boxbrownie

Can you not use those Bachmann solid links if it’s for a fixed rake and NEM sockets?

I think Hornby do similar as well but not with the “drop brake pipes” effect.

If the carriages have NEM pockets you can just use the Bachmann solid link bars, they have a dip in the centre to represent vac/steam pipes, and if the carriages also have close coupling it retains that as well.

I’ve got some ultra fine curved tweezers which end in needle points so that’s not the issue, it’s my banana fingers that’s the problem!  I’ve used some non runny slow drying glue, the merest drop.....we will see.

I have one stewing at the moment, after many attempts I decided to add a minuscule drop of glue to one end, it’s now drying while I gather the stamina to try and fit the other end without it pinging off into that place we never know these little bits go to......

oops, sorry for the blog hijack 

I have enough trouble refitting the springs when they decide to evacuate in the normal couplers! 

10 hours ago, GWL said:

Nice! I had never heard of Trix-C, just had a google - looks like great stuff!

It’s really good track, very robust and designed for hundreds of snapping together and apart, the electrical connection system is very robust and so much so I have not bothered (nor wanted to) fit a “ring main” with droppers, too much faffing around.

I debated whether to use Kato track for the 4mm layout as I used it for my 2mm layout and it’s been brilliant, but I found the 4mm Kato didn’t have as many points variations as Trix-C.

9 hours ago, brossard said:

Glad to hear you have discovered Kadees.  IMO they are really superior to other couplers.  I actually dislike the NEM Kadees because they are pretty clunky despite being easy to install.  I see you have been bodging some wagons with these.  Good to see.  I think the draft gearbox type (#5 and the others) look better but do require slightly more effort to install.

 

I never liked the permanent magnet for uncoupling.  A couple of these were tried at the club but resulted in random uncoupling so they got ripped out.  My preference was the old fashioned skewer.

 

John

John, Pretty sure the random uncoupling can be cured (did for me) by either adding weight (Kadee recommend a minimum weight) or add a slight drag like the sponge, works perfectly after.

I thought all Kadees were the same size once past the draw box?

Haha I still have a half roll of that RS tape in the shed somewhere, probably lost its stick by now.....I actually used a thin slice of foam from the top thin layer of packing in a Dapol Loco box, maybe about 4mm square and quite “spongy”, as for the uncouplers I used two small neo bar magnets from the same place, as I am using Trix-C track they fit invisibly under the track bed.

How have you found the Kadees for uncoupling whilst running over the magnets, I found they could uncouple at random occasionally and upon investigation it appears the wagons slightly “shunt” and it’s enough to uncouple, my solution was to basically stuff a little piece of soft foam between one axle and the chassis to give just a very slight drag and this cured it completely, I think thenUK type four wheel wagons are just too light, and I notice that kadee recommend a minimum weight for each piece of rolling stock to negate this.

Doesn't appear to be much room for a sound decoder and speaker in there..........

Thanks for the interesting info regarding the plates and the very nice comparison between the etches, very useful.