Dave_Bec

Improving Hornby rolling stock.

Before and after.

Just wanted to share a few more details re my experience with my choice of couplings ... 

Being out of the hobby for so long (30 years plus) and with all the information now available thanks to the 'Web' I settled on the Sprat & Winkle coupling, I very quickly leaned that a jig is a MUST for these to work first time every time - which they will. A lot of people using these couplings dedicate a 'master' wagon or the like which they set coupling height against .. I found the use of a dedicated jig from day one was the way to go, I made the jig from one half of a track cutting aid that I had  from the 1980's. All my subsequent stock was fitted with couplings using this jig, and the fact that this jig had slots in for OO track to sit in meant that I could slide the jig over a magnet to test uncoupling and perfect alignment. The first two pictures show the jig itself and the third shows it in use against a newly built wagon awaiting paint.

And another shot shown over a magnet  that i'am yet to disguise.

The problem i had with Sprat & Winkles involved bogie stock, the attached image shows a Heljan 33 fitted with my NEM pocket solution .. works a treatat (Bar only on traction stock).

9 minutes ago, Dave_Bec said:

 

Thanks for the welcome .. I find the Sprat & Winkles brilliant in both no hand of god and the fact that from 3 feet plus if painted correctly almost disappear .. 

23 minutes ago, 33C said:

Welcome back, did you get the teabags? 

Oh yes ... plenty of those and a little drop of the highlands finest !!!

8 minutes ago, 33C said:

Welcome back, did you get the teabags? 

10 minutes ago, AY Mod said:

Doing a nice job there Dave! Interesting alternative usage of coal staithes. Add in the Spray and winkles and we can tell you're no newbie to the game.

Thanks for the welcome .. I find the Sprat & Winkles brilliant in both no hand of god and the fact that from 3 feet plus if painted correctly almost disappear ..