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KD Couplers If you are simply replacing old NMRA couplers with KD couplers, then I would guess that No. 5 Couplers would work 90% of the time. However, you should know that the different number couplers that you quoted as having already used might not be compatible with the No. 5s. The...

The problem is not limited to steam locomotives, I know that I have had similar problems with diesels; particularly those with six wheel trucks. If you are running scale trains with rp25 wheels, then I would stay away from engines larger than a pacific (4-6-2). However, if you are not running...

Casey, I have six of the older Spectrum passenger cars that I fitted with the common Kadee #5 couplers. These cars, which I purchased in 1994, have the swiveling coupler box. The coupler swap is extremely easy. Just remove the single screw and bottom plate of the coupler box, yank the...

Hi Chad, At least 9 out of 10 retrofits replacing the horn hook NMRA couplers have been accomplished with the traditional #5 Kadee. I sympathize with your difficulty in finding Canadian rolling stock. Many steam-era Canadian cars were manufactured by various manufacturers, including Athearn...

Kadee Wiskers I agree that the Kadee "Wiskers" makes for an easier installation, however if you have lots of rolling stock to retrofit, the Kadee bulk package #11 which includes 20 pairs of standard #5 couplers (without draft boxes) is the best bet. You will see these advertised for under $20...

I have to agree with the others that Kadee are probably the best choice. Its the standard of the H.O. modelers. Kadee has been around a long, long time and so many train clubs have required them as a condition before you join. Kadee also sells a neat coupler height jig to check all of your...

Walthers Buildings Trying not to repeat what others have said, I have had good and bad experiences with Walthers. An early 'Cornerstone' kit was cast of a certain plastic that was impossible to glue using plastic cement and I wound up having to use epoxy to hold the parts together and that...

I used to belong to a modular club that used 18 inch radius track and found darn few larger cars that could negotiate the curves with a comfortable margin of safety (making a complete lap around the track without derailing most of the time). I feel that the Athearn passenger cars (streamliner...

Congratulations on such a fine job customizing the Bachman trolley. I would go one step further. Remove the window material with the silheutte passengers. It makes the model look too 'toy-like'. You might try adding some shades pulled down aways to hide the interior mechanism and this would...

Russ Bellinis, I think you were on target with your reasons on the demise of the Pacific Electric. But there is another half to the story. The end of WWII brought new-found prosperity into the region and every family wanted their own automobile. Traffic problems worsened, and of course the...

Jetrock, Nice to hear that someone is modelling the Sacramento Northern. Back in 1960-1970 Ed Suydam was producing many of the trolley models in brass. Many of these were the Niles coaches and of course the Bidwell observation car. I recall that there was a model of a Northern Electric box...

Trolleys in HO Scale You are not alone! I grew up riding trolleys before my parents were able to buy and automobile. These are among the finest memories of my childhood. Today I enjoy collecting and painting H.O. trolley models. May I ask what part of the world you are modelling? -Ed

Bowser does make a more reliable mechanism for the Lionel or Bachman Daylight, however the center drivers have no flange and the tread does not touch the rails. Wait a minute! Wouldn't that make the HO model look more like Lionel tinplate? -Ed

Lionel Daylight I have both the Lionel Daylight which is reworked to a GS-3 configuration and the Bachman Daylight GS-4 and both have been repainted, decaled and detailed. I understand that Bachman took over production of this model from Lionel, yet the Bachman (an early version) had the...

Can anybody identify this car? I would like to know what the prototype was designed to haul. I would also like to know more about the model such as the manufacturer, part number, and approximate date of manufacture. Any possibility that ATSF actually had such a car in their fleet? -Ed Photo attached

Favorite HO Scale Manufacturer Since the poll did not differentiate between locos and cars, I assumed that it included all rolling stock. As such, I defend my vote for Athearn particularly on the merit of their locomotives (although I have to exclude some pretty awful experiences with their...