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**Dashman** · 03-10-2009, 05:19 AM

P.S.---this topic may have been brought up before; if so could someone please give me the link or where to look for it? Thanks !

**foswaldy13** · 03-10-2009, 05:55 AM

If your friends are rivet counters it sounds like you need new friends!! Ha Ha Just kidding, we all enjoy this wonderful hobby in differant ways.

**BigLars** · 03-10-2009, 06:17 AM

Mike,

I got into ON30 so I could get away from the pressure of counting rivets.

I am using a fleet of very small cars nothing over 18 feet. Therefore I am using HO scale coupler height and Kadee or Bachmann couplers for most equipment. I am also experimenting with link and pin couplers on a few trains that will run in units.

If you are trying to model large 36" western guage like D&RG in ON30 then maybe the ON3 height would look better. If not I think you should stick with what is easy.

**Geezer** · 03-10-2009, 07:04 AM

Whats a "rivet"???

I agree with Larry & Matt...It's your layout & RR...use what you like and

pay little or no attention to the so called "rivet counters". They ain't

so hot anyway - I visited one of their layouts and found 3 blades of grass

out of place!!!

The Geezer

**elwoodblues** · 03-10-2009, 09:22 AM

quote:

Originally posted by Geezer

Whats a "rivet"???

I agree with Larry & Matt...It's your layout & RR...use what you like and

pay little or no attention to the so called "rivet counters". They ain't

so hot anyway - I visited one of their layouts and found 3 blades of grass

out of place!!!

The Geezer

They had a layout??????? [:-smile_green]

I think coupler height is a matter of preference but I'm willing to bet that most people who model in On30 use the HO height. Personally I like the hunkered down look of the Maine 2-footers since I saw them in person at the Narrow Gauge Convention a couple of years ago, so the HO height looks right to me.

**Frederic_Testard** · 03-10-2009, 02:40 PM

Mike, rivet counting seems not compatible with On30.

For me the specs. should be : do I like the look of the coupler? do cars, locos couple well? (hence the need for a way to check that they all have the same coupling height). The answer to the first question may even lead to an unrealistically small coupler if this is the way I like it... Last year, I had a similar problem with the size of my ties. I solved it using wood I had in a big supply, and which although a bit too square seemed nice to me since it made me think of the ties on the West Side.

**Dashman** · 03-11-2009, 07:42 AM

Thanks for your input, guys! I guess a little explanation is in order: my friends who are "razzing" me don't bother me; they just like to do it 'cause I sold out of contemporary HO, and came over to "the dark side".

Before our (impending) move, I was prepared to start benchwork in a 33' x 16' space; my fictional Denver & Smoky Hill would be a subsidiary of D&RGW, running out EAST onto the plains of Colorado. The idea being a mix of "mainline NG" equipment, and leftover smaller stuff as the parent D&RGW slowly got rid of NG lines. I have Bachmann cars, some SJCC 30' boxcars,etc.- running behind Bachmann Connies, a MMI Connie, and some critters that the D&SH crew obtained.

So I was just trying to get a feel for what others are doing. I think I'm pretty satisfied with the compromise of Accumate couplers (a little larger than KD's/ EZ Mate) set at HO height. It's easier to modify a couple cars and the MMI engine to HO, than to re-set everything else to On3 height. My rolling stock is weathered, detailed a little, etc.- so the visual impression will offset the smaller/lower HO coupler height. Just looking for some assurance I'm not nuts.....but then I guess most on this forum ARE in some way- so I'm feeling at home already!!

**Geezer** · 03-11-2009, 09:06 AM

"Just looking for some assurance I'm not nuts.....but then I guess most on this forum ARE in some way- so I'm feeling at home already!!"

LOL Mike! Welcome to the club.....

"Of all the things I have lost, it's my mind I miss the most!!"

The Geezer

**MinerFortyNiner** · 03-11-2009, 07:53 PM

Geezer, I have found sanity to be over-rated!

Dashman, your friends are barely concealing their consuming envy for your move to the 'dark side'. Yoda, a Master Model Railroader and early On30 adopter said it best: "Once to the dark side you turn, forever will it rule your destiny."

Perhaps as evidence of my progressing nuttiness, I delved into using link and pin couplers, which have added a lot of fun (and a bit of frustration) in operating my humble On30 mining emprire. Since most of my trains are light industrial equipment, I chose to leave well enough alone with the coupler height. You can see my ramblings on the On30 Line here:

http://www.railroad-line.com/discuss...s=link,and,pin

Most importantly, have fun, and get your HO pals drooling...

**mikesjustbridges** · 05-13-2009, 08:00 PM

I figured being one of the harassing parties, I should offer my opinion as well.

I said I liked the heaver look of the acumate couplers and the "Lowered" look of the modified trucks Dashman used. I've actually seen them finished, and they look good. I also suggested that when lowered, Bachman cars lose that Lifted look, and seem more proto, although short in overall height.

As for the couplers, O scale is to big, but oversize HO looks fine. And yes I am jealous that you can run link and pin. id="Arial">id="size2">

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