N Gauge screw link couplings

Bealman · July 09, 2013, 12:29:04 AM

Hey there, Woolley! Welcome aboard!

Mustermark · July 09, 2013, 01:13:02 AM

Quote from: Woolleysh33p on July 08, 2013, 06:46:30 PM
Where can I buy these couplings from? I but no luck.

I buy my screwlink couplings for detailing from N Brass Loco. No doubt you could use them as actual couplings in this way.

steam-driven boy · July 09, 2013, 07:14:06 AM

Hi,
How about magnetically operated 'working' (in a way) screw links - hopefully not confusing the issue, I was glad to see this old bookmarked MFK coupling website page:
http://www.raw-nette.de/h_mfk1.htm
from some years since was still working, I'd kept it more for the notion of the thing rather than any serious desire to adopt the system

Regards, Gerry.

Bealman · July 09, 2013, 07:30:13 AM

All I can say is, you guys are keen! Especially with my eyesight the way it is. There is no doubt about it, screw link couplings are of course prototypical for old time railways, and certainly make wagons look heaps better, but even with the magnet, I still have (always have had) a personal dislike of the hand from the sky. Just me.

I should imagine link couplings are fiddly enough in 4mm scale - in two, they would be impossible for me. However, having had me gripe... they are impressive looking. Let's face it, anything is over Rapidos. (One thing I've always liked about them though, is that you can just pluck a wagon out of the middle of a train if it is acting up. Imagine what would happen if everything was linked by the chains!

)

AndyGif · July 09, 2013, 09:33:10 AM

Quote from: Bealman on July 09, 2013, 07:30:13 AM
Imagine what would happen if everything was linked by the chains!

It would make a lovely necklace for the swmbo in your life....

E Pinniger · July 09, 2013, 09:35:59 AM

Scale Link sell Smiths etched brass screw-link couplings: http://www.scalelink.co.uk/acatalog/Smiths_Components_for__N_.html
I've no idea what the etchings are like, or whether they're practical for using as working couplings as the Dapol ones are, though!

Woolleysh33p · July 09, 2013, 06:27:29 PM

Thanks all.

I will probably buy them off smiths or eBay.

Does anyone know if or where they sell the hook which the chain will be attached to. I tried looking on eBay but with no luck.

I ask because some farish stuff does not have the hooks

EtchedPixels · July 09, 2013, 08:06:19 PM

Before going the screwlink method remember that you won't be able to reverse trains with them. The N wheels and track are so slack you'll get buffer locking even on near straight track.

Most of the systems designed for screwlinks in real use either rely upon realistic curves and very tightly spec track (2fs, P4 etc) or cheat and the chain is in fact rigid so holds the stock spaced.

Matthieson does some couplings that may be of interest

http://mathiesonmodels.com/2mm-3-link-couplings.php

Bealman · July 10, 2013, 12:48:23 AM

Yes, you are correct on all points, there EP. A timely interjection!

Woolleysh33p · July 10, 2013, 07:29:56 PM

Quote from: EtchedPixels on July 09, 2013, 08:06:19 PM
Before going the screwlink method remember that you won't be able to reverse trains with them. The N wheels and track are so slack you'll get buffer locking even on near straight track.

Most of the systems designed for screwlinks in real use either rely upon realistic curves and very tightly spec track (2fs, P4 etc) or cheat and the chain is in fact rigid so holds the stock spaced.

Matthieson does some couplings that may be of interest

http://mathiesonmodels.com/2mm-3-link-couplings.php

Thanks. I emailed them and said they would not be suitable for farish / dapol stock.

broadgauger · July 16, 2013, 12:55:39 PM

I actually said this in response to a very specific query about their use on train set curves:

"The couplings are designed to fit my own range of wagons and are intended to link stock into fixed rakes. People have fitted them to Farish stock and there are several large 2mm FS layouts with long rakes of Farish stock linked using the system. Gareth Collier, a well known n gauge modeller, converts the couplings by 'splitting' the hook section from the chain so that he can use them in the traditional way. He is exceptionally skillful and his N gauge track must be very laid but he tells me he can operate them over reverse curves without buffer locking - but that is because I have factored in the necessray geometry in the wagon design. Farish or Peco stock is not so forgiving. You also have to bear in mind that fitting the couplings to Farish stock demands a degree of hacking about to the model.
If you are expecting to run typical N gauge 'train set' curves using Farish stock the 3 link couplings probably aren't for you."

Andrew Smith