FIT SCALE COUPLINGS TO RTR WAGONS
Tension locks may be convenient, but they’re a hindrance to realism. George Dent shares a quick way to convert ready-to-run wagons to operate with scale three-link couplings.
Tension lock couplings have been with us for donkey’s years and, although modern versions are far less intrusive than those of yore, they still jar against otherwise lifelike rolling stock and locomotives. As someone who often strives to get my trains and scenery looking as convincing as possible, unprototypical couplings always seem to spoil the party.
So, what viable options are there? There are various alternative Nem-compatible couplers, such as Kadees, which can be operated remotely via hidden magnets. But knuckle couplers can look just as incongruous as tension locks, especially on ‘traditional’ goods stock. There are various finescale options, such as Spratt & Winkle and Alex Jackson couplings, but these require a fair amount of time and effort to assemble and install.
There’s still nothing to compare to miniature renditions of the real thing and, in that sense, scale couplings are hard to beat. Consisting of a sprung drawhook and three-link or screw-link couplings, they work in the same way as the prototype. We can couple and detach stock with a miniature shunter’s hook and this physical act can be an immersive experience. It certainly adds an extra dimension to layout operation.
Inevitably, there are drawbacks with scale couplings. They’re best suited to layouts with gentle curves, as the gap between vehicles will be reduced and there’s increased risk of buffers locking up, especially during propelling moves. Operation of the couplings can be fiddly, especially when reaching into awkward areas of the layout, and you obviously need to be able to see what you’re doing. But a little foresight at the design stage will help, factoring in access for coupling-up in sidings, stations and yards.
The ease with which stock can be modified to accept scale couplings varies according to wagon type and manufacturer. Kit-built stock is usually the easiest, as the bufferbeams and chassis can be adapted before assembly. Older RTR models may have large mounting brackets for tension locks to contend with, but more recent products are generally easier to work with and the Bachmann wagon featured here is a typical example. With a little surgery to the plastic chassis, the job can be done in less than an hour.
As well as the rolling stock, your locomotives will also need to be equipped with scale couplings and, again, the level of difficulty involved in installation varies greatly between models. We’ll look at the task of converting locomotives in a future issue.
Sprung buffers are a desirable addition to scale couplings, but experience has taught me that they’re by no means essential, especially on smaller layouts where shorter trains invariably pootle along at slow speed.
On larger layouts, where longer train formations are common and trackwork is more complex, adding sprung buffers across your fleet is worth serious consideration.
Why not give scale couplings a try? They can be trialled at minimal cost and effort and need only be installed on certain stock, perhaps just the wagons used on a local pick-up goods, to provide some extra operational interest…