Two questions for those who either model European trains or who mix and match European and North American prototype equipment.?

First, for 1950s forward European prototypes, which manufacturer is better?

Second, if you’re running mixed American and European equipment on your pike, do you standardize on micro trains (or compatible) couplers, or do you leave the Arnold Rapido style couplers be?

what I want to do is intermix a later (1970s) DB IC/TEE consist and a D Trans Euro Nacht consist with my US HW and streamline trains. This would include German steam, and possibly a 103 class electric.?
--
John Perkowski
BNSF (CB&Q) MP 9.6
Along the route of the Pioneer Zephyr
Parkville, MO

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There was (still is?) a modeler Chris White in the Atlanta area who has a British themed HO scale layout that I visited years ago. Chris is from the UK as well. I was surprised to see his equipment using Kadee knuckle couplers in between the buffers on his models. I asked him about it and he said even though they weren’t prototypical for British equipment they just seemed to work much better than any of the European standard couplers that were on the market.

Hey John,?

in the early 1980s I had the pleasure of knowing a very good and kind retailer in Germany; I also picked up several items (though they do t get run often anymore).

MiniTrix, Arnold Rapido, and Fleischmann made exquisite models, and the prototype usually determined the brand the locals bought. I have two complete Trix trains, and several Bavarian early (epoch 1?) passenger cars, and am still looking for steam locks to pull them. I also have the cars for a Fleischmann commuter train (silverfish) that doesn’t have a loco yet. The rolling stock is practically identical.

i don’t mix trains, or plan to, BUT caused quite a stir by converting an Arnold Rapido overhead wire work car to Micro-Trains! The dealer friend “borrowed” it for an event in Nurnberg, which made him the talk of the town for a while.

The only European (continental) I did not take a shine to was Lima. They seemed a bit coarse compared to the others. And my British equipment really disappoints me, mostly because of poor running locos, painted-on details for passenger cars, and crude freight cars. I understand they are upping their game lately, but I already have way too much to keep me busy with my American layouts (in the UK) to devote any more to UK trains.

happy modelling!

Dennis

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Hello all....
I strongly suggest, as it's near a recommendation as I can get to in this hobby...
That People Treat N Scale with an International Flavor rather then a US only mindset.
This may lead you to the ESU ECoS which I do recommend.
===
European on my layout too ?
Been that that way myself since the early 70's....Early 1970's we didn't have a lot of Other Choices.

Which answered the other question over 50 years ago about?
Rapido vs MTL Body Mounted ?
before they began to throw and even wider loop for N Scale...by decreasing the radius...and causing Truck Mounted Couplers.


"The obvious solution was body-mounting all couplers. Unfortunately, that meant converting several hundred cars. Fortunately I had learned to body-mount Kadee couplers in the early ’70s, back when truck-mounted knuckle ?couplers hadn’t been ?introduced yet."

Don't let the print date fool you, this article is decades old.
I too had bought Kadee with body mounted couplers but a few Rapido on Trucks snuck into my drawer by 1974...
This too will change.

For the Train Store in Santa Clara helped immensely, not only by carrying MTL Body Mounted Couplers but also "Z Scale Body Mounted couplers with short shanks."
Been all MTL ever since...
Those purchases of Non Body Mounted or worse, are not allowed into my train room; till the conversion is made.

It's the only thing I seem to be "religious" about.
Convert or be Damned @!
:)) Mark
Muddville, California?

Why has not NMRA and all others known this and make it Law ?
I have only recently become a member of the NMRA, though I have been modeling with operational layouts since 1959.
Please...Don't put me up for office, serve on any committees or even man a Meet and Greet Membership Table.
"Disdain" it too light a word for my feelings over bad couplers..which are anything other than MTL Body Mounted.
I hate the politics which didn't allow the NMRA to accept body mounted MTL couplers as standard and basically disapprove any N scale Item to market, which can't effectively be run directly out of the box.

However....
Who would I have to thank for 90+% of my inventory which has reached my eager hands...LNIB ?
Thank You Wannabes, Enthusiasts and Collectors..even the Hoarders failed layouts multiple times.
Without you, I wouldn't have an inventory mostly purchased at 10? or less to the Train Store MSRP + ?$.