RMweb Premium 5944 Posted March 12, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 12, 2014 One last thing.... experience has now taught me that the clear plastic does not, sadly, "twinkle" or catch the light enough to make these components at all easy to find when they fall onto the floor! cheers Ben A. Laminate floor and bare feet - you'll find them soon enough! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dick rowland Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 You can count me in for a substantial batch of short, medium and long clear couplers as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aghodgett Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Happy also to buy in bags of 50 if you decide to do them in bulk. If this is successful I would like the alternative Dapol couplers (Non magnetic) ones as well please. Regards Arthur Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karhedron Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Hi Ben, I like the look of this idea and would be interested in trying them out. I quite like the look with a bit of black drawn on top. If it is possible, could you do a photo showing the couplings with this done on a scenic layout please? Ideally close up and how a rake looks from normal viewing distance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Revolution Ben Posted March 13, 2014 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 13, 2014 Hello Matt I only received a handful of samples and those are the ones photographed so far. As there has been a very encouraging response to this idea (here and on other groups/forums) I have decided to order enough to equip a couple of complete wagon rakes. I will test these on Horseley Fields - we are exhibiting at Potters Bar on May 10th and then at the DEMU show on May 31st-June 1st. I may be able to photograph them on the layout beforehand and if so I will post pics here. cheers Ben A. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium steam-driven boy Posted March 14, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 14, 2014 Hi, I'm delighted to see this being evaluated, I do hope it progresses to being made generally available – preferably with that 'bulk-buy' option already mentioned as there are an awful lot of existing NEM pockets to fit these to. In the same way a regular source in the older fitting would be great as there are many NGS (perhaps being supplied as a standard option in future for a relatively minimal increase in pricing?) and other Peco chassis based kits along with r-t-r (as shown in the original post) that would benefit, I have doubts now that my existing modest stockpile will suffice. I do think the visual improvement with older short wheelbase 4-wheel stock is even more pronounced when compared with larger modern vehicles. The simple expedient of permanent marker to bridge the visual gap between wagons will certainly be adopted although I've not been overly troubled by this aspect to date. Regards, Gerry 8) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Adam1701D Posted March 14, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 14, 2014 Hi Ben - excellent work on the couplings. Can't wait to try some myself and see how they look "in the flesh". I'm wondering how well these would work with Bernard's EMU bogies that Bob and myself are using for our EMU range. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Revolution Ben Posted March 14, 2014 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 14, 2014 (edited) Hi Ben - excellent work on the couplings. Can't wait to try some myself and see how they look "in the flesh". I'm wondering how well these would work with Bernard's EMU bogies that Bob and myself are using for our EMU range. Hi Adam, If we go into production then we will offer two lengths of NEM coupler (standard and short*) and a short "old style" coupler that goes in a Poole-era pocket. We can't do Peco Elsie types at the moment, but I am sure that if the demand manifests itself then Peco would mould their own. * there are numerous NEM coupler lengths available - the standard is 11mm in length. Our short coupler is 1mm shorter, while I think the Farish short coupler as supplied with their 37s is shorter still. It may soon be better to specify couplers clearly by overall length, or shank length, as "short" does not cover all the options now. Cheers Ben A. Edited March 14, 2014 by Ben A 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Steve Purves Posted March 19, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 19, 2014 Hi Ben,I can produce plastic masterbatch to any colour if you were ever thinking along the lines of other colours... Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Revolution Ben Posted March 21, 2014 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 21, 2014 Hi Steve, That is useful to know - thanks. I will send you a PM. cheers Ben A. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
autocoupler942 Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 I'm intrigued that clear plastic couplings have now evolved. Back in the late '80s I contacted either Peco or Farish (I can't remember which now) with my suggestion of moulding the couplings clear. I did say at the time there might be a 'prismatic' problem with light - but they totally rejected my suggestion as not feasible. I should have kept my records of our communication. Andrew Cox Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigP Posted July 2, 2015 Share Posted July 2, 2015 (edited) -- Edited January 30, 2021 by bigP Deleted Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Revolution Ben Posted July 2, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted July 2, 2015 Hello Paul, Unfortunately I could not get satisfactory reliability. The clear plastic is considerably "flashier" than normal black nylon, meaning that their operation isn't smooth without fettling. I'm still keen on going forward with this, and I trial them on the revolution TEA tanks. Cheers Ben A. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted July 2, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 2, 2015 (edited) I have been using them on my Farish bogie tanks. most were fine but a few would come uncoupled as they are slightly thinner in the Rapido box. A little bit of fettling and I am sure they all would have been OK. However, I had been replacing them with NEM boxes and the fixed Dapol short knuckles (as these close the gap between vehicles a lot) till Ben announced the new Revolution trains tankers!! Edited July 2, 2015 by roundhouse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigP Posted July 2, 2015 Share Posted July 2, 2015 (edited) -- Edited January 30, 2021 by bigP Deleted Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium steam-driven boy Posted July 3, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 3, 2015 (edited) Hi Ben, Hello Paul,Unfortunately I could not get satisfactory reliability. The clear plastic is considerably "flashier" than normal black nylon, meaning that their operation isn't smooth without fettling. I'm still keen on going forward with this, and I trial them on the revolution TEA tanks.CheersBen A. Surprised to hear this, the two batches supplied to me in '08 were flash-free - surely not another skill lost... Regards, Gerry 8) Additional: Should have said mine were to fit standard Peco coupler boxes, perhaps it's the NEM pocket fitting in this case? Edited July 3, 2015 by steam-driven boy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Multiple identity account Posted July 3, 2015 Share Posted July 3, 2015 CLEAR COUPLINGS please! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Revolution Ben Posted July 3, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted July 3, 2015 (edited) Hello Gerry, I think the cause of the flashing is down to a combination of the clear plastic requiring a higher injection pressure, and possibly wear on the tool itself which has, by now, produced many thousands of mouldings and may be showing its age. cheers Ben A. Edited July 3, 2015 by Ben A Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Steve Purves Posted July 4, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 4, 2015 Clear 'should' require a lower moulding pressure as it contains no carbon black which will only stiffen mouldings. Possibly the injection pressure is too high for the clear and helping it to escape, whereas the black was more reluctant to flow in to the gaps Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Crepello Posted July 4, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 4, 2015 I've seen clear couplings and I reckon they're more conspicuous than black ones; not worth the effort in my opinion. Sorry! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium steam-driven boy Posted July 4, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 4, 2015 Hi, I've seen clear couplings and I reckon they're more conspicuous than black ones; not worth the effort in my opinion. Sorry! No need to be sorry, we are all capable of holding to our own opinions - mine is I wish I'd had funds at the time of the opportunity to stockpile more. Regards, Gerry 8) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Revolution Ben Posted July 5, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted July 5, 2015 Hello all, Steve - thanks for that. I will ask about the moulding pressure again - it's quite possible I misunderstood. Crepello - thanks for your comment. TBH I think it depends. I noticed yesterday that I have a 350 Desiro that I'd forgotten I'd fitted them to. I was watching it at Beaconsfield yesterday where we were exhibiting out club layout, and comparing it to one that is not so fitted. Especially when the vehicle is in motion I felt it an improvement. cheers Ben A. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIMBA1OFF Posted April 20, 2019 Share Posted April 20, 2019 Having seen them with a black strip painted on top looks good. You only focus on the strip the rest seems not noticeable. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarriageShed Posted April 23, 2019 Share Posted April 23, 2019 Yep, I also thought the ones with blackened bits on top looked quite effective. I'd say for operators of older stock (1930 in my case) a simple mimic vacuum pipe would be enough along the top of the couplings. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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