MrWolf Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 I don't think that we have gone backwards since about 1977 with couplings, I don't think that we have moved forward. Every manufacturer has their own version which aren't always compatible with other makes. The alternatives are too fiddly for some people, such as my preferred 3 links and the automatic couplings are generally complicated, temperamental and expensive. Like a lot of things with working models, there has to be some compromises. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted March 19 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 19 1 hour ago, MrWolf said: I don't think that we have gone backwards since about 1977 with couplings, I don't think that we have moved forward. Every manufacturer has their own version which aren't always compatible with other makes. The alternatives are too fiddly for some people, such as my preferred 3 links and the automatic couplings are generally complicated, temperamental and expensive. Like a lot of things with working models, there has to be some compromises. I don't disagree with your general points but my specific irritation is with the projection of the couplings beyond the headstocks. This seems to be a consequence of a) the aim to replicate as much of the prototype detail as possible without considering functionality; and b) the almost universal use of NEM coupling pockets. The grotesque result is, in my not always humble opinion, a Bad Thing. Regarding compromises, I'd like to see some compromise between producing a model that, on its own, could be displayed in a showcase and one that can perform realistically on a layout. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gopher Posted March 19 Author Share Posted March 19 9 hours ago, St Enodoc said: In no way is this a criticism of you, Clive, but those photos just highlight for me how far we have gone backwards with tension-lock couplings on RTR trains. That gap between the loco and coach buffers must be about a scale three feet. Even in the good old bad old days of Tri-ang, things were better than that (all the couplings were the same height as each other, too - and they never drooped...). I agree John, and absolutely no criticism taken. It seems particularly bad with some Dapol and some Rapido rolling stock. In this photo the coach and loco are both Dapol. I started to standardise on the short straight Bachmann NEM tension lock couplers, but these still leave quite a gap with some rolling stock. Mainly because the NEM socket is quite long on the rolling stock. I could of course cut the NEM socket or shaft of the coupling and superglue it to the NEM socket. I have just bought some Hunt magnetic couplers for my BR ex LMS corridor rake. These definitely give a closer coupling, and there appears to be a variety of couplings to cater for different gaps sizes track geometry. So I think I'll start using these for my coaching stock. Thanks and Best Wishes Clive P.S I'm astounded by your great modelling on your own layout. It is a huge project. I came across an article in one of my old Railway Modellers (1980s) - which I think was one of your previous layouts. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gopher Posted March 19 Author Share Posted March 19 (edited) 64XX Pannier shunting Edited March 19 by Gopher 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted March 19 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 19 18 minutes ago, Gopher said: I agree John, and absolutely no criticism taken. It seems particularly bad with some Dapol and some Rapido rolling stock. In this photo the coach and loco are both Dapol. I started to standardise on the short straight Bachmann NEM tension lock couplers, but these still leave quite a gap with some rolling stock. Mainly because the NEM socket is quite long on the rolling stock. I could of course cut the NEM socket or shaft of the coupling and superglue it to the NEM socket. I have just bought some Hunt magnetic couplers for my BR ex LMS corridor rake. These definitely give a closer coupling, and there appears to be a variety of couplings to cater for different gaps sizes track geometry. So I think I'll start using these for my coaching stock. Thanks and Best Wishes Clive P.S I'm astounded by your great modelling on your own layout. It is a huge project. I came across an article in one of my old Railway Modellers (1980s) - which I think was one of your previous layouts. Thanks Clive. Yes, the original St Enodoc branch terminus. The drying shed and signal box are on the current version. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gopher Posted March 20 Author Share Posted March 20 Collett Goods heading towards Dewchurch with a train of military equipment 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gopher Posted March 22 Author Share Posted March 22 (edited) Variety of locos on shed including a BR 2mt, G2, ex GWR 43xx Mogul, and a 47xx lurking in the background Edited March 22 by Gopher 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gopher Posted March 23 Author Share Posted March 23 (edited) Beware of the trains - especially the Collett Goods Edited March 23 by Gopher 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Nevermakeit Posted March 23 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 23 4 hours ago, Gopher said: Beware of the trains - especially the Collett Goods That monochrome version is superb! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gopher Posted March 23 Author Share Posted March 23 11 minutes ago, Nevermakeit said: That monochrome version is superb! Thanks so much for the kind comment. The B&W photo does add a bit more realism to the scene Best Wishes Clive 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gopher Posted March 24 Author Share Posted March 24 (edited) 15xx Pannier on a parcels trains heads towards Dewchurch Edited March 24 by Gopher 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gopher Posted March 25 Author Share Posted March 25 Mogul at the coal stage 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gopher Posted March 26 Author Share Posted March 26 The station throat with Britannia Lord Kitchener reversing onto the turntable 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gopher Posted March 27 Author Share Posted March 27 (edited) 64xx Panier finished shunting at Dewchurch so heads off with the daily pick up goods Edited March 27 by Gopher 19 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gopher Posted March 29 Author Share Posted March 29 George Street, or at least the end of it. Gresley brake parked in the headshunt siding, whilst the Royal Oak receives it's weekly delivery of ale 16 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gopher Posted March 30 Author Share Posted March 30 (edited) Here is the nerve centre of the layout (well it makes me nervous). Digitrax DCC controller, and my home made analogue, points, signals turntable control panel. If you want to see how to do it properly look at @St Enodoc Thread. Polperran Points Panel. Work of art along with the rest of John's brilliant layout. Edited March 30 by Gopher 7 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gopher Posted April 2 Author Share Posted April 2 Hinton Manor heads into the goods yard 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gopher Posted April 4 Author Share Posted April 4 Foremarke Hall waits for signal to clear at Harewood Halt, before continuing it's journey to Dewchurch. Bachmann model - modified Hall, renamed and renumbered by me. I've fitted the usual detail (crew, lamps, coal), plus a sound decoder and speaker in the tender, and of course weathered it. 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gopher Posted April 10 Author Share Posted April 10 Loriot Y and Warwell with a bit of plant machinery 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishplate Posted April 11 Share Posted April 11 18 hours ago, Gopher said: Loriot Y and Warwell with a bit of plant machinery Hi Clive That's a nice little scene. Who makes the yellow plant? They look quite detailed. Are they kits, or ready to roll? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gopher Posted April 11 Author Share Posted April 11 (edited) 1 hour ago, Fishplate said: Hi Clive That's a nice little scene. Who makes the yellow plant? They look quite detailed. Are they kits, or ready to roll? Thanks John - both white metal kits. the lighter yellow dozer on the right is a Langley Models kit, the darker yellow excavator is Woodland Scenics. The latter is H0 scale, slightly crude casting (so needed cleaning up), but does not really stand out as slightly under scale when sitting on the Loriot. I hand painted Humbrol enamel paints on both vehicles. The yellow dozer was painted in Matt 99 lemon, the excavator in Gloss 69, and then sprayed with Matt varnish. Both have been weathered, the excavator more heavily weathered. I should really chain them to the wagons, but wanted the flexibility to remove them and run the wagons empty Couple more photos (the bottom one taken on Dewchurch 2) Clive Edited April 11 by Gopher 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gopher Posted April 13 Author Share Posted April 13 Mogul on a local passenger arriving at Harewood Halt 18 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gopher Posted April 15 Author Share Posted April 15 Visitors to the goods yard 16 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gopher Posted April 15 Author Share Posted April 15 Here it is in B&W 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Nevermakeit Posted April 15 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 15 8 hours ago, Gopher said: Visitors to the goods yard Great weathering on those wagons. Where did you find out the numbers to use on the vehicles, please? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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