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Model Railroader contributing editor Pelle Søeborg installed MagnaLock air brake lines (hoses) from North American Railcar Corp. on his HO scale freight cars. In this video you can see how the air hoses work during switching moves on Pelle’s Union Pacific Daneville Sub model train layout.
Since so many people seem to be confused as to how both the couplers and airlines work, allow me to explain:
The couplers that Pelle is using are Sergent Engineering couplers. They are exact scale couplers that do not use magnetic trip pins. (Before you get your hopes up, they are not compatible with anything other than themselves and Glatzl dummy couplers.) SE makes a special uncoupling wand that is used to lift the ball bearing that locks the couplers closed and allow the couplers to separate. The wand probably isn't shown in this video because Pelle pulled the slack out of the couplers and opened one of the knuckles a tad before making the shot. The airlines are entirely automatic and will snap together via magnetic force once they get close enough; there is no need to manually make the air, provided that the lines are installed correctly. The lines are incompatible with track magnet uncouplers because the magnets would interfere with their operation, as would the magnetic trip pins on most knuckle couplers. If you plan to use these with couplers with trip pins, you have to remove them first.
how nice…How do the magnetic couplers work wit this action.
Hello Everybody, I think this is a really marvelous product, it adds an exciting level of realism. I for one have to try adding these to my rolling stock. Pelle's installation tips encouraged me to do so and seeing these in action is the icing on the cake. I can't wait to see these in action in a coach yard!
-Dave in Roselle, IL.
Are they in hobby shops too?
"Making the air" should be shown. Reaching across a large yard to couple tiny magnets will be a hard trick.
Don't you think were getting a little carried away with this.
?
They are available in N-scale from PWRS. I have a set.
Do a google search for "ho scale magnetic air hoses". There are a few video reviews out there. The magnets auto find each other due to the magnetic forces when the cars couple. Does anyone know what kind of couplers he is using on his railroad in the video? They look like Sergents, anyone know for sure?
Here is the people that sell them and their video demo.http://www.pwrs.ca/view_product.php?ProductID=213983
Here is a review of the air hoses, skip to 6:28 to see how easy it works. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv7AbCzuJmg.
what uncouples the coupler when there isn't the hanging down part from the knuckle
So Lee if I understand this right, if I install these, I have to use a pair of tweezers to " Make the air" ? Yes in real life the "air" connections are made by hand. But in any scale, 3 tracks deep in the yard and using a pair of tweezers or a toothpick? I was hoping they'd find each other. My other thought is If each one hose has a North polarity magnet and the next car has a South polarity will they fly apart? So car orientation may be a factor? Last thought how will they react when passing over a magnetic uncouple? Don't get me wrong, these things look so cool, but I have questions.
that's what I want to know. Neither the magazine nor the video addressed this rather important point!
read the article in MRR mag and he shows you how easy they are to make,Sean Moore. When will they be available in Z scale. As for hooking them up go down to your local train yard when they are hooking them up and they are done by hand. A super job you have done there Pelle, post pictures or videos of your whole layout. We'd all like to see it.
I agree with Kent. How do you hook them up? That important point wasn't shown.
The uncoupling is very realistic. What is used for uncoupling. I have used under track magnets, but I have to stop the train so the coupler directly over the magnet which can be difficult when my DC transformer is not near the magnet. I would like some advise.
Very nice. Cutting away looks and works well. Now let's "Make The Air". How does that work?
Great! Okay, so this is what these air hoses look like when they break free from each other. How about presenting their joining-up capabilities in the video when coupling?
Got to get those for my rolling stock. They'll look great on passenger equipment. Now for a slight grump-on the loading ramp with the Jeep, where is the person? Did he leave or was he kidnapped? Actually I really like Pelle's layout.
The ultimate in switching realism!
Pelle does some really good work. Though small, his layout looks pretty damn real.
Those look real neat, but do they hook back up when cars are being coupled together?
What a great idea! As others have already posted, how easily do they connect and when will we get them I N-scale?
It should work for kicking right?
just Google North American Railcar Corp Daniel, they provide them directly.
Question, the video shows them uncoupling…. How easy is to make the air lines ?