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Post by domi on Mar 29, 2024 10:28:43 GMT -5
I switch the guts of the AZL coupler with MTL’s. Trim the nipples off the MTL coupler. Then drill a hole in the coupler cover, and secure it with a MTL screw. It doesn’t as wide as a full MTL coupler, but it will do automatic uncoupling. Could you please make us a tutorial with pictures ? Sounds very interresting. Dom
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Post by domi on Mar 29, 2024 10:48:19 GMT -5
Steve suggested the possibility of Lee's coupler. Ednadolski also demonstrated its reliability through examples. For anyone interested in the LEZ, it's probably a good idea to get in touch with Lee wrt availability. I'm not sure what the current situation is, but previously some of us from the TRW forum were able to buy them in bulk from Lee, assembled but without any truck. The couplers are plenty strong for Z-scale. I recall one test, where I was able to lift a static weight of nearly 16 ounces. Here is a quick link to a vid of my old N-scale layout, where every car in the train is equipped with LEZs: (FWIW, Tehachapi is something I have in mind for a Z scale layout -- tho currently I don't have nearly as many Z scale cars or locos).
Ed
Sorry Ed, I must have missed something. Please could you give us an hint about what a LEZ is ? I don't find any data about this on the web.. Dom
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Post by ednadolski on Mar 29, 2024 11:29:15 GMT -5
Sorry Ed, I must have missed something. Please could you give us an hint about what a LEZ is ? I don't find any data about this on the web.
Yes, it is pretty much a niche thing and not an OTS sort of product. There has been a (very) long and long-running discussion on TRW for using this with N scale here: [1]. In summary, this is the Z-scale coupler that was developed by Lee English at Bowser (hence the unofficial "LEZ" designation), and has been (and still is, AFAIK) used in the Full Throttle Z-scale "Bowser Buckler" trucks. At one point Lee had made the coupler available for purchase upon request as individual couplers without a truck, since we N scalers at the time had developed a photo-etched pocket to allow the coupler to be installed in N scale rolling stock. Some folks by now have moved on to a 3D printed pocket.
Note that the LEZ is not really an 'automatic' coupler. What N scalers like most about it is that it does not suffer from the (in)famous "slinky" or "pogo" effect that Micro-Trains N and Z scale couplers are known for.
I've not (yet) used the coupler/pocket myself for actual Z-scale trains, but I see no reason why it should not work, esp. if the 3D pocket can be integrated with a freight car underframe. However since MT has now recently come out with their Tru-Scale coupler for N scale, there may be a path to making that work with Z scale trains (esp. for 'runner' trains that do not do a lot of switching). That, however, is very much a WIP for the time being, tho a 3D printed pocket for it does exist.
HTH, Ed
(Aside - I met Lee at a Denver show a few years ago and got to show him some of our work. He was able to affirm what many of us already knew -- that some N scalers are definitely, completely nuts )
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Post by domi on Mar 29, 2024 13:37:34 GMT -5
Thank you Ed for your input. So I understand these "LEZ" couplers are not designed for magnetic uncoupling operations, am I right ?
Dom
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Post by ednadolski on Mar 29, 2024 15:05:14 GMT -5
Not AFAIK, tho they do have a trip wire, I am not sure how well that works (I cut them off).
Ed
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