goldfish

I have no objection to drop link couplings, in fact they are my coupling of choice. What I was referring to was the oversize hooks that seem to be the standard at the moment, LMC pattern couplings are much better in appearance and easier to use.

It should be possible to to create a universal wheel-set compatible with the major current standards, but I agree with you that it would be impossible to come up with a truly universal set that was compatible all legacy standards. Combining fine-scale flange and back to back measurements with the coarse scale wheel width should provide a practical solution. The market has changed markedly in the last few years and anybody selling 2/3-rail switchable locomotives has to seriously consider making them compatible with Peco track. Getting rid of those grotesque couplings they insist on fitting would also be a huge improvement. As I understand it, Darstaed was looking at breaking into the fine-scale end of the market, so anything other than fine-scale wheel-sets would have been unacceptable.

I have followed your thread with interest for some time. As I recall you failed to mention that the Gauge 0 Guild of all people came up with a Universal Gauge 0 Wheelset that would run through both course and fine scale points ( https://www.gauge0guild.com/manual/01_D1_1_1_1.pdf ). Why the R-T-R people did not to use it is beyond me. The wheels ETS fit to their 2-rail products are very close to the Universal standard but the profile is to NEM311. The 2-rail versions of the Sentinel Shunter by ETS are fitted with them and run through Peco points and on Merkur tubular track with no problem at all.

The standard answer would appear to be no. The following is the text of a standard letter I received from Len Mills of ACE Trains earlier this year. ""The only Peco 2R track that Ace Trains recommend is type SM32. ACE Trains product is primarily aimed at the standard (coarse) scale 3R market this being a very large percentage of the gauge `O` business in the world. Peco B.H. (Bull Head) track is strictly a fine-scale track and therefore totally unsuitable for running ACE Trains as they are produced. ACE Trains product will run on Peco flat bottom rail track but will not run through the points without wheel / axle or track modifications. For your info there are two commonly used gauge `O` standards largely arising from standard (coarse) scale usually being associated with 3R, and fine- scale with 2R. By far the most common in terms of popularity and sales is coarse scale 3R. There are many customers however that use 2R coarse scale largely in the garden because as the name suggests it allows for a more tolerant approach to undulations that are commonplace because of the elements associated with garden railways and therefore provides much more reliable running. These are the 2R customers that ACE Trains are largely supporting and supplying. It is very difficult and some say impossible to mix fine-scale and coarse scale together and this is clearly true when it come to points, the two standards cannot be combined because of the huge variation in wheel profiles and B-to-B (Back to Back ) dimensions as follows BRMSB fine-scale standards are Flange depth = 1.25mm, O/A wheel width = 3.75mm B - B = 29.00mm ACE Trains standard (coarse) scale standards since 2006 are Flange depth = 2.00mm, O/A wheel width = 6.0mm, B - B = 27.5mm Note: there were no strictly laid down and adhered to wheel standards from ACE Trains on items produced prior to 2006 The ACE Trains standard (coarse) scale is not strictly correct to the BRMSB (British Model Railway Standards Bureau) rule therefore does allow the product to actually run on some fine-scale track although as you can see from the huge differences in flange depth and B to B dims. between the two types I doubt that ACE Trains would run successfully on Peco B.H track without the flanges crashing into the track chairs and bumping over the check rails on the frog. The minimum recommended radius is 2ft – 3ins = 054” dia American standard. Most items made will negotiate 2Ft radius but the larger locos do look silly on such a small radius."" It is worth noting that The British Railway Modelling Standards Bureau (BRMSB) standard was published in 1950, and that BRMSB ceased to exist in 1960.

Thank you very much for that. This is just what I have been looking for, brilliant idea.

This sounds interesting, spray on ballast. Any chance of further details, and perhaps a closer view please?

From the small print at the bottom of the information sheet - "Decorated samples under review - expected in shops Q3 2019"

I have a pair of Dapol 7 plank open wagons that will just negotiate 24" (627mm) radius curves out of the box. After replacing the three link couplings with Dapol screw link couplings they manage the reverse curve through a pair of 24" radius points with ease. A couple of drops of glue on the joints of the screw link couplings makes them much easier to couple and uncouple.