Jaggzuk

9 hours ago, Westhillwagonworks said:

@Jaggzuk, those were the days of just myself ("Chris Bower") and Chris Hunt when we started, we have expanded quite abit as a company since our launch!, we now have our own unit, shop and demonstration layouts located in kirby in ashfield, nottinghamshire, and currently employ 4 staff members along with myself Chris Bower & Chris Hunt, too working on various new projects and customer orders, since the launch, we will be hosting a online live-stream in due course with company updates, all our customers do receive updates via email send-outs.

Wow, how things have come on as a business!  Congratuatluions.  Growing from a hobby to a businnes would not have been easy I am sure, but well done.  Good for us too who use the couplings.

Works 16-24th Jan, so only halfway the engineering Blockagde.

On 08/01/2021 at 21:35, Model Railway Noob said:

I bought these couplings and there were quite good. I found them useful for my HO stock so I could use locos and rolling stock that previously had different systems. However on my third order, some were missing. I contacted the seller and zero response. I don't allow people to sell me short, so I got my money back via Paypal and they didn't respond to them either. It's not a way to do business. Clearly if they didn't contest it, they knew they were in the wrong.

As Great Northern has said, this a small business with a big orderbook.  When I last spoke to the owver a while back over an order question I had, I found out that it was a produiction line in his front room!!  No mass production machines etc.

As with all model railway "cottage" industries which start small and then need to scale up due to mass demand, they can find it difficult to appear like big box shifters/maunfacture with seperate Sales and Tech support teams.  When you have to do all the making and communicatiing as well as living a normal life, it can be a bit overwhelming and something slip by.

Similar OLE contact wire protection used at Kings Cross.
https://twitter.com/RealJohnWynne/status/1343886590150660096/photo/2

A better view of the wire slew and rasing of the contact droper hanger posts in this tweet

https://twitter.com/ECMLupgrade/status/1350483394757537795/photo/1

All to give better safe construction working clearance for all the excvators.

Having seen signs like this before on other weak bridges, the 3t MGW most likely relates to the disused span of the bridge that is use as an access track for road vehicles.  The rail span is likely to be in far better condition and maintained for adequate rail axel loading.

Great software update which now zips up all thoses replies with quoted images, make it so much easier to read the posts now. Thanks!!

What a shame!!  Always a great show.

10 hours ago, Crun said:

Can I ask what arrived in the above clip earlier this evening?

  See pg 42, it is a Kirow rail mounted crane.  https://www.balfourbeatty.com/media/317250/rail-plant-services-overview-a.pdf

And why not even an ex works high gloss finish.  Class 414 as seen at NRM Shildon.

Looks dam good to me, really nice and grimy with the weathering being nice and random, as  it would be in an area like this.

Love the Thread Jack and seeing all your mods and creations, some great inspiration.  I so need to weather my container train!!

On the magnetic coupling front, Hunt Couplings have just launched a new version which now allows individual items of rolling stock the be in either orientation, see https://www.westhillwagonworks.co.uk/couplings-new-c-2/hunt-couplings-elite-oo-gauge-new-c-21/ 

Have patience!!  Take time and “playing around with the settings” will improve your skill.  I must have spent an age on Youtube watching various “how tos”.  My first efforts were weathering buildings and track, then a few Airfix kits with my eldest.  Not yet picked up the courage to tackle any rolling stock!

The key tip I picked up on the web was first the mix has to be right and second to take time with the coverage as it will take a good while because the airbrush mix is very thin, so many passes are required.  This is where patience kicks in, as you may need several sessions to get good coverage and colour depth.  Forget how you would paint with a paintbrush and how thick one coat would be.  Airbrushing  is a whole different approach and mind set.

Another tip is to keep the nib free from dried paint during painting sessions.  Check out “Removing Tip Dry” section http://www.airbrushguru.com/cleaning-your-airbrush.html

On the cleaning front have you got an Airbrush Cleaning Pot?  If not I recommend getting one, will make life much better and less messy.  Also, invest in some cleaning fluid in a spray can (e.g. Spraycraft  Airbrush Cleaner), this helps to blast out paint residue in the airbrush.  Use this with the Cleaning Pot. Gettign the airbrush totaly clean will ensure the next session is pain free.

Same perosn does these for the Lima TLC conversion.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lima-NEM-Coupling-Converter-Sample-1x-4-pockets-/202772112519

Quite like this idea and then to use the standard Hunt NEM as there is some lateral play once fitted in the pocket which will help the wagon to negotiate corners.

29 minutes ago, Waverley47708 said:

There is on Ebay someone making NEM conversions for some Lima wagons (the type used on Lima grain and cement wagons) and Dapol stock.  This may open up possibilities to use Hunt couplings to convert older stock including the ex Airfix Hornby  Mk2 Ds as I think they use the Dapol system for couplings.

Cheers for that tip.

Thats is another nice demonstration video on Dean Park, cheers Phatbob.  see here: Hunt Couplings Elite on Dean Park video

Yes it does look like the Elite couplings can connect to the originals, but if you watch closely at 15:57, you see that the Elite on the loco kicks out sideways at it couples up so that the opposite magnet poles between the original and Elite are attracted.  You can see this in the below screen grab.  It will be interesting how this works in real life and the pull capacity, at least 5 TEA oil tanks!

Regarding compressor, check this post & thread out for details  https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/107480-so-i-bought-a-cheap-airbrush-kit/&do=findComment&comment=2179731

Looks like the magnet polarity issue has NOW been resolved by Hunt Couplings with the introduction of the Hunt Couplings Elite for OO (27-06-20).  https://www.westhillwagonworks.co.uk/couplings-new-c-2/hunt-couplings-elite-oo-gauge-new-c-21/

I saw this review video, which is a bit long winded, but it shows what the new Elite version with a square magnet looks like and how it works.

So now it is possible, with this version, to swap any vehicle around and the couplings will still work!  I think this is a very cleaver solution.

I do not think they will be backwards compatible with the round versions as I am guessing the magnet polarity is now sideways rather than NSNS.

This is my guess at how it works and it is why Nymondeum cube magnets can be staked.

A good development I think.

And taking the dimensions from the Shop website, we now get these NEM to NEM offset.  Note that there is a new Intermediate version.

Mix and match is possible.  I have experimented with it on some wagons where the Standard version increased the buffer to buffer gap compared to existing TLC, but the Close type ended up being too close on my curves.  So, I mixed a Standard and a Close.

Based on my measurements (see post Hunt Coupling measurments ) the following NEM pocket separations can be achieved by mixing the three types.  Approx. 1-3mm variation between each pairing.

Personally, the 6.2mm difference between a pair of Standard or a pair of the Close types is too great.  Standard is too long and the gap it creates is worse than TLC.

Mix and match is also the only way to really solve the variations in NEM pocket position .

On 23/06/2020 at 22:43, Bino said:

"Clipped"

 

I ordered Close Coupling set for NEM pockets on my Bachmann Mark 1's and visually they are extremely good.

 

"Clipped"

 

However, I had a few issues.Some fitted well but some were very tight in the NEM pocket and I had to file out the pocket before they would fit. Others were not tight enough and resulted in the coaches uncoupling. Also, the rake made an odd clicking noise on the curves that I haven't been able to establish the cause of. In the attached photos it doesn't look like the buffers are touching on my 30inch curves.

 

"Clipped"

 

The noise may be the coupling rubbing against the underside of the coach frame as in this photo. The Bachmann TLC's avoid this contact with a drop in height rather than coming straight outward.

 

Hi Bino

The Standard Hunt does not fit well on the Bachmann Mk1 due to the NEM pocket height and the buffer beam.

What I found works really well is the Hunt Pullman (stepped) Coach coupling.  See my previous post https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/151728-hunt-coupling-system/&do=findComment&comment=3959966

The resultant magnet height still lines up with Standard Hunt coupling.

The ticking sound will either be the Hunt coupling rubbing on the buffer beam or the Bachmann Close Coupling  mechanism having to work a bit more harder than it does with the original TLC.

Rather than file the NEM pocket, just file a small chamfer on the ends of the coupling prong bobbles.  You can also file the inside face of the two legs to allow them to close up more.  For loose ones, a dab glue on the bobbles will hold them in place.  Glue gun might also work as that can be picked off if the coupling needs to be pulled out.  The issue is not so much the Hunt coupling but the variation in NEM pocket tolerances.  The Hunt system is trying to cover all bases.

I also tried the Keen system a while back on a rake of old coaches and whilst it worked well and gave good close coupling, I found it was noisy as the mechanism creaked works around corners and need oiling.  I also found the two pin coupling fiddly to connect and it regularly fails on some of my gradient transition.

For some of my other old coaches that do not have an auto close coupling systems, I might look at how you could “bash” the two systems together – Keen system for the close coupling part and Hunt for the easy coupling aspect.

It is what Brian Lambert shows in the link I sent.  Usng the 3 spare conenctions of the Seep PM1 motor to drive a pair of direction LEDs or in your case the Signal route indicator.

Wire up like this diagram below, where the Red and Green Signal LEDs are your signal route indicator display.

Hope this helps?

www.brian-lambert.co.uk is always a good source for all things model raiwlay electrical info  https://www.brian-lambert.co.uk/Electrical_Page_3.html#Bookmark6  for Seep PM1 route indicator.

Hi Vecchio, yes I have used the in track magnetic uncoupler for the Kadee, but used a group of neodymium magnets between sleepers rather than the large Kedee slab.  Partly because all my track was down before I decided to go for Kadee.

My rolling stock is a mix of old and new, so the coupling types vary considerably from large metal D hooks, moulded within the bogie type, to NEM and even they vary in height!  So for Kadee, I have to undertake a variety of conversions to achieve reliable coupling.

A magnetic coupling had made the conversion process quicker, cheaper and more location tolerant.  Plus in my eye, the Hunt is a lot less visually obtrusive than the Kadee in my fixed rakes.  With a bit of weathering using some frame dirt paint they will look even better.

Aside from new buildings, I have slowly been converting my wagons and coaches that have Tension Lock Hook couplings to a new coupling system.  At the beginning of COVID Lockdown I discovered the magnetic Hunt Coupling system.  After an initial trail where I was impressed with the reliability, better close coupling and the much improved visual aspect, I have now decide to go for a full convert with a mix of Kadee and Hunt.

See Link-Hunt Coupling System topic for details and I have posted some of my recent conversions from pg 5 onwards.

I think I am developing a good system of how to work with mix coupling formations.

So basically on my layout I need both a shunting coupling and a fixed rake coupling.  Kadee and Hunt coupling suite my needs. 

For shunting, I have a number of short sidings that can each take a maximum of 3 medium length wheelbase twin axel wagons such as OTA or VAA.  These will either be in short fixed formations such a 3 timber OTA or treated as singles wagons such as VAA vans and will be part of longer Speedlink trains.  I can then shunt all wagons using Kadee.

For fixed rake long trains that will just run around the layout I will use magnetic couplings with a Kadee at each end.  All locos with have Kadee (eventually!).

So to combine my shunting wagons and my fixed rake formations to make even longer trains, I will have to have a number of wagons that have both coupling types and a mix of A/B magnets polarities.

For example here are my various OTA train formations, I have a total of 7 wagons.

Here wagons 5, 6 and 8 have the key coupling combinations and allow the visual look of the full formation to be changed each time by placing them at different positions.  Wagons 1, 5, 6 & 8 working in pairs can all be used in shunting trains.

My Speedlink train formations are even more fun to create with both coupling types!

Aside for the fact I find the Hunt Coupling much easier to fit than Kadee, there is a notable cost saving to convert all wagons/coaches.  Plus, the magnetic coupling type is a lot more tolerant of height and off centre position variations than Kadee.

Ah I see.  Even with a "new" NEW magnet version, there is not much space between the pockets to accommodate two magnets.  Are you precious about modify the pockets to create more space, I guess ideally not as the model looks mint.  Could you not create your own couplings out of NEM TLC parts and some thin rectangular Neodymium Magnets, such as these https://www.first4magnets.com/rectangular-c35/self-adhesive-10-x-5-x-1mm-thick-n42-neodymium-magnets-0-6kg-pull-p2450#ab_1_1|ps_2_683 

On an aside, that is very nice looking train the OBB RailJet.  I came across it when do some design work on High Speed.  Just look mat the compartment based business class - https://cloud.panono.com/p/4ba1dfd61606/album/8c1ba560d7e5 Nothing like that on UK UK network!!  But that’s not for discussion here ;-)