MarcD

I should have added this 4mm Prices will be 4mm starter pack of hooks, loops and delay bars (22 sets) £12 4mm Standard and +1mm pack of hooks, loops and delay bars (22 sets) £12 4mm wide loops to be back fitted to Dingham couplings £8 4mm 3D printed Depth Gauge £7 4mm 3D printed buffer beam packing pieces £3 Marc

The production artwork is now with the the etchers, for both the 4mm and 7mm versions. I should have the proof files back early next week and once thy have been inspected I will be taking orders for a mid February delivery. I have been told, by the etchers, that there will be a window of about 10days between the the proofs being approved and production starting for me to add to any order. Due to the current economic climate I will not be holding very much stock so please order in the window to avoid any delays. Marc

There is a -ve 1mm hook in the starter pack. For this very reason. If people need a -ve 2mm hook I can develop one. Marc

I have just finished the production etch artwork so I will be taking orders for the improved system shortly. I will be producing a small video of how to put the couplings together and operating on the layout they were originally designed for. Marc

Gunnislake line is a Col Stephens special or the remains of one. It was originally the narrow gauge East Cornwall Minerals Railway converted to standard gauge about 1895. It's only one of the col's lines still operating on the national system. Marc

Very interesting. Marc

Hi Roger, I'm the chap with the new coupling system. Just to let you know that I'm not a member of the Gauge O Guild, however I am a member of both the S7 group and the 7mm Society. The couplings will be available to order towards the end of the month for a February delivery date. Marc

I have produced a short video of some shunting in the yard Marc

I will be adding a page to my website to allow orders to be placed for a mid/late February delivery date once I have the production etches drawn up. This should be in the next week or so. Marc

the last set of pre-production couplings have now gone Marc

The last set of pre-production couplings have now gone. Marc

The last pre-production set has now gone. Marc

I have just finished testing the system. It works and it works well so I will be drawing up the production etches next. The grey wagon (LNWR Dia2) is fitted with a plus 1mm "Flippem" hook and loop the brown wagon (LSWR 4PLK) is fitted with a standard height "Dingham" hook and delay bar. being used on WC Boggs. they run through and couple on the 3ft4 reverse curve. The LSWR 4 plank has had a "Flippem" loop fitted to the other hook to prove that back fitting "Flippem" loops to "Dingham" hooks was possible. The second photo shows the difference between the "Flippem" on the left and the "dingham" on the right. As you can see the "Flippem" is made from thicker material and has a greater cross-section for better strength. Also you can see that the size of the loop is bigger which allows it to be used with very tight radius curves. I have tried them on PECO set track and they work every time. There looks like there is also spare room between the hook and the loop to enable them to be used on even tighter curves less than 3ft4. The third photo shows the difference changing the hook height can have. The coupling on the left is the plus 2mm "Flippem" and the one on the right is the "Dingham" the wagons are the same, our SDJR 5 planks, as you can see the loop on the left would pass over the hook on the right and likewise there no chance that the loop on the right would go over the hook on the left. Now I have proved the system I will be putting the production etches for 7mm and 4mm together and getting them to the etchers asap. If any one wants one of my pre-production etches to get them going I have one left? Otherwise I will be taking orders in a few weeks for an expected delivery mid to late February. Marc

I have just finished testing the system. It works and it works well so I will be drawing up the production etches next. The grey wagon (LNWR Dia2) is fitted with a plus 1mm "Flippem" hook and loop the brown wagon (LSWR 4PLK) is fitted with a standard height "Dingham" hook and delay bar. being used on WC Boggs. they run through and couple on the 3ft4 reverse curve. The LSWR 4 plank has had a "Flippem" loop fitted to the other hook to prove that back fitting "Flippem" loops to "Dingham" hooks was possible. The second photo shows the difference between the "Flippem" on the left and the "dingham" on the right. As you can see the "Flippem" is made from thicker material and has a greater cross-section for better strength. Also you can see that the size of the loop is bigger which allows it to be used with very tight radius curves. I have tried them on PECO set track and they work every time. There looks like there is also spare room between the hook and the loop to enable them to be used on even tighter curves less than 3ft4. The third photo shows the difference changing the hook height can have. The coupling on the left is the plus 2mm "Flippem" and the one on the right is the "Dingham" the wagons are the same, our SDJR 5 planks, as you can see the loop on the left would pass over the hook on the right and likewise there no chance that the loop on the right would go over the hook on the left. Now I have proved the system I will be putting the production etches for 7mm and 4mm together and getting them to the etchers asap. If any one wants one of my pre-production etches to get them going I have one left? Otherwise I will be taking orders in a few weeks for an expected delivery mid to late February. Marc

I have just finished testing the system. It works and it works well so I will be drawing up the production etches next. The grey wagon (LNWR Dia2) is fitted with a plus 1mm "Flippem" hook and loop the brown wagon (LSWR 4PLK) is fitted with a standard height "Dingham" hook and delay bar. being used on WC Boggs. they run through and couple on the 3ft4 reverse curve. The LSWR 4 plank has had a "Flippem" loop fitted to the other hook to prove that back fitting "Flippem" loops to "Dingham" hooks was possible. The second photo shows the difference between the "Flippem" on the left and the "dingham" on the right. As you can see the "Flippem" is made from thicker material and has a greater cross-section for better strength. Also you can see that the size of the loop is bigger which allows it to be used with very tight radius curves. I have tried them on PECO set track and they work every time. There looks like there is also spare room between the hook and the loop to enable them to be used on even tighter curves less than 3ft4. The third photo shows the difference changing the hook height can have. The coupling on the left is the plus 2mm "Flippem" and the one on the right is the "Dingham" the wagons are the same, our SDJR 5 planks, as you can see the loop on the left would pass over the hook on the right and likewise there no chance that the loop on the right would go over the hook on the left. Now I have proved the system I will be putting the production etches for 7mm and 4mm together and getting them to the etchers asap. If any one wants one of my 7mm pre-production etches to get them going I have one left? Otherwise I will be taking orders in a few weeks for an expected delivery mid to late February. Marc

I have 5 in IEG, two in LSWR green and a Fenchurch, which is waiting conversion to a NSWGR N67, already and I'm going to have to buy two more now. that will be 10 in total. I think that they are very bad people. Marc

They may have announced that there will be some new terriers but you can't see what they are. There looks like one in IEG but which one? Marc

Yes the 4mm version like the 7mm version will be compatible with the original "Dingham" system. I will also be making the enlarged hoops available as a separate etch so they can be back fitted on to the original hooks. Once I have proved the 7mm version, which I currently doing I will produce production etches for both the 7mm and 4mm versions. I'm hopefully going to be able to finish the artwork for this next week and, COVID, permitting I should have the first etches back by mid February. So I will be able to take advanced orders for 4mm and 7mm versions some where around 15th of Jan , with a potential delivery date of mid February. Marc

Getting a "Desmond" in your degree proved you balanced learning and living. A great man who missed by the world. Marc

The etches for the prototype Flippem Automatic Coupling arrived about an hour ago. They look good if I do say myself. I'm going to fit some to some stock over the Christmas weekend, the Boss is on nights. So I will post some photos shortly Marc

The etches for the prototype Flippem Automatic Coupling arrived about an hour ago. They look good if I do say myself. I'm going to fit some to some stock over the Christmas weekend, the Boss is on nights. So I will post some photos shortly Marc

The etches for the prototype Flippem Automatic Coupling arrived about an hour ago. They look good if I do say myself. I'm going to fit some to some stock over the Christmas weekend, the Boss is on nights. So I will post some photos shortly Marc

Interesting nevery heard of this company before. I have the HMRS photos of the Cambrian wagons I will have to have a better look. The codes on the photos would hint at th coming from two different sources as well. ABY is normally Pickering photos which would make sense. Marc

Good to hear that you have been given parole and have got back home. Now would be a good time to start planning the layout you have been promising yourself. Nothing needed more than a pencil, a sketch pad, an arm chair, a glass of you favourite tipple (if its allowed) and your thoughts. Get will soon Marc.

Only just discovered this great publication. I do like a good micro layout. I'm part through the first issue. I'm hoping read the other issues over the Christmas break. Marc