MGR Hooper! Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 It has been known for some time now that Hornby were updating their current Mk.3 coaches with NEM couplings. On a certain social media platform when asked, Hornby said that there are a few other minor upgrades (which are unknown).The first batch of Mk.3 coaches has arrived and Rails of Sheffield has them in stock. They do indeed have NEM coupling pockets and straight out of the box it has the European style HO scale couplings.I am assuming that regular narrow tension locks are included in the box and hopefully someone can confirm this?https://railsofsheffield.com/products/34909/Hornby-r4855-oo-gauge-virgin-trains-mk3-buffet-trfb-10235https://railsofsheffield.com/products/34912/Hornby-r4858a-oo-gauge-virgin-trains-mk3-trailer-standard-open-tso-12045https://railsofsheffield.com/products/35940/Hornby-r4858b-oo-gauge-virgin-mk3-trailer-standard-open-tso-12087 More information when available can be shared here. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trains4U Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 ooh, is that a factory error... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joejab95 Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 Should be a massive improvement on the older style coaches. I will probably pick up a couple of these. I'd love them to sell the bogies as standalone products that could be used on existing coaches. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidprentice Posted September 1, 2018 Share Posted September 1, 2018 ooh, is that a factory error... Looking at the close-up, to my eye it's hard to imagine these coaches being able to navigate a turn safely... though I would be happy to be proved wrong! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
frobisher Posted September 1, 2018 Share Posted September 1, 2018 Looking at the close-up, to my eye it's hard to imagine these coaches being able to navigate a turn safely... though I would be happy to be proved wrong! Can't see why not - in effect the former Airfix/Dapol style coupler pocket has been replaced with a NEM one at pretty much the same position. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
43179 Posted September 1, 2018 Share Posted September 1, 2018 Still no close coupling mechanism then - nothing really gained by this ‘upgrade’ IMO Jon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathan452 Posted September 3, 2018 Share Posted September 3, 2018 A pronounced unsightly 'bow' to the body of the adapted Limby RFM. Have a look at the Rails of Sheffield picture and hold a ruler/straight edge to the computer screen and you will see what I mean. Previous releases of the RFM (Including the weathered de-branded Virgin one) didn't have the bow so why this release? Has it got anything to do with the curing process of the plastic once out of the mould? Rather disappointed that I've bought this one now. I would like to know if the Hornby tooling FO and TSO are similarly affected. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
frobisher Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 (edited) A pronounced unsightly 'bow' to the body of the adapted Limby RFM. Have a look at the Rails of Sheffield picture and hold a ruler/straight edge to the computer screen and you will see what I mean. Previous releases of the RFM (Including the weathered de-branded Virgin one) didn't have the bow so why this release? There's something off about the perspective in that first image which I can't quite put my finger on (fisheye distortion?) so I wouldn't jump to conclusions about the actual model. Edited September 4, 2018 by frobisher Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathan452 Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 There's something off about the perspective in that first image which I can't quite put my finger on (fisheye distortion?) so I wouldn't jump to conclusions about the actual model. I have already got the model. (As per the fifth line of my last post.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaneofFife Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 Looking at the close-up, to my eye it's hard to imagine these coaches being able to navigate a turn safely... though I would be happy to be proved wrong! that is a lovely level of tint and a great close up photo. the coupler look like it would be very close I agree its likely to cause a problem as these are not like the Bachmann coaches with a sprung cam arrangement. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sawyermodels Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 that is a lovely level of tint and a great close up photo. the coupler look like it would be very close I agree its likely to cause a problem as these are not like the Bachmann coaches with a sprung cam arrangement. Tested ours in the shop today and they went round a 180 degree 2nd radius curve and no issues. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
frobisher Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 I have already got the model. (As per the fifth line of my last post.) So perhaps better illustrated by a picture of your carriage with a ruler alongside it than an oddish picture on the shop's website? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MGR Hooper! Posted September 4, 2018 Author Share Posted September 4, 2018 Tested ours in the shop today and they went round a 180 degree 2nd radius curve and no issues. Can you tell us if the coaches cone with regular NEM tension locks? Or is it just the HO scale European couplers? I wonder why Hornby chose those couplings? Maybe they'll provide two types of couplings for all their products (with NEM couplings) henceforth Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sawyermodels Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 Can you tell us if the coaches cone with regular NEM tension locks? Or is it just the HO scale European couplers? I wonder why Hornby chose those couplings? Maybe they'll provide two types of couplings for all their products (with NEM couplings) henceforth Hi. In a sealed detailing pack there are two medium NEM couplings and extra buffers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSpencer Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 Hi. In a sealed detailing pack there are two medium NEM couplings and extra buffers. Tension lock or Roco style? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sawyermodels Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 Tension lock or Roco style? Hi. They are tension lock. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MGR Hooper! Posted September 5, 2018 Author Share Posted September 5, 2018 Hi. In a sealed detailing pack there are two medium NEM couplings and extra buffers. Thank you! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Black Hat Posted September 5, 2018 Share Posted September 5, 2018 Tested ours in the shop today and they went round a 180 degree 2nd radius curve and no issues. Any idea what they are like being propelled? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sawyermodels Posted September 5, 2018 Share Posted September 5, 2018 Any idea what they are like being propelled? Hi, I'm afraid not. As we have now sold out of our first batch we can't do anymore testing. When our next batch arrives we can. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sawyermodels Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 Our second batch of virgin Mk3s arrived this morning so I took a picture of the couplings on 2nd radius curves. As you can see there's enough of a gap to get round them. I also tried my kadee 19s and they worked fine too. Hope this helps. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MGR Hooper! Posted September 7, 2018 Author Share Posted September 7, 2018 DSC_1235.JPG Our second batch of virgin Mk3s arrived this morning so I took a picture of the couplings on 2nd radius curves. As you can see there's enough of a gap to get round them. I also tried my kadee 19s and they worked fine too. Hope this helps. Thanks for posting. Looks fine on an R2 curve. How close is it on a straight? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sawyermodels Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 Thanks for posting. Looks fine on an R2 curve. How close is it on a straight? Hi. I'll do that tomorrow as it's been manic in the shop today didn't get time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ian Hargrave Posted September 7, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 7, 2018 Hi. They are tension lock. Actually,those are Roco style from the 1980's which operate similarly to our tension lock couplings.Tension lock "but not as we know it"....and looks to be a distinct improvement too.Both closer and less obtrusive .I think your excellent images ably demonstrate that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold toboldlygo Posted September 7, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 7, 2018 DSC_1235.JPG Our second batch of virgin Mk3s arrived this morning so I took a picture of the couplings on 2nd radius curves. As you can see there's enough of a gap to get round them. I also tried my kadee 19s and they worked fine too. Hope this helps. Like the Austerity on a Low-loader in the background Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sawyermodels Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 Like the Austerity on a Low-loader in the background Thank you. The djmodels J94 does run on the shops dcc layout but when not in use sits on the low loader as I think it looks rather good. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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