Does anyone else in O Scale think ir's probable modelers will see upper&lower safety shelf couplers for modern freight?
Alan
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Originally Posted by Alan Hummel:
Does anyone else in O Scale think ir's probable modelers will see upper&lower safety shelf couplers for modern freight?
Alan
Not quite sure exactly what you are asking her. Personally, since my modeling era is the early to mid 1950s, i.e steam, I have no desire for those modern "shlep couplers". I suspect that there would not be a great demand for such couplers within the "toy train" world, but only for those 2-Rail SCALE and 3-Rail SCALE modelers of modern equipment.
Originally Posted by Hot Water:
Originally Posted by Alan Hummel:
Does anyone else in O Scale think ir's probable modelers will see upper&lower safety shelf couplers for modern freight?
Alan
Not quite sure exactly what you are asking her. Personally, since my modeling era is the early to mid 1950s, i.e steam, I have no desire for those modern "shlep couplers". I suspect that there would not be a great demand for such couplers within the "toy train" world, but only for those 2-Rail SCALE and 3-Rail SCALE modelers of modern equipment.
What I was asking was to scale modelers,definately. I realize this is of no interest to toy train modelers,no offense intended. I was looking to see if there's enough interest among scale modelers for the development of such a product(s). HO scale has a full line of scale shelf couplers. I am coming to O Scale expecting the same things I had in HO in 2 times the size&more prototypical products actually, because of the increase in size. This should make the development of more prototypical products not possible in smaller scales because of the decreased size. I've painfully found a lot of these things out to my amazement. If theres not enough interest in these items,for future development,I'll stay in HO.
Al
I'm guessing you are new here. Hot Water is about as far from toy as a 3 railer can get.
I wasn't implying he was into toy trains;reread the conversation. He mentioned toy train people wouldn't be interested in shelf couplers was how the word "toy" came into the subject. Only scale modelers would be interested in safety couplers,which I knew. If you read my reply carefully,I stated I knew that. I'm trying to find out if among scale modelers,there's enough demand for such a product to warrant the price of development. Since Hot Water&you are the only replies I've received so far,I guess I have my answer.
I came to O scale for the increase in size thinking what was available in HO,would naturally be available here&I thought because of the increase in size,some products would be made closer to prototype working order than whats available in HO,because of the lack of size. That's true in couplers,as Protocraft makes a working coupler like the prototype with working cut levers. I can live with the lacks of availability in rolling stock. But being a scale modeler in the modern era.I have certain things that I want in my hobby. I don't think I'm unlike any other modeler in this respect. 2 of those things are shelf couplers,double shelf for tank cars&single shelf for other freight&diesels,&operating ground throw switchstands with targets that rotate when the switchstand is thrown-neither of these are available in any form in O. I've searched for solutions to both problems&turn up 0 solutions to the problem. Both products are available in HO.
My eyes aren't what they used to be&O would help that situation. I spent 40 years gradually watching development in HO&pushing modeling companies to develop products. It took years& a lt of nerve racking effeort by me&others,but now those products&much more are reality. Atlas said they're interested in dollars,when I mentioned shelf couplers. So with lack of demand it's practical to assume the things I want will never see production&at 56,I don't have 20 years to push for them. So it comes to that point where you face reality&deal with the situation.
Enjoy O scale as I hoped I would.
Al
I came to O scale for the increase in size thinking what was available in HO,would naturally be available here&I thought because of the increase in size,some products would be made closer to prototype working order than whats available in HO,because of the lack of size. That's true in couplers,as Protocraft makes a working coupler like the prototype with working cut levers. I can live with the lacks of availability in rolling stock. But being a scale modeler in the modern era.I have certain things that I want in my hobby. I don't think I'm unlike any other modeler in this respect. 2 of those things are shelf couplers,double shelf for tank cars&single shelf for other freight&diesels,&operating ground throw switchstands with targets that rotate when the switchstand is thrown-neither of these are available in any form in O. I've searched for solutions to both problems&turn up 0 solutions to the problem. Both products are available in HO.
My eyes aren't what they used to be&O would help that situation. I spent 40 years gradually watching development in HO&pushing modeling companies to develop products. It took years& a lt of nerve racking effeort by me&others,but now those products&much more are reality. Atlas said they're interested in dollars,when I mentioned shelf couplers. So with lack of demand it's practical to assume the things I want will never see production&at 56,I don't have 20 years to push for them. So it comes to that point where you face reality&deal with the situation.
Enjoy O scale as I hoped I would.
Al
If you are looking for the kind of detail, HO is the only place it's at, unless you enjoys making all your own things. I don't see any O gauge manufactures going to make things like that, not with any of them making even scale couplers. If you want those, Kadee is the only way, AFAIK. To go with even more specialized couplers, you are on your own. Sorry that O didn't turn out the way you hoped.
Originally Posted by sinclair:
If you want those, Kadee is the only way, AFAIK. To go with even more specialized couplers, you are on your own. Sorry that O didn't turn out the way you hoped.
Although not those "modern shelf" type couplers, look at the SUPER O-Scale couplers from ProtoCraft!
Hot Water: Didn't mean to be cranking,not that you implied I was. But I was heavily disappointed.
The Protocraft couplers were the final catalyst that sent me into O scale,as a matter of fact I own 5pr of Protocraft's newest couplers&they are BEUATIES!!! They work 99% of the time EVERY TIME. A friend of mine,made shelfs but said he'd never try that again. Kadee doesn't have shelf couplers in O,just HO. I'm thinking the shelfs could be made as add on parts to Protocraft's couplers. Put tips on the bottom of the shelfs & make slight indentations,holes I mean, in the Protocraft bodies. There's modelers out there that want them as bad as I&I've thrown this out to Protocraft with no reply. I realize they,like me&others,have special interests&that's not really a concern to them&I understand. I want to make the move up to O even with the challenges in front of me. I have to sell my HO before I can make the full move ahead.
I appologize to all for getting grumpy&down in the mouth.
Don't give up on me yet.
Beast Regards to all.
Alan
The Protocraft couplers were the final catalyst that sent me into O scale,as a matter of fact I own 5pr of Protocraft's newest couplers&they are BEUATIES!!! They work 99% of the time EVERY TIME. A friend of mine,made shelfs but said he'd never try that again. Kadee doesn't have shelf couplers in O,just HO. I'm thinking the shelfs could be made as add on parts to Protocraft's couplers. Put tips on the bottom of the shelfs & make slight indentations,holes I mean, in the Protocraft bodies. There's modelers out there that want them as bad as I&I've thrown this out to Protocraft with no reply. I realize they,like me&others,have special interests&that's not really a concern to them&I understand. I want to make the move up to O even with the challenges in front of me. I have to sell my HO before I can make the full move ahead.
I appologize to all for getting grumpy&down in the mouth.
Don't give up on me yet.
Beast Regards to all.
Alan
Well, it's just my opinion but, just maybe both ProtoCraft AND Kadee simply do NOT see a market for those "modern shelf couplers",,,,,,,,,,as yet anyway. Only time will tell if enough 2-Rail SCALE modelers begine demanding such a coupler, but I do NOT see that happening in the 3-Rail SCALE market for a long time. Just look how long it took the 3-Rail folks to even CONSIDER Kadee couplers, and then MTH began offering their freight rolling stock with Kadee compatible underarm mounts and shims for Kadee mounting.
Hot Water: Yes that's all so very true. And I understand the manufacturer's point too. If I had a clue what materials to use,I'd at least give the shelfs a try on my own but don't know where to start.
It's all a matter of time,that I don't have being 56.
Al
It's all a matter of time,that I don't have being 56.
Al
Originally Posted by Alan Hummel:
It's all a matter of time,that I don't have being 56.
Al
Al
You're kidding,,,,right? I'm past 72, and I sure have the time!
Thanks Hot Water,that made me laugh&I needed that!
O scale's made tremendous strides&I think the things I want'll come along,they did in HO&there was a time in that scale where demand didn't make shelf couplers&ground throws with operating targets profitable&today both are out there going strong.
Al
O scale's made tremendous strides&I think the things I want'll come along,they did in HO&there was a time in that scale where demand didn't make shelf couplers&ground throws with operating targets profitable&today both are out there going strong.
Al
