Help needed - NEM socket and buffer gaps

[Will_J]

Hi folks! As some of you know, I currently have some plastic NEM sockets being tooled at the factory for use with future wagon kits, but these could also be retrofitted to other wagons if desired. I've been waiting for them for a long time but apparently there's now some movement on it.

In addition to this, I have been quietly developing a new coupling system that is compatible with NEM sockets (so would be suitable for N, 009 and TT120 with NEM 355 sockets factory fitted.) It is a tension lock style design which uses permanent magnets fixed between track sleepers to uncouple, and also has a latch delay function similar to DG or Spratt and Winkle couplings which makes for great shunting. It's just a lot simpler to build and install. First prototypes have worked very well, and once I've ironed out some minor kinks, I'll show them.

However, one problem I am having is that placement of NEM sockets relative to buffer beams and the gaps between buffers varies wildly between models and manufacturers. So if people were willing, what would be incredibly useful to me is if people could measure the distance between the front face of the NEM socket and the face of the buffer beam, and also the front of the socket to the buffer faces. It would be tremendous to have these measurements for a variety of locomotives and rolling stock if possible.

This will help me decide what lengths of shank I should include as options, so that these will fit nicely into a wide variety of existing models.

Many thanks, and I hope to show more soon!

Will.

[Steven B]

The NEM355 standard quotes 6mm from the front face of the pocket to the buffers.

What works practically will depend on close coupling mechanisms and minimum radius on the layout.

Looking forward to seeing what you produce - will it be any smaller/better than Dapol's Easi-shunts?

[Will_J]

The NEM355 standard quotes 6mm from the front face of the pocket to the buffers.

What works practically will depend on close coupling mechanisms and minimum radius on the layout.

Looking forward to seeing what you produce - will it be any smaller/better than Dapol's Easi-shunts?

Indeed! Adherence to that standard is....not universal, shall we say ! In terms of smaller and better, subjectively I would say that they are more discreet than Easishunts - those knuckles are quite noticeable on N gauge rolling stock. However they will be more visible than say DG couplings.

In terms of better, it depends what you want I suppose. I designed these to be really good for finescale shunting of NEM fitted stock, primarily. The fact that you only need a magnet at the entrance to a siding and can leave a wagon anywhere you like once you have passed the magnet is a feature I really like. It functions identically to Sprat and Winkle couplings in terms of movement, though the design of the catch is completely different, and pivots up not down. Here's an example of what shunting will look like and I have already tested this successfully on some N gauge wagons, though this video example uses OO Spratt & Winkles.

I terms of assembly, they are much easier than DG in that there is no soldering or need for exotic glues, but it's not "push in and go" like Rapidos or buckeyes.

Will.

[ntpntpntp]

I usually keep 3 different lengths of NEM shank Rapido couplings in my spares box.  The middle ones in this photo are Farish "standard", I forget where the others come from though I think the long shanks are Dapol (for the 67?)   5.75mm difference between shortest and longest.

[Southerngooner]

If your couplings are to be used for pushing stock along make sure there is some sort of pushing bar as on the DG/B&B. Without this you will get problems when pushing round reverse curves. What works in 4mm does not always work well in N. As someone who is a long term B&B user (over 200 made and in use.....) I wish you well, but it would need to be a really good product to make me want to change!

dAve

[Will_J]

If your couplings are to be used for pushing stock along make sure there is some sort of pushing bar as on the DG/B&B. Without this you will get problems when pushing round reverse curves. What works in 4mm does not always work well in N. As someone who is a long term B&B user (over 200 made and in use.....) I wish you well, but it would need to be a really good product to make me want to change!

dAve

That's a good tip and something I will be sure to test! These aren't really meant to poach DG/B&B users, hopefully they will be something that offers similar functionality to those without needing much assembly and having the convenience of NEM plugs. But they won't be as discreet overall - you can barely see DGs from what I've seen!

Will.