Large Scale Central

Anyone tired of non working Glad Hands?

Modeling Rolling stock
#61

Good question Al.

The short answer is the ProtoHands will not stay connected without the magnets. For a little background please see link for ProtoHands instructions: http://oldirondesigns.com/mounting-instructions.html

A non-magnetic version would be a different product and there are several issues:

  • it would take two hands to connect them (twist them together).

  • controlling the physical clamping interface so that the glad hands stay connected, yet reliably release (pull apart) when cars are uncoupled.

Real gladhands are connected with the hoses at 4 and 8 o’clock and are twisted together until the hoses are at 2 and 10. The gladhands literally wedged together with increasing pressure as they twist together. This compresses the seals. When cars are uncoupled, the hoses straighten out to 3 and 9 o’clock position, the clamping pressure is reduced and they pull apart without ripping the hoses off the car. It is an ingeniously simple design, but the “physics” don’t translate when reduced in scale to model size.

I do have an answer for turning engines and/or cabooses that will allow mating to the ProtoHands on either end of a train. If plans works out, I will soon announce the availability of special Engine & Caboose ProtoHands with a steel disc instead of a magnet. The ProtoHand with steel disc will be attracted to the magnetic ProtoHands on either end of the train (regardless of polarity).

#62

Geoff Ringle said:

FOR REFERENCE: a tree of 1/32 Protohands on left - a 3-D print of a tree for 1:48 Protohands (O scale) on right

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5350/9277190321_0761e351a8_c.jpg)

Geoff,

Are you making O scale glad hands as well? Because I use O scale glad hands for MU hoses, I would be inclined to use them instead of the ones I currently have, if you were to offer the option of magnets, and steel plates in O scale. Having MU hoses connected between locomotives would look great, especially if you have two loco’s permanently MU’ed
How about offering the glad hands you have now with out the magnets pre-installed, and a steel plate? Would that be easier? Then people like me could choose if they wanted to install a magnet. Having a steel plate helps work around the problem of turning cars. I wonder if some sort of combination of steel plates and magnets would allow turning of all cars… Then if two steel plates were next to each other, one could ‘ignore’ the problem, or move the pickup/setout to allow a magnet and/or steel plate to connect with the correct glad hand.

Craig

#63

J.D. Gallaway said:

Can anyone grab an equipped USA modern car and show how these look on a standard gauge car? I know they will be oversize, but I’m thinking of the 20.3 version for the trainline with the 32 version for the locomotive MU hoses.

If you haven’t already seen my photos, these are the 1:32 on some 1:29 cars, an NW2, and one 1:32 box car.

(http://www.smokeandoakrr.com/albums/brake-hose/DSCF8699_ps2.sized.jpg)

(http://www.smokeandoakrr.com/albums/brake-hose/DSCF8677_ps1.sized.jpg)

(http://www.smokeandoakrr.com/albums/brake-hose/DSCF8784_ps1.sized.jpg)

(http://www.smokeandoakrr.com/albums/brake-hose/DSCF8626_ps1.sized.jpg)

(http://www.smokeandoakrr.com/albums/brake-hose/DSCF8632_ps1.sized.jpg)

(http://www.smokeandoakrr.com/albums/brake-hose/DSCF8628_ps1.sized.jpg)

#64

Seeing this thread pop again caused me to think about “dummy airhoses” Dummy hoses are used to connect two regular airhoses when the long drawbars of two cars prevent the regular airhoses to connect. Technically the FRA frowns upon these things, but what got me thinking about these is that we could make some in large scale to work around the whole “N”/“S” polarity of the magnets in the glad hands. Make a dummy hose with a both ends with a piece of steel (as mentioned above in previous posts). Then when two “N” or two “S” glad hands prevent a connection, the modeler (if so desired) could lace a dummy hose in between. Trainline still in tact. Problem solved! :slight_smile:

Here’s what they look like. About 22" of hose.

(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k143/edblysard/fallballlastgame104.jpg)

#65

Craig that’s great. You can easily do that with a spare set of Protohands.

#66

Any word on producing a 1/29 glad hand??? I’m waiting…

#67

Actually I have sold bought both the 1/32 and 20.3 to use for 1/29 stuff. the larger for air and the smaller for MU cables.

#68

Jason Kovac said:

Actually I have sold bought both the 1/32 and 20.3 to use for 1/29 stuff. the larger for air and the smaller for MU cables.

That’s good for you, but I still want 1/29 hoses… :slight_smile:

#69

It’s all in the eye

#70

David Russell said:

It’s all in the eye

Your right, but why not the product in a common scale (1/29) when you’ve already done 1/32 and 1/20.3?

#71

Craig Townsend said:

David Russell said:

It’s all in the eye

Your right, but why not the product in a common scale (1/29) when you’ve already done 1/32 and 1/20.3?

Probably because the segment of the 1:29 market that is concerned with scale is very small. I’ts not easy or cheap to produce the masters for these and Geoff is pretty much a one-man shop so he needs to make smart decisions.

#72

Jon Radder said:

Craig Townsend said:

David Russell said:

It’s all in the eye

Your right, but why not the product in a common scale (1/29) when you’ve already done 1/32 and 1/20.3?

Probably because the segment of the 1:29 market that is concerned with scale is very small. I’ts not easy or cheap to produce the masters for these and Geoff is pretty much a one-man shop so he needs to make smart decisions.

Jon,

I believe we had this conversation when Geoff first announced that he was making these. If I recall correctly a few of us suggested that he go with 1/29 originally instead of 1/32. But it doesn’t matter its his business choice on what to do :wink:

#73

Just received a email from ‘thetraindept’ regards a new product incoming early spring. It had been awhile and forgot who they were … anyways saw the link to working glad hands; http://www.thetraindepartment.com/protohands-working-glad-hands/

It seems 1:32 have been discontinued !

Just-in-case, anyone was considering to purchase in the future (as a xmas gift for their significant other) !?

#74

Humm… Guess the market wasn’t there after all for 1:32 glad hands… Makes you wonder what the market would have been for 1:29 glad hands.

#75

I would think the 1:32nd ones would be a bit more difficult to make.

Me, I think that’s a nice detail, but one I wouldn’t spend the money nor time on. I just want the darn things to run.

#76

David,

Exactly, the 1/32 ProtoHands are too difficult to make. I developed the product for 1/20 scale. I’m not into 1/32, however I had customers commit to “buying them by the bushel” if I made them. They did and I grew very tired of making them. When I had the important customers’ orders fulfilled I retired the line.

Craig,

Not one 1/29 guy approached me and committed to buy any quantity. I admire you for taking the time and effort to model 1/29 to the correct gauge. With that attention to detail, I am sure you would appreciate the working magnetic ProtoHands, however you seem to be in the minority. Most 1/29ers seem to share David’s opinion.

Adios, Geoff

#77

Geoff and Craig,

Possibly a solution to satisfy everyone, a ‘partnership’ of sorts.

Craig, how about you provide Geoff with a master pattern. Craig would maintain ownership of the master pattern, subject to return at any time.

Goeff, you would manufacture the parts, on an ordered basis, pre-paid. An agreement reached defining minimum quantities, pricing, etc. before any product is made.

As for me, I have a couple AMS and Bachmann cars with hoses and am sorely tempted to remove them, they have caused issues for me. Reliable trouble free operation is more important than a detail few notice.

Just my tuppence.

Bob C.