(in reply to my bit about converting stock to Kadee.. some via NEM sockets)
Having had my attention redrawn to this, I 've looked yet again at my heights, and can agree with you that the Bachman Mk1 coaches and in fact the steel coil wagon (which they supply with Kadee style EZ couplers fitted - BUT NOT via NEM sockets!) ARE at the WRONG height - where that is judged by comparison to others (Continental European {Roco Fleischmann Trix LimaHO HeljanOO} and Hornby from the UK), and 'my reference standard': the Kadee Height gauge.
Even in their catalogue for 2004 they got it wrong - look at the illustration of the 4 wheel wagons, and you can see those with NEM pockets, and 1 illustration (page 35 top right - 'triang' type coupling too high because they didn't use their 'cranked' triang-style nem pocket coupler 36-027 as opposed to '36-030 Mk2 couplings nem shaft straight with pocket' (these details from the accompanying price list -not illustrated - and I am making the assumption that the 'mk2 ' coupling design referred to is NOT the EZmate Mk2 design that is their Kadee equivalent!!!!!)
WHAT IS NEEDED is ANOTHER Bachmann EZ-NEM coupling adapter - WITHOUT the existing vertical offset (to correct the situation out in the field already) and the modify the NEM pocket heights for future production. (The existing adapter is 78035 'NEM Center Shank- Medium' which is the direct equivalent (except for no pivoting head) of the Kadee No20 LONG NEM) A TRUE 'centre shank' NEM would suffice - I will try lowering some '035s'.
I have just rechecked my Bachmann Kadee 'Conversions' as follows: Deltic Class 55- appears okay Class 24 - slight droop (making it too low - but okay if droop dealt with) Class 25 - okay (I have no Bachmann Class 27 of any batch to measure)
CLASS 4MT - REAR - too high, FRONT- Okay (how many on THAT design team??)
GWR 2-6-2T - too high Collet 0-6-0 tender loco - cureent product - NEM socket on loco - okay (no change - no socket on tender)
SR/BR N Class 2-6-0 NEM pocket on tender - OKAY (I used a Kadee nem on the pony truck and that is okay).
Mk1 Coaches supplied with NEM pockets- TOO HIGH Steel Coil Wagon - Too High
Bachmann Track Maintenance (Plasser+Theurer) self-propelled units are OKAY.
US Outline Bachmann rolling stock and Jupiter Loco - OKAY (they are what prompted my change over to Kadee style a few months ago!)
Recent Bachmann wagons with NEM pocket - I don't have any of my own (the ones I saw in the Digital sets were in 'Small World' in Barnstaple, and I had no height gauge with me)
By CONTRAST: Hornby NEM pocketed locos and Stock - ALL OKAY (note that some recent product - eg the Bullied seems to have aquired NEM sockets unannounced)
Heljan
++++++ Class35 Hymeks - one okay, one slightly too high (1mm ish - possibly due to 'lack of sag' on that coupling which is aiming slightly high. Western Class 52 okay Class 47 okay okaySUMMARY The height error on the Bachmann stock described as 'too high' is in excess of 2mm or half the coupling head height - and does not allow reliable coupling to items with the correct height - IE NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE. (and the coil wagon IS supplied with the Kadee style fitted) (in some cases they hardly touch, or even pass over the adjacent coupling!)
I became concerned - partly after Greory's repeated query - when I found that some of my ealiest conversions (made before the height gauge arrived) which had been made by 'matching' to Bachmann US stock, were the wrong height (too high) and needed remaking. Thankfully this doesn't seem to have affected too many items.. now that my entire OO/HO stock, bar about
16 items still pending, has been converted over to'Kadee style' in preparation for the 'great rebuild' coming shortly.BTW White LEDs came down to about 8p each after Christmas (10ukp for 80, with power supply) I bought an extra few chains for the 'subdued' distributed lighting for the new layout.... now when are those builders starting...??