Chris.D

The closest I have found to the tightlock coupler was done a by US company called Sergent. Unfortunately they appear to be no longer available from them, but some people have taken them on since. It is also worth mentioning they are in Ho/3.5mm scale too and will still require the electrical box adding. Depending on your application, shapeways does do a static version of it: https://www.shapeways.com/product/WLV37ESJP/dummy-coupler-sergent-compatible?optionId=275006216&li=marketplace If you are after a working version, there is a Yahoo group, which seems like they will be doing a group order of the various types every few months, with the next round being open soon. https://groups.io/g/SergentEngineering Hope that helps.

Is this the 4mm kit you saw? https://railwaylaserlines.co.uk/product/oo-gauge-two-road-single-loco-length-modern-traction-diesel-depot/ Link for the 7mm kit below. https://railwaylaserlines.co.uk/product/o-gauge-two-road-single-loco-length-modern-traction-diesel-depot/ Having a look at the 7mm section they do seem to do the depot building, but not the interior features. It might be worth asking as they might be able to provide the interior features in 7mm.

I'm not sure you have seen this group, but it has a variety of traction on the Crosscountry mk2 sets, including several 31's, which the one you have found is part of it. Most the photos do appear to be from 1998 too. Virgin Trains loco hauled substitutions

All this talk about additional packs with the extra vehicles seems to be mimicking what Kato did with their Eurostar packs. They seem to have the main pack, which included all the different types of moulding and then an additional pack include the same style vehicle but different variations (appears the pack makes up one half set, so two would be required). Surely this would be the ideal option, as it would allow the majority of the cost to be covered by the main pack and then it allows people to tailor the sets to the length they would require, with how many additional packs. It would be interesting to know how successful Kato was with doing the Eurostar this way and whether it would be a viable option.

I know Rails of Sheffield Ebay items normally go for more than the others, but surely this is being over ambitious. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bachmann-OO-39-411Z-BR-MK2A-HST-BARRIER-VENICLE-/130936522133?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item1e7c6cc595 It would be interesting to find out what the offer was though. Chris

I managed to adapt a power car into one with the emergency coupling exposed and even made it operational. It was simply a piece of aluminium bar, with two loops at each end, one to allow it to be coupled to a draw hook or tension hook. The other was to act as the pivot, which was another aluminium bar, being horizontally mounted on the chassis and from what I remember, it seemed to worked very well, with it being able to negotiate the 1st radius point work! From the predecessor Rmweb, I have managed to dig out my workbench thread, with it showing at the top and again in more detailed photos about half way down. HST emergency coupling bar Its not 100% accurate, however I feel that it gives a realistic impression while being more than practical. Hope this helps Cheers Chris