I just received a replacement loco with knuckle couplers installed , and with a packet of replacement Rapido couplers.

Eventually I want to change everything to the knuckle style, but everything I have now is Rapido. I have just spent the last 1/2 hour trying to find some help on how to make the change to Rapido. - with no result.

I know it's probably "duck soup" to the experienced hand  - but it is an absolute mystery to a newbie like me.

Can any one point me to an illustrated "how to" guide?

what is the recommended minimum radius for the PTC Streamline trolley (#62995)?

To Jim Banner:

Since I am 77 years old, I probably won't have the opportunity to give a twenty year report, as you just did.  But, it was sure encouraging to read yours.  I'm so tired of all of the negative outbursts at forums and the LHS's, I just do not mention the outdoors aspect of my layouts anymore.  As I progress, I am writing chapters,and collecting photos, to a little treatise - "Birth of a Layout".  It will be a web story.  After reading your post, I am encouraged that when I finish the story I will be spreading the word of successful outdoors model railroading.

I'm sure that there will be feedback to me saying that "G was designed for out of doors - N wasn't". My answer to that is that the elements are not concerned about the size of things when they let loose with their natural attacks.  They are going to happen.  So, be prepared and go forth!

To me it is amazing that you had the courage to go forward in your environment of a 90 degree temperature swing.  The negatives that you heard must have been thunderous.  Of course, both of our nations have grown and prospered because people did things that "they should never do".  The pioneering urge just never dies. It crops up in the most unusual ways and places.

Thanks for sharing your story with us.

I have an HO McKinley Explorer train set. I cannot keep the cars coupled.  The diesel will not couple to any one of the cars.  I've tried both ends of all 4 cars.  The cars usually will not automatically couple to one another. I have to hand thread them together, as well as the diesel.  What a pain in the #$&*^& that is!

Is there any suggested solution other than spending more money on changing couplers - I'd probably opt to change the trucks at the same time.  When these puppies derail it's usually because one of the wheel sets has dislodged and either derails the same car or the one trailing.

Before you say it is probably the track, A 1947 Varney Lil' Joe Dockside 0-4-0 pulls a string of 5 or 6 cars around on the same track with no problem.  This consist is mixed freight.  Some are Bachmann cars.

This is not a used set from eBay.  I bought it NIB from Holland American while riding on the McKinley Explorer from Denali to Anchorage.

Suggestions welcome!

Sorry - the scale is HO

My radius is 22"

With the manner that Bachmann uses to install the couplers on these cars, how would one adjust the coupler height - if they are not already the same?  To my eye they appear to be at the same height.

As to the diesel, the coupler jaws do not seem to open.  Further they appear to be a different coupler than what is on the cars.  Why would they do that in a Set?

It is too early to respond to all of the "no" reasons that you have already seen, but I can give a little of my 18 months outdoors with N Scale.

First, I cannot comment about the affects of UV, pine needles and all of the other ground level obstacles because mine is table top on a covered, BUT NOT ENCLOSED, patio.

Beyond that caveat, my experience has been quite normal.  I am in Southern California about 15 miles from the coast.  I shall itemize the things that I have noted - particularly as they relate to negative comments.  I might add most of the negative commentators have never tried it outside, so how do they know?  They are making assumptions based upon a logical application of some things that they know.

>I painted every wood structural piece to deter warping.  I used furniture grade PVC where ever it was suitable instead of wood.

>I first cleaned the rail, after installation, very vigorously with one of the track erasers that you get at the LHS.  Then I run my Aztec rail cleaning car around the layout about once a month.  Before I do this, I blow off the road be with the hose from my air brush compressor. After a Santa Ana wind storm, I usually do the blow off as a precaution.

>My rail has been exposed to all of our temperature and humidity changes for about 15 months.  I use flex track with soldered joints.  I experienced no effects from rail expansion/contraction.  This is often a subject for the indoor guys when discussing room temperatures.  I anticipated that I might have to accommodate it in some way.  But, I took a wait and see approach.  Nothing!

>I arrange for covering my powered rolling stock at night.  In your case I would suggest that you build a train shed section and/or roundhouse.  The possible affects of the elements on the sensitive areas of the motors is a matter to be concerned about.

>I leave my other rolling stock out for exposure to the elements.  I've read a lot in the forums about how to weather cars and buildings.  I'm letting God weather mine!

There's probably more and as I think of them I will send you a private message.  In fact, since we appear to be like bastard sons at a family reunion, we probably ought to arrange for periodic status checks with each other.  Let me know and we can put our e-mail addresses in our books.

Don Malm

I cannot keep the cars coupled.  The diesel will not couple to any one of the cars.  I've tried both ends of all 4 cars.  The cars usually will not automatically couple to one another. I have to hand thread them together, as well as the diesel.  What a pain in the #$&*^& that is!

Is there any suggested solution other than spending more money on changing couplers - I'd probably opt to change the trucks at the same time.  When these puppies derail it's usually because one of the wheel sets has dislodged and either derails the same car or the one trailing.

Before you say it is probably the track, A 1947 Varney Lil' Joe Dockside 0-4-0 pulls a string of 5 or 6 cars around on the same track with no problem.  This consist is mixed freight.  Some are Bachmann cars.

This is not a used set from eBay.  I bought it NIB from Holland American while riding on the McKinley Explorer from Denali to Anchorage.

Suggestions welcome!