Looking for Class 86/7 RCH-TDM cable details

[wombatofludham]

I'm on the lookout for the jumper cable fittings used on the fronts of Class 86 and 87 locos in 1988.  I've tried Google to no avail, and I can't find them on Shawplan's website.  They must be available as I've seen detailed Hornby 86s with them fitted for sale on Tatbay but despite my efforts I'm drawing a blank, unless I'm doing something wrong.  So, I'm asking my fellow modellers of trains with coathangers on the roof, any suggestions where I might find RCH jumpers for the cab fronts of AC electrics?

[PM47079]

Have you thought about adapting the Heljan 47 tdm cables that came on the sprue.? They came with every 47 Heljan did. And i Have used them myself. You can substitute the actual cable for wire. Squirrell rail did my 86 with some and it came out well 

[wombatofludham]

I did think about them, but they don't seem to be available as spares when I checked both Gaugemaster (the current spares supplier) and Howes (the previous spares supplier).  Frustratingly, a friend who had a large fleet of Heljan tubby Duffs had just flogged off his surplus spares including the unused RCH sprues when I asked him if he had any knocking around!

[GRUNFOS]

Hi Mark,

Just had a rummage around and have found enough cables from my Heljan 47s to fit on 2 locos. If you would like them PM me and I will send them to you.

 

Regards 

Paul.

 

[ChrisH-UK]

You originally mentioned 1988, are you after the original version fitted at that time that completely enclosed the RCH connector or the revised version that was just a bracket to retain the RCH connector against the cab front which became the standard due to the issues they experienced with the original?

[wombatofludham]

On 12/10/2021 at 20:03, GRUNFOS said:

Hi Mark,

Just had a rummage around and have found enough cables from my Heljan 47s to fit on 2 locos. If you would like them PM me and I will send them to you.

 

Regards 

Paul.

 

Thanks for the offer and going to all that trouble.  I've had a tinker with my 3d printer to see if I could do something, given they are tiny and my printer is a cheap and basic model I wasn't hopeful, but I'm pleased with the results.  Not 100% but close enough from normal viewing distances, so I might have solved the problem.  But thanks again, that's what makes this forum a good place, that people are able to help like this.

[Pete the Elaner]

I had thought of 3d printing these but I felt etching was probably better for TDM fittings because they are fairly flat, but I have never done any design work for etching before.

I have some older etched TDM fittings which I must have bought back in the 1990s.

I 3d printed the older 86/4 & 87 style MW boxes & was quite pleased with the results. I am happy to share the .stl for those with you (you may have this already because I have shared it before, but files quickly get lost in a forum).