vitalspark Posted May 22, 2018 Share Posted May 22, 2018 We have a mix of couplings on Alloa using 3 link on mineral rakes that are rarely split Kaydees on the likes of Bachmann dmus to close couple and also on coaching with a medium/short combination usually working best but we also still have a large number of tension lock fitted stock however they are the smallest types and confined to wagons within the trains. We are currently working through these to replace with scale alternatives but until then the simple rule of never allowing a tension lock to be fitted to the rear of a coach or brakevan and never on locos works well. We also use 3mm S&W which are much finer especially if fitted with the hook at one end only as apart from more reliable auto uncoupling it means there is always one chain hanging between wagons and not two! Hornby close coupled with mixed length Kaydees simply plugged in to the nem pockets. Spratt & Winkle 3mm couplings on 4mm stock and hook at one end only. Once blackened and viewed from normal operating angle quite discreet and streets ahead of tension lock both in appearance and operation and of course with a 3 link chain hanging from each wagon. Cheap and easy to fit too. Dave. 8 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post vitalspark Posted May 22, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted May 22, 2018 One of the locos on Alloa with the typical bar only arrangement at each end. Another excellent kit built loco and a recent addition showing the bar attached to the tension lock of the coach which is not too obvious in operation. The rear coach obviously has no coupling..and a tail lamp! Dave. 27 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclebobkt Posted May 22, 2018 Share Posted May 22, 2018 (edited) We have a mix of couplings on Alloa using 3 link on mineral rakes that are rarely split Kaydees on the likes of Bachmann dmus to close couple and also on coaching with a medium/short combination usually working best but we also still have a large number of tension lock fitted stock however they are the smallest types and confined to wagons within the trains. We are currently working through these to replace with scale alternatives but until then the simple rule of never allowing a tension lock to be fitted to the rear of a coach or brakevan and never on locos works well. We also use 3mm S&W which are much finer especially if fitted with the hook at one end only as apart from more reliable auto uncoupling it means there is always one chain hanging between wagons and not two! Hornby close coupled with mixed length Kaydees simply plugged in to the nem pockets. IMG_6284.jpg Spratt & Winkle 3mm couplings on 4mm stock and hook at one end only. IMG_8553.jpg Once blackened and viewed from normal operating angle quite discreet and streets ahead of tension lock both in appearance and operation and of course with a 3 link chain hanging from each wagon. Cheap and easy to fit too. IMG_8550.jpg Dave. Putting on my pedant's hat and writing under correction from the more knowledgeable modelers who subscribe to this thread, in regard to the third & lowest photo., and if I u'stood. matters concerning 'XP.' stock correctly, they were vacuum-braked and fitted with screw-couplings? Pray advise. Edited May 22, 2018 by unclebobkt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post Captain Kernow Posted May 22, 2018 RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted May 22, 2018 82044 approaches the footpath crossing to the east of Engine Wood with a down train: 21 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vitalspark Posted May 22, 2018 Share Posted May 22, 2018 Putting on my pedant's hat and writing under correction from the more knowledgeable modelers who subscribe to this thread, in regard to the third & lowest photo., and if I u'stood. matters concerning 'XP.' stock correctly, they were vacuum-braked and fitted with screw-couplings? Pray advise. You are correct as regards the stock however the Caley station pilot has both vacuum and Washinhoose brakes and of course apart from the aforementioned 'bar' coupling it also retains the hook on the buffer beam..for the odd screw which its still partial to. Dave. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post brylonscamel Posted May 22, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted May 22, 2018 Can I throw in a street scene from a model railway - this one featuring my Aberdeen tenements at Braeside .. I've been a bit cheeky and blended the obvious line where the backscene meets the model ... 30 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted May 22, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 22, 2018 We have a mix of couplings on Alloa using 3 link on mineral rakes that are rarely split Kaydees on the likes of Bachmann dmus to close couple and also on coaching with a medium/short combination usually working best but we also still have a large number of tension lock fitted stock however they are the smallest types and confined to wagons within the trains. We are currently working through these to replace with scale alternatives but until then the simple rule of never allowing a tension lock to be fitted to the rear of a coach or brakevan and never on locos works well. We also use 3mm S&W which are much finer especially if fitted with the hook at one end only as apart from more reliable auto uncoupling it means there is always one chain hanging between wagons and not two! Hornby close coupled with mixed length Kaydees simply plugged in to the nem pockets. IMG_6284.jpg Spratt & Winkle 3mm couplings on 4mm stock and hook at one end only. IMG_8553.jpg Once blackened and viewed from normal operating angle quite discreet and streets ahead of tension lock both in appearance and operation and of course with a 3 link chain hanging from each wagon. Cheap and easy to fit too. IMG_8550.jpg Dave. I've been looking for the 3mm Spratt & Winkle couplings for some time. Does anyone know where they can be obtained? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leopardml2341 Posted May 22, 2018 Share Posted May 22, 2018 Those 63xx really are quite pleasant to look at........in a move akin to Dylan going electric, I can see one shuffling about on either Mutton or Sheep Lane.....and there's a new batch coming out.....oh dear! Rob. Go on, Go on, Go on! You know it makes sense. Ripe for some serious weathering as well. https://www.flickr.com/photos/68861278@N03/8166965360/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leopardml2341 Posted May 22, 2018 Share Posted May 22, 2018 I've been looking for the 3mm Spratt & Winkle couplings for some time. Does anyone know where they can be obtained? These? https://www.wizardmodels.ltd/product-category/couplings/?filter_3_manufacturer=sprat-winkle&filter_1_scale=3mm_tt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted May 22, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 22, 2018 Go on, Go on, Go on! You know it makes sense. Ripe for some serious weathering as well. https://www.flickr.com/photos/68861278@N03/8166965360/ That's a white engine, that's been dirtied with some blue dirt. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marly51 Posted May 22, 2018 Share Posted May 22, 2018 Can I throw in a street scene from a model railway - this one featuring my Aberdeen tenements at Braeside .. I've been a bit cheeky and blended the obvious line where the backscene meets the model ... tenements.jpg Great modelling! Definitely the ‘Granite City’ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocor Posted May 22, 2018 Share Posted May 22, 2018 Can I throw in a street scene from a model railway - this one featuring my Aberdeen tenements at Braeside .. I've been a bit cheeky and blended the obvious line where the backscene meets the model ... tenements.jpg How has the transition of a road into the back scene been handled on actual layouts?. I can't say I have ever come across an example of an solution to this. The only two potential work abouts that I can think of are a fillet radius between baseboard and backdrop, or the road is going over the a cusp of a hill, so that the transition point is not seen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Vistisen Posted May 22, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 22, 2018 Can I throw in a street scene from a model railway - this one featuring my Aberdeen tenements at Braeside .. I've been a bit cheeky and blended the obvious line where the backscene meets the model ... tenements.jpg Excellent use of backscene 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brylonscamel Posted May 22, 2018 Share Posted May 22, 2018 (edited) How has the transition of a road into the back scene been handled on actual layouts?. I can't say I have ever come across an example of an solution to this. The only two potential work abouts that I can think of are a fillet radius between baseboard and backdrop, or the road is going over the a cusp of a hill, so that the transition point is not seen. I've just received a book on this very subject as I reckon there's some approaches to learn from! (especially having seen the amazing Dutch masterpiece "IJsselestein" at Warley) The book is terrific and has lots of ideas for blending foreground with background. The publisher is Crécy, author is Paul Bambrick and is titled "Creating a Backscene" - I haven't started using the techniques but they look really promising. Edited May 22, 2018 by brylonscamel 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vitalspark Posted May 22, 2018 Share Posted May 22, 2018 (edited) I've been looking for the 3mm Spratt & Winkle couplings for some time. Does anyone know where they can be obtained? As already posted Andrew at Wizard Models has them. Make sure you buy the 3mm and not the 4mm as they are monstrosities..the 3mm however if fitted using the mounting plates and loops with one hook per wagon can be a very effective and neater replacement for tension locks. A home made jig is essential to turn them out quickly and uniformly plus height gauge for wagons too ensure they all match perfectly. Pick your most common wagons that have the lowest underfloor height..we settled on Bachman..and then just araldite the mounting plate directly under the drawbar. Any other wagons that might be slightly higher to the underfloor is a simple matter of adjusting with plasticard shim. Three links from the one hook with the last one being iron to attract the uncoupling magnet and you are complete. A Bill Bedford wire bending jig is a cheap and essential tool to turn out identical loops. The S&Ws propel on the indent on the top of the hook and act on the opposing bar and you will find you can propel long rakes over crossovers with much less chance of buffer lock or derailment than with tension lock. Also theres much nonsense talked about 3mm couplings not being able to negotiate tighter curves..with a single hook and bar set up this is not an issue. Cost wise It also means the hook fret goes twice as far. Bill Bedford wire bending jig for the two loops. Dave. Edited May 22, 2018 by vitalspark 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vitalspark Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 I ran out of time with last reply and should really have attached more images. I can upload step by step images of the build process and the home made jig if its of interest. Dave. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold NHY 581 Posted May 23, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 23, 2018 (edited) A cruel close up.......... Rob. Edited May 23, 2018 by NHY 581 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold westerhamstation Posted May 23, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 23, 2018 (edited) How has the transition of a road into the back scene been handled on actual layouts?. I can't say I have ever come across an example of an solution to this. The only two potential work abouts that I can think of are a fillet radius between baseboard and backdrop, or the road is going over the a cusp of a hill, so that the transition point is not seen. Hi Rocor, a couple of pics of how I have dealt with the backscence road join. The road in the backscene has been extended so that it has a tongue that is then curved into the road and then blended in. All the best Adrian. post 459 onwards http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/64587-westerham-not-much-going-on-today-its-raining/page-19 Edited May 23, 2018 by westerhamstation 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 On Monk's Gate I used the 'mirror-under-the-road-bridge' trick. It fools the casual observer for about 3 seconds. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davefrk Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 Cost wise It also means the hook fret goes twice as far. Dave. I always knew you were a tightwad.... 'D2' Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leopardml2341 Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 A cruel close up.......... Rob. Wot! No couplings Sorry Rob, couldn't resist Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold NHY 581 Posted May 23, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 23, 2018 Wot! No couplings Sorry Rob, couldn't resist There you go.... 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 There you go.... That's better...normal service resumed. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leopardml2341 Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 There you go.... Brilliant, now no more silly talk about not posting any more. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Vistisen Posted May 23, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 23, 2018 Hi Rocor, a couple of pics of how I have dealt with the backscence road join. The road in the backscene has been extended so that it has a tongue that is then curved into the road and then blended in. All the best Adrian. post 459 onwards http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/64587-westerham-not-much-going-on-today-its-raining/page-19 Now that is the real trick, getting the perspective to look right from different angles! Brilliant work here Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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