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[SergentEng] Announcing new coupler gauges for HO standard gauge and narrow gauge models

William Lugg <luggw1@...>
 

So the standard coupler height for HO equipment and On30 equipment is the same? I guess I would have expected On30 equipment to stand a little taller.

I ordered one in HO-On30 and HOn3 just the same; I love the simplicity and the fact that you can get them in a bright color so I can find them when I need them.

Thanks.
Bill Lugg

On 11/21/2016 08:55 AM, Mike Conder vulturenest1@... [SergentEng] wrote:
Pardon the multiple posts, but I'll only post this announcement once.
My company, CESCO, has completed and tested designs for a group of coupler gauges for HO stnadard gauge and several narrow gauge models. These are 3D printed plastic gauges, so they can be used on live track without shorting out the track. CESCO has them available for HOn3, Sn3, On3 and HO/On30 installations.
The gauges use a design and dimensions taken (with permission) from an article by Jim Vail in the Sept/Oct 1988 issue of the "Narrow Gauge & Shortline Gazette." Jim also has just published a review of the gauges in the Nov/Dec 2016 issue of the same magazine.
CESCO is currently using Shapeways for printing these, and they are available from Wolf Designs at $12/each for the HOn3, Sn3, and HO/On30 gauges, and $15/each for the On3 coupler (due to its larger size). CESCO is also working to get them carries by a couple of other vendors.
The gauges are also available directly Shapeways as well. Since these are new products, the gauges have a special introductory price of $9/each for the HOn3, Sn3, and HO/On30 gauges, and $12/each for the On3 coupler.
Direct links to the Shapeways store are as follows:
HO or On30:
https://www.shapeways.com/product/U9NRV6REA/ho-on30-coupler-gauge?optionId=60754347 <https://www.shapeways.com/product/U9NRV6REA/ho-on30-coupler-gauge?optionId=60754347>

HOn3:
https://www.shapeways.com/product/826G5CLT5/hon3-coupler-gauge?optionId=60755095 <https://www.shapeways.com/product/826G5CLT5/hon3-coupler-gauge?optionId=60755095>
Sn3:
https://www.shapeways.com/product/TP7BLPJSR/sn3-coupler-gauge?optionId=60754395 <https://www.shapeways.com/product/TP7BLPJSR/sn3-coupler-gauge?optionId=60754395>
On3:
https://www.shapeways.com/product/BYAB5P7E8/on3-coupler-gauge?optionId=60754450 <https://www.shapeways.com/product/BYAB5P7E8/on3-coupler-gauge?optionId=60754450>

If you have problems with these links, just go to www.shapeways.com <http://www.shapeways.com/> and search for CESCO.
Email me off-line at vulturenest1 at gmail dot com if you have any questions.
Thanks for viewing!
Mike COnder - CESCO
Nathan Rich <thaddeusthudpucker@...>
 

There's something about that that had always bothered me, I personally think that On3 and On30 should use the same height, since most On30 is lazy On3. All this Colorado outline equipment built on a compromise track gauge, but this is not to say that cool stuff can't be done with it.

Cheers
Nathan Rich

 

So the standard coupler height for HO equipment and On30 equipment is
the same? I guess I would have expected On30 equipment to stand a
little taller.

I ordered one in HO-On30 and HOn3 just the same; I love the simplicity
and the fact that you can get them in a bright color so I can find them
when I need them.

Thanks.
Bill Lugg

On 11/21/2016 08:55 AM, Mike Conder vulturenest1@... [SergentEng]
wrote:
> Pardon the multiple posts, but I'll only post this announcement once.
> My company, CESCO, has completed and tested designs for a group of
> coupler gauges for HO stnadard gauge and several narrow gauge
> models. These are 3D printed plastic gauges, so they can be used on
> live track without shorting out the track. CESCO has them available
> for HOn3, Sn3, On3 and HO/On30 installations.
> The gauges use a design and dimensions taken (with permission) from an
> article by Jim Vail in the Sept/Oct 1988 issue of the "Narrow Gauge &
> Shortline Gazette." Jim also has just published a review of the
> gauges in the Nov/Dec 2016 issue of the same magazine.
> CESCO is currently using Shapeways for printing these, and they are
> available from Wolf Designs at $12/each for the HOn3, Sn3, and
> HO/On30 gauges, and $15/each for the On3 coupler (due to its larger
> size). CESCO is also working to get them carries by a couple of other
> vendors.
> The gauges are also available directly Shapeways as well. Since these
> are new products, the gauges have a special introductory price of
> $9/each for the HOn3, Sn3, and HO/On30 gauges, and $12/each for the
> On3 coupler.
> Direct links to the Shapeways store are as follows:
> HO or On30:
> https://www.shapeways.com/product/U9NRV6REA/ho-on30-coupler-gauge?optionId=60754347
> <https://www.shapeways.com/product/U9NRV6REA/ho-on30-coupler-gauge?optionId=60754347>
>
> HOn3:
> https://www.shapeways.com/product/826G5CLT5/hon3-coupler-gauge?optionId=60755095
> <https://www.shapeways.com/product/826G5CLT5/hon3-coupler-gauge?optionId=60755095>
> Sn3:
> https://www.shapeways.com/product/TP7BLPJSR/sn3-coupler-gauge?optionId=60754395
> <https://www.shapeways.com/product/TP7BLPJSR/sn3-coupler-gauge?optionId=60754395>
> On3:
> https://www.shapeways.com/product/BYAB5P7E8/on3-coupler-gauge?optionId=60754450
> <https://www.shapeways.com/product/BYAB5P7E8/on3-coupler-gauge?optionId=60754450>
>
> If you have problems with these links, just go to www.shapeways.com
> <http://www.shapeways.com/> and search for CESCO.
> Email me off-line at vulturenest1 at gmail dot com if you have any
> questions.
> Thanks for viewing!
> Mike COnder - CESCO
>

Mike Conder
 

Thanks for the order!

Yes, they added the same height (On30 and HO.) But some prefer the One coupler height for their On30 rolling stock as they feel it looks more prototypical. I will probably be designing a gauge for that as well.

And IIRC, Bachmann cars have a coupler pocket that can be changed to the On3 height from the lower HO height.

Mike Conder
Michael McAnally
 

Howdy:

I don't recall that Bachmann has the adjustable coupler box height; I do know that AMS (Accucraft) has the height to HO standard / adjustable to On3, and San Juan Car Co. excellent kits are set to On3, IIRC.

Mike McAnally
Pahrump, NV
Mike Conder
 

I only have a couple of Bachmann cars, early ones, and they had something that looked like a lower coupler box and an upper coupler box.  It also looked like the lower box had to be removed to use the upper.  Not sure if that was the coase, or if later cars had the same design.

Need to ask some On30 guys to get that right.

Mike Conder

On Tue, Nov 22, 2016 at 12:23 AM, macbmac1@... [SergentEng] <SergentEng@...> wrote:
 

Howdy:

I don't recall that Bachmann has the adjustable coupler box height; I do know that AMS (Accucraft) has the height to HO standard / adjustable to On3, and San Juan Car Co. excellent kits are set to On3, IIRC.

Mike McAnally
Pahrump, NV
William Uffelman
 

Early cars had the fixed drop box for HO height. Later cars have a removable spacer.

On Tue, Nov 22, 2016 at 12:12 PM, Mike Conder vulturenest1@... [SergentEng]
wrote:
 

I only have a couple of Bachmann cars, early ones, and they had something that looked like a lower coupler box and an upper coupler box.  It also looked like the lower box had to be removed to use the upper.  Not sure if that was the coase, or if later cars had the same design.

Need to ask some On30 guys to get that right.

Mike Conder

On Tue, Nov 22, 2016 at 12:23 AM, macbmac1@... [SergentEng] <SergentEng@...> wrote:
 

Howdy:

I don't recall that Bachmann has the adjustable coupler box height; I do know that AMS (Accucraft) has the height to HO standard / adjustable to On3, and San Juan Car Co. excellent kits are set to On3, IIRC.

Mike McAnally
Pahrump, NV

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