Scratchbuilding a Dellner coupling

[cmeonthemove]

Recently I was lucky enough to take delivery of a full Arriva WAG express in N gauge for £75 (as supplied by It's N Gauge). Unfortunately the Dellner couplings as featured on 57315 were only represented by a sticker as shown here:-

 

 

I decided therefore to fabricate a proper 3D Dellner to both ends of the loco.

 

First, the stickers were removed and the residue cleaned off to leave the original 57 ends:-

 

 

I then marked out the points for cutting out the recesses for the coupling using reference photos as a guide:-

 

 

I then cut these out, not fully through the plastic as I wanted to retain the backing, but deep enough to insert the new couplings:-

 

 

Once the recess had been painted with Railmatch warning yellow and weathered, work on the Dellner coupleing began. First I made the main coupling with a small cut of plasticard, with a short piece of plastic rod stuck on with blu-tack moulded to the shape of the main coupling head. This assembly was glued on and painted black, then the hydraulic locks were made from short pieces of yellow coated wire half exposed to represent the rams:-

 

 

I then made up the electrical cabling using 5amp fuse wire cut and bent to shape. Once glued in position the wires were painted matt black, then the yellow, red and silver clips picked out with a 000 brush.

 

 

Finally the leading end was super-detailed with hoses, cables and dummy screw coupling.

 

 

It was apparent the coaches were the wrong shade to match the loco so a new set were made up by Captain Electra.

 

 

And so completes the WAG express - that is apart from the coach interior detailing, which I will report on soon!