A long time ago, my dad had a tool, it looked like it was mass produced but don't know who might have made it. It was a skinny plastic rod (yellow) with a small piece of brass sheet (about .010 or .015?) at each end. One end was a ogive shape (not really useful), and a slightly wider piece at the other end that had a cross section like : " ~ " (but reversed so it was s-shaped); that end worked the best. Slip the ~ end where the couplers engage each other and twist; the little 'wings' catch each knuckle and reliably uncouple the Kadee #5's. I have tried to replicate this tool by adding brass shim stock to the end of skewers and it worked pretty good, but the brass bent relatively easy (after 5 or 6 operating sessions). I lost that tool, but intend on making a few more, using skewers (and possibly including a LED light).
My dad made an uncoupler with a dowel and L shaped wire, with a small 'c' shape bent into the end of the wire, to uncouple his passenger cars. The 'c' grabs the trip pin from the side and then pulling it to the side opens one knuckle; enough to uncouple the cars. I'm going to need one of these when (if) I ever use shelf couplers on my tank cars.
I have a Rix uncoupler but don't use it as much as I though I would, it tends to scrape along the side of the car ends when I lower it between the cars, and then might need a little jiggle to get the cars apart; I usually end up lifting the car up to uncouple (not much fragile detail inboard of the trucks anyway; where I usually lift the car).
Not trying to hijack, but does anyone use DCC uncoupling? It looks kinda toy-ish to me, but I can see where it might be useful in certain situations. Is it reliable? The couplers look oversize too; not standard Kadee's or whatever...do they mate (and unmate) well with other brands?
