N Gauge Corridor Connectors

N-Gauge-US · February 02, 2016, 02:45:10 PM

These really do look very nice. Four questions:

1. When I had previously looked at these, I didn't realize that tacky wax was the adhesive used. I am relatively new to using tacky wax (bought my first tub of it two days ago); I am assuming that you can remove the blank ends and bellows fairly easily if you decide to remove them for whatever reason. Am I right in that assumption?

2. I use atlas 11.25" as my smallest radius, so it may be a tight fit. When these round smaller radius curves, do they cause derailment or does the corridor simply come out of alignment (momentarily or until fixed)?

3. In reference to mixing types, I have Collets and am getting some Gresleys soon and I have an Mk1 support coach that I would like to run with either set. I am assuming that in both cases I would use the 'native' bellows (ie Collet for Collet to Mk1 and Gresley for Gresley to Mk1) but would the Mk1 need an Mk1 connector blank end or would a Gresley or Collet one do?

4. Is there a preferred installation direction? It seems to me that it would generally be best to install them with the bellows facing towards the rear, but in the scenario I have laid out in question 3, the opposite seems more convenient (otherwise my support coach would have a bellows and be limited to one type of rake.)

Thanks very much and sorry about all the questions!

-Philip

Barry M · February 02, 2016, 06:36:05 PM

Quote from: N-Gauge-US on February 02, 2016, 02:45:10 PM
These really do look very nice. Four questions:

1. When I had previously looked at these, I didn't realize that tacky wax was the adhesive used. I am relatively new to using tacky wax (bought my first tub of it two days ago); I am assuming that you can remove the blank ends and bellows fairly easily if you decide to remove them for whatever reason. Am I right in that assumption?

2. I use atlas 11.25" as my smallest radius, so it may be a tight fit. When these round smaller radius curves, do they cause derailment or does the corridor simply come out of alignment (momentarily or until fixed)?

3. In reference to mixing types, I have Collets and am getting some Gresleys soon and I have an Mk1 support coach that I would like to run with either set. I am assuming that in both cases I would use the 'native' bellows (ie Collet for Collet to Mk1 and Gresley for Gresley to Mk1) but would the Mk1 need an Mk1 connector blank end or would a Gresley or Collet one do?

4. Is there a preferred installation direction? It seems to me that it would generally be best to install them with the bellows facing towards the rear, but in the scenario I have laid out in question 3, the opposite seems more convenient (otherwise my support coach would have a bellows and be limited to one type of rake.)

Thanks very much and sorry about all the questions!

-Philip

Hi Philip,
Thank you for your interest in the Corridor Connectors.
Answering your questions in order:

1. The reason for using Tacky Wax is that should you want to seperate the coaches or change your rake around then they can be removed easily. Any residue is also easily removed. However, the tacky wax is strong enough to maintain the holding of the connectors when fitted.
I gues you could use any adhesive that was similar like Blu Tac or Copydex which again can be easily removed. We have found the Tacky Wax to be ideal though.

2. Although, we have tested these down to 12" radius, we now have customers using them on 9" radius curves without problems. Tighter than that and you will start to see derailments. 11.25" should be absolutely fine.

3 & 4. In relation to mixing types, it is preferable to use the bellows for the coach type it is connecting to. But there will be exceptions.
For instance, if you have a Mk1 connecting to a Collett, the mk1 is a wider bellows and would look very odd, so I would put a mk1 end on one end of the Collett bellows and fit that to the mk1 coach. A Collett blank on the other end of the bellows that was up against the blank end of the Collett coach.
But experiment to see what looks better. Beware that on some coaches the buffers are closer together, so if you use a wider bellows like a mk1 pushing up on a Gresley, it may derail.
As for direction, I guess because the end up against the loco is a blank I've naturally used a bellows at the opposite end so the bellows have always faced the rear. But there's no reason whatsoever that you couldn't fit a blank at both ends of the first coach and do it the other way.

I hope all that makes sense?!!

N-Gauge-US · February 02, 2016, 10:00:58 PM

That all made perfect sense. Thank you, Barry! After I see whether or not I'll be getting the Gresleys, I'll have to order some of these because the only real hold ups for me were permanence and curve radius and it turns out neither is a problem!!!

Barry M · May 06, 2016, 10:56:00 AM

Our new ad in Model Rail Magazine:

Bealman · May 06, 2016, 10:58:14 AM

Cool ad.

Bob Tidbury · May 06, 2016, 11:34:08 AM

Limited supplies available at BHEnterprises at South West Herts this Saturday.
Bob

Sharkey51 · February 03, 2020, 02:14:18 AM

Has anyone managed to buy or make a bellows or concertina connection that will handle an S-bend made up of two 9" curved sections without a derailment occurring?

njee20 · February 03, 2020, 07:46:11 AM

Like a set track crossover you mean? This thread is pretty old, and the website appears to have expired, although the OP was online on Saturday, so perhaps see if he responds. @Barry M

Barry M · February 19, 2020, 10:21:59 AM

Sorry we're no longer making them.
MB Model Railway Products has finished.

Barry

Newportnobby · February 19, 2020, 11:02:36 AM

Very sorry to hear that, Barry, and am glad I got some a while ago.

Barry M · February 19, 2020, 11:09:52 AM

Quote from: Newportnobby on February 19, 2020, 11:02:36 AM
Very sorry to hear that, Barry, and am glad I got some a while ago.

😢 👍🏼🚂

Unclealbo · March 07, 2023, 01:50:37 PM

I noticed that corridor connectors are for sale on ebay. The vendor being twiggyswampy1969. I contacted him for advice on what to fit to a 108 DMU and he replied ' not sure tbh but would take a punt at the collet being the closest'.

Now I need at this point to admit to not really knowing what coaches I have, apart from the new ones bought from the society the rest are second hand from shows, ebay etc. Please don't gasp, if they were maroon or 'blood and custard ' and the right price I bought them as my Barnsley centre layout is late 1950's. What would be the best ones to buy to fit all of them if I made a card adaptor plate if that's possible or even sensible.

Finally does anybody know who twiggyswampy is and are his offerings Barry's revamped?

Barry M · March 07, 2023, 02:40:54 PM

Hi,
These are our original corridor connectors. twiggyswampy1969 is Mark and he is still making them to order.
Barry

Unclealbo · March 07, 2023, 03:24:38 PM

Hi Barry, thanks for your swift response.

I assume that 'one size fits all' with an adaptor plate isn't something you or Mark considered feasible. If that's the case I will have to find out what types of coaches I possess and order accordingly.

I'm pleased to discover that they are the originals because they had a great review from your original test team and the ebay feedback firmly endorses that. Apart from the usual odd numpties ' I thought it would be plastic and all I got was a bag of black paper'. I did enjoy reading Mark's reply though.

Steven B · March 07, 2023, 03:32:46 PM

A one size fits all approach won't work. Corridor connections are different shapes and sizes. A Stanier or Collet are much rounder at the top than a Mk1 for example. The Mk1 is slightly more rounded than a Mk3.

Steven B.