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Just received in the mail a number of NOS Walthers kits. They've got plastic wheels,which I'll change, and plastic couplings. The recommended Kadee is No 5,which I can get easy enough but what's the difference between No 5's and 148's and are they interchangable? The original store sticker on the boxes is Victors, which was a well known store in Islington, North London. I went in there back in the day and bought Narrow Gauge and Shortline,along with some Joe Works stuff. Small world.
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148's are basically No.5's with integrated whiskers that reposition the coupler instead of the copper sheet spring, so they're work. 148 is a preferred replacement for the old 5's
Tom
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Thanks Tomustang. I'll order some 148's then. I figure these kits must be at 15 years old because Victors,whose label is still visible on the boxes, closed in 2000 and the steel weights have got surface rust on them. I wonder what story they could tell.
It's a good day when you wake up in the morning. It's not your problem if you don't.
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Another option are the No 158 heads.
They are the same as above, but the actual coupler is a bit smaller, more to scale.
They still inter operate with the 5's etc. but are just that bit smaller, and therefore look better. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.kadee.com/htmbord/page158.htm">http://www.kadee.com/htmbord/page158.htm</a><!-- m -->
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As previously stated, #148's are a better substitute for #5's. I have found that #158's do not work as well with #5's or #148's. While generally staying coupled when running, backing up and auto-coupling works less than 1 in 10 tries. My layout has no grades and this is my experience only. Yours may vary.
Willie
willie
