dapol mk 3 loco hauled intercity coaches

[nobby]

Hi all
Just been looking at the new dapol loco hauled mk3 coaches in intercity livery i hope they are pre-production samples   intercity-125  with buffers umm  iam getting worried with the
release of the buffets waiting so long really dont want to start hacking around as soon as i get them because of livery errors. Just praying now.

Checked on dapol website and it shows in the production list for mk 3 coaches as  intercity-125 loco hauled and this has not been updated since start of june.

[GWR-Kris]

Way I see it, some cheap coaches will come up for grabs. So I can respray them for my NMT HST lol

[Dr Al]

They look to be production pictures as Rails of Sheffield appear to have them in stock.

They appear just plain wrong - 125 branding on a loco hauled (numbered and buffered as such) coach. HSTs had no buffers. So not sure there's any situation a coach would have been seen in this configuration?

Blunder methinks! 

Cheers,
Alan

[PaulCheffus]

Way I see it, some cheap coaches will come up for grabs. So I can respray them for my NMT HST lol

Hi

Yes that will be about right as I have just bought my coaches for that very project.

Has anyone else had problems with the heights of the coaches compared to the power cars. The power cars seem much taller and the couplings dont line up correctly.

Cheers

Paul

[Dr Al]

Has anyone else had problems with the heights of the coaches compared to the power cars. The power cars seem much taller and the couplings dont line up correctly.

I don't recall actual visual issues with the ride heights the last time I had a set out, but there is definitely a problem with the coupler heights that often results in decoupling. On one set I bent the power car boxes down a bit to see if that would help, which it did, but I suspect over time they'll settle back to their original positions - it probably needs a mod to the coupling box to lower the NEM socket.

Cheers,
Alan

[PaulCheffus]

Has anyone else had problems with the heights of the coaches compared to the power cars. The power cars seem much taller and the couplings dont line up correctly.

I don't recall actual visual issues with the ride heights the last time I had a set out, but there is definitely a problem with the coupler heights that often results in decoupling. On one set I bent the power car boxes down a bit to see if that would help, which it did, but I suspect over time they'll settle back to their original positions - it probably needs a mod to the coupling box to lower the NEM socket.

Cheers,
Alan

Hi

Thanks for the reply.

Yes I have bent the couplings to stop it uncoupling. I will try an post a picture later showing the height difference.

Cheers

Paul

[Dr Al]

Yes I have bent the couplings to stop it uncoupling. I will try an post a picture later showing the height difference.

I'll need to look at mine again next time they are out....might just be distracted by the light bars....

...But if there is a height issue then it probably won't be easy to fix - the chassis 'footplate' if we can call it that can't be lowered on the bogies (the tolerances are already too tight, and some sets power can wheel flanges rub on the underside). The only way might be to lower the body on the chassis, if there is headroom...

Cheers,
Alan

[PaulCheffus]

Yes I have bent the couplings to stop it uncoupling. I will try an post a picture later showing the height difference.

I'll need to look at mine again next time they are out....might just be distracted by the light bars....

...But if there is a height issue then it probably won't be easy to fix - the chassis 'footplate' if we can call it that can't be lowered on the bogies (the tolerances are already too tight, and some sets power can wheel flanges rub on the underside). The only way might be to lower the body on the chassis, if there is headroom...

Cheers,
Alan

Hi

A picture to illustrate the issue


Cheers

Paul

[robert shrives]

Hi on a couple of mine I have found that the NEM pocket bracket on the centering unit was low and that the unit was displaced and not centering- the chassis was also bent and distorting.
Once reset all seemed ok but I have taken to putting powered vehicle at rear and pushing the train with no ill affects. Lately fitted the dapol metal version on the minitrains coupler and better again.
latest coach livery issues noted to Dapol and they are now aware - I can see some NQP fever coming on.
Robert       

[nobby]

With regards to coupling heights how i over come this was to buy some double ended nem couplers  was going buy eischmann but were to dear settled on tilig tt ones as were the same  you dont get close coupling same distance as rapidios and as the train is permantly coupled can be a pig to get on the  track that said once on and running gives no trouble at all always stays together just need that bloody buffet and tgs

[PaulCheffus]

With regards to coupling heights how i over come this was to buy some double ended nem couplers  was going buy eischmann but were to dear settled on tilig tt ones as were the same  you dont get close coupling same distance as rapidios and as the train is permantly coupled can be a pig to get on the  track that said once on and running gives no trouble at all always stays together just need that bloody buffet and tgs

Hi

The coupling height is not my main issue. Is it just me or hasn't anyone else noticed the height difference between the power car and the coaches?

Cheers

Paul

[Dr Al]

A picture to illustrate the issue

Ok, that's bad - is the coach definitely on the right wheels and bogies?  Something is definitely well wrong with either the coach or the locos.

I've done a comparison pic of one of my sets. Slight height difference, but virtually unnoticeable. The coupling height difference is very clear though.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/68426125@N07/10808624955/#

Cheers,
Alan

[woodbury22uk]

Hi

The coupling height is not my main issue. Is it just me or hasn't anyone else noticed the height difference between the power car and the coaches?

Cheers

Paul

Paul

I think your power car body is not properly seated on the chassis.

[PaulCheffus]

Hi

The coupling height is not my main issue. Is it just me or hasn't anyone else noticed the height difference between the power car and the coaches?

Cheers

Paul

Paul

I think your power car body is not properly seated on the chassis.

Hi

Thanks for the reply.

It won't go down any further I've tried and the part of the chassis that fits in the nose won't go any further into the body. Should the bottom of the chassis be flush with the bottom of the side?

Cheers

Paul

[PaulCheffus]

A picture to illustrate the issue

Ok, that's bad - is the coach definitely on the right wheels and bogies?  Something is definitely well wrong with either the coach or the locos.

I've done a comparison pic of one of my sets. Slight height difference, but virtually unnoticeable. The coupling height difference is very clear though.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/68426125@N07/10808624955/#

Cheers,
Alan

Hi

Thanks for the reply.

The Power cars and coaches are as bought with the exception that I have added decoders to the power cars. I may need to remove one and see if that improves the situation.

Cheers

Paul