Nelson Jackson Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 Hello all, I have been trying for some time now to find chain that I can cut up and use for 3 link couplings. I have already sourced whitemetal and photo etch coupling hooks but cannot find the chain anywhere. I understand Slaters do packets of couplings and I have used them in the past, but they are fairly expensive in my eyes and I am also not too bothered about the springing. Any help is much appreciated, Thanks, Nelson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmrspaul Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 Hello all, I have been trying for some time now to find chain that I can cut up and use for 3 link couplings. I have already sourced whitemetal and photo etch coupling hooks but cannot find the chain anywhere. I understand Slaters do packets of couplings and I have used them in the past, but they are fairly expensive in my eyes and I am also not too bothered about the springing. Any help is much appreciated, Thanks, Nelson Scale?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelson Jackson Posted July 5, 2017 Author Share Posted July 5, 2017 Sorry I totally forgot to mention, I am modelling in 4mm. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim V Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 Have a look in "The 4mm Coal wagon" by John Hayes, tips on making your own - then you can get it to scale. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin parks Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 Hi Nelson, What about making your own chain links from florists' flower arrangement wire? They sometimes use 0.5 mm blackened iron wire. If you make yourself a metal strip to wind the wire around, 100 mm long x 2.5 mm wide and 0.75 mm thick, you can have an unlimited amount of links! You will need a hole at one end of the strip to hold the end of the wire while you start turning. The only tricky bit is slitting the links down the centre of one side to separate them, but I am sure a person with your talents could manage that. I will try and find a photo of my former to illustrate this explanation. Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve1 Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 You might find something useful here if you scroll through: http://www.wizardmodels.ltd/product-category/couplings/page/3/ steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold teaky Posted July 5, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 5, 2017 MRCHAIN from http://www.markits.com/ Slightly over scale for 4mm but that makes it easier to use. There are several earlier threads on RMweb where 3-link couplings are discussed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quarryscapes Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 MRCHAIN from http://www.markits.com/ Slightly over scale for 4mm but that makes it easier to use. There are several earlier threads on RMweb where 3-link couplings are discussed. It's not much overscale as for link size, but it is way over scale for diameter of wire. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelp Posted July 6, 2017 Share Posted July 6, 2017 (edited) Sprat & Winkle do links in packs of 50, item 'LNK 4' available from 'Wizard Models' Edited July 6, 2017 by michaelp Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fixair Posted July 6, 2017 Share Posted July 6, 2017 The photo shows what I use. The tool is as described by Colin. I have run out of black iron florist wire (from ebay) but used the plastic coated for the photo. When wound, I only do about 8 at a time slide them off after releases from the hole and clip them into individual links with the nail clippers. Then assemble them. The wire is so soft that the job is easy. Make sure you round off the edges of the bending tool to make the sliding off off the wound links easier. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium CloggyDog Posted July 6, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 6, 2017 IIRC both Ambis Model Engineering and Wizard models sell packs of the Smiths 3-link links. http://www.ambisengineering.co.uk/ While a tad overscale length-wise, they (combined with Ambis hooks and Instanter links as required) make for a practical 3-link for exhibition use. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted July 6, 2017 Share Posted July 6, 2017 I used to make them using 0.5 mm diameter copper wire wound around two 2 mm rods taped together. The resulting links are a little too long (12" rather than 10"), but this helps with coupling and negotiating curves, especially if the hooks and buffers are not sprung. The copper oxidises to a nice rusty colour. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelson Jackson Posted July 9, 2017 Author Share Posted July 9, 2017 Thank you to everyone who took the time to reply, I really appreciate it. Now I'm sorted! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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