiz]

No; it's a special setup.  It has slots molded into the bottom of the car for the top of the coupler, and the box is itself threaded and the screw comes in from the top.  The one install I did, I did a retrofit.

Got it. I’ll see what I can do to find an example, I’m keen to understand the problem cases, and this is one of them.

A mere head offset is insufficient to overcome this difference with the scale size head; Any accommodation for this sort of wonkiness will involve a substantial jog in the shank itself. If the actual coupler location is prototypically accurate in the first place we wouldn’t have this problem, but accommodating pin slots amongst other things leads to compromise.

I’ve had the notion of needing to develop jog shanks, I’ve given it some thought, but its not in the immediate development pipeline, so realistically it will probably be a while before I get to this.