Noel

More kadee fettling and adjustments on coaching stock. Reducing Kadee size from no 19 to no 17 in the NEM pockets of these two CIE vans (HLV+TPO) greatly reduced the gaps yet due shortish length still get around bends and across paintwork without fouling or buffer lock. Min radius curves are 3ft, most are 3'6" but surprisingly these also run over the few 'short' Peco points I have. The Park Royals will need more work as I adjust the bar on the commonwealth bogies as they don't have NEM pockets, nor do the laminates.

Enjoyed a lengthy running session this evening with a visiting WMRC member testing various stock formations with the new couplings. Also enjoyed playing with a WheelTappers LokSound DCC sound project on B&T B181 with 'PowerDrive' feature. Fun also with B141 running MrSoundGuy's Zimo sound project which has 'RealDrive'. Love them both. GSV 3185 nestles up close to Craven CIE Brake Parcels van couples up nicely to Craven. TPO will need keen system drawbars to close the gap, couplings direct to body don't cut mustard.

Kadee conversion of IRM ballast wagons continues. Kadee no 18s glued to underside of NEM pockets has worked really well. Comparison below on test track. Top four wagons out of the box with tension lock couplings, the four wagons below have had the Kadee no 18s added. The rake is considerably shorter. Very happy so far with test runs on the layout over short peco points and my tightest radius curves. PS: Looking at these lovely wagons I think I am going to have to bite the bullet and weather them soon, especially the loads.

Nice progress. Enjoying seeing this layout evolve.

Brilliant idea

Ah - a fellow RC'er. I only just noticed the RC model aircraft in this photo now. Is the A-10 electric or turbine? Some lovely models cover all eras.

Hi Stephen. I got them from Peter's Spares (https://www.petersspares.com) where I get various bits and pieces for kit bashing. They are Keen Systems LMS suspended gangways. But remember the main way of closing the gap is a coupling attached to a swivelling drawbar that is independent of the bogie or coach body (i.e. as used on modern Bachmann and Murphy Model coaches over the past decade). The gangways certainly reduce the gap because of the sprung cover and will close it between two coaches that have swivelling drawbars for the couplings (i.e. that extend the gap when a coach enters a bend or point). Noel

This 'tool' has been invaluable while converting stock to kadee couplings. It comprises the kadee coupling height gauge mounted on a piece of ballasted track which has been easy to use on the workbench when sizing up potential positions of couplings on stock and bogies. Easy to get down to eye level and it can be picked up. I found it accelerated the time needed to choose which kadee would be the easiest fit for a piece of stock and the simplest way of fitting the coupling (e.g. test hold various kadee couplings with tweezers under stock for dry fit alignment testing). Also useful for stock to stock coupling tests on the bench before trying converted stock out on the layout.

CIE BSK GSV + CIE Brake Parcel Van received the Kadee treatment. The sprung Keen suspended gangways help the appearance, but I guess if I added the Keen system swivelling draw bar to some of my other stock everything could be this close coupled. Bogie mounted couplings simply cannot facilitate close coupling. I get away with it below because the gangways are sprung. The CIE Black'n'tan era never had uniform coach rakes, they were a mix of everything from Park Royals, Laminates, Bredin, Cravens, etc, and any manner of vans for parcels, heating, TPO, etc. So from a coupling point of view it is challenging to minimise gaps when some of the stock have kadee's mounted to bogies, others the coach body, and others the optimal mounted to a swivelling draw bar (e.g. like Bachmann and MM coaches).

Thanks @Dhu Varren. At €17 it looks like a nice piece of kit worth trying out on one baby GM for shunting. I will check how easy it is to get a spare 150mA function output wire onto a LokSound V4 used in MM141 (i.e. either soldered directly to the decoder, or possibly from the MM 141 PCB), and have a look at the innards of the NEM pocket on the 141/Bachmann bogie. Ideally I'd like to fit the actuator somewhere behind the existing NEM pocket on the bogie if it will fit rather than cut it off and fit a gearbox kadee to the bogie. I guess another option may be @Flying Scotsman 4472 Anthony's technique of fitting the coupling directly to the 141 body (i.e. NEM pocket glued to the valance). But I'm not sure if the the actuator would fit or if a longer coupling might be needed due to coupling no longer tracking with the bogie. Decisions, decisions, but sure experimenting with this sort of stuff is what constantly adds fresh 'spice' to the hobby. Always new things to learn and try. Thanks again for the info. 2 Piece pack: https://www.precimodels.com/en/shop/product/1-dcc-uncoupling-conversion-kit 6 Piece pack: https://www.precimodels.com/en/shop/product/5-dcc-uncoupling-conversion-kit-set-of-6-pcs Do you know what the difference is between their 2 piece and 6 piece packs? The web site has identical descriptions for both. I'd love to give this a try. If there is anything else you can remember about fitting please let us know. Below - 2 piece pack Below - Fitted to a draft gearbox kadee Below - Fitted to a NEM kadee Thanks Noel

Words fail. But heck "Exorbitantly Fabulous" The superb buildings and street scape's take this layout to a level I've not seen before.

Thanks DV, that's interesting. I've seen that video clip before but wasn't sure how reliable it might have been due to wear or chaffing on the fine thread. Do you know if it still working well for your friend on the BR 2-6-4T loco?

I like the look of this Subarashi but they seem out of production. https://www.smart-coupler.com

Cheers. Me neither. But when I get time I'm going to try and hijack the 5th & 6th function wires for cab lights to operate a DCC uncoupler on an 071. Might end in disaster but I'm kind of curious.

Hi PJR. You would need a 6 function decoder to operate the CAB lights on an MM 071 or MM 201 loco. The Hattons decoder is only 4 function. Noel PS: I use Lenz Silver which is also only 4 functions in some of my 071s because I don't like the cab lights (i.e. bluish tint and too bright). They should only be on when the loco is stationary anyway (i.e. darkened cab for good night vision visibility of signals, etc).

Kadee production line continues as I convert more stock. Kadee no 17s with white NEM shank adapters for Cravens, no 18s for Irish Freight Models TPO + Bulleid HLV, no 147 for Silverfox mk1 GSV + Dutch GSV, no 148 for the Bachmann Wagons, no 18 for IFM Brake vans, and no 19 for 141/181 locos. This has been an interesting project and there is much more to do before all my stock is converted. Next up Park Royals, Laminates, Mk1 GSV (lima conversion), CIE Brake Parcels van (Bachmann conversion) . . . it never ends but isn't that part of the enjoyment.

MM 201 Kadee conversion. NEM pocket is a little too low on the 201 locos. Need to bend trip pin upwards to ensure it would not foul when passing over points. Running trials successfull after mod. MM 141 and 071 NEM pockets are at correct height and need no adjustment for Kadee's Above 201 knuckle coupling 65% overlaps with rolling stock (i.e. that is at the correct height). Kadee plier tool above for bending trip pins is a really useful tool.

C'est magnifique

Close enough. 20yo Bachmann two axle wagons get the kadee treatment. No 148 whisker kadees in draft gearboxs (medium length centerset) have replaced the large old tension lock couplings. The plastic lugs and mounts for the old TLCs were cut off and filed flush with underside of chassis. Now closer coupled than before and they are less obtrusive than the old TLCs (tension lock couplings). Running trials successful across peco streamline code 100 short radius points. The knuckle couplings are far less obtrusive than the 20yo TLCs. Kadee no 148 (medium centerset) screwed so it is flush with the buffer beam (i.e. avoids unsightly protruding gearbox) Cutaway old TLC mounting lugs and file flat. Ends of gearboxes flush with buffer beam keeps them hidden from view above wagons Note: Bachmann buffers on this era stock are short so the 148 kadee (medium centerset) fits perfectly, but if converting wagons with longer buffers you may need 146 (long centerset). Bachmann tended to produce buffers at a scale length that reflects slight compression when coupled in rakes rather than a standalone wagon where the buffers might protrude more.

Fab photo of 079 Noel. It really is great to see 071s being overhauled and especially that they are needed for future traffic. If I never saw another photo of an ICR I wouldn't even notice, but these GMs are epic machines. Impressive work by the IR engineering team. The loco looks like new.

Jason, did you use solder or superglue? Any in build pics? Noel

OK change of mind. I've decided I'm not happy to compromise on the kadee height on the Ballasts I converted earlier. Aside from the trip pins being too high for magnets to operate uncoupling, visually the coupler in the NEM pockets are almost the same height as the buffers which visually clutters these lovely models and doesn't look right. I have now followed IRMs advice and glued the kadee no 18 under the NEM pockets. This is much closer to the correct Kadee height gauge. IRM Ballasts after conversion to Kadee No 18s GLUED UNDER the NEM pockets - gap greatly reduced enhancing the look of a rake. Coupling now matches loco heights and other stock on the layout which will facilitate shunting and marshalling. It took a while but I saw the light. I did some running tests today and this coupling distance runs runs perfectly on the layout including on the few short radius Peco streamline points I have. Also tested ok on some spare 2nd radius curves. Happy days. Shows no 18s glued to underside of the NEM pockets. You will need to file off the thin IRM logo on one of the NEM pockets. Matches loco perfectly now so no risk of uncoupling at changes of gradients, or when coupled to other rolling stock. Comparison between using the NEM pockets or IRMs recommended fix of gluing the kadee's to the underside of the NEM pocket. This visually looks much better as the coupling is below buffer height. I'll have to weather all the newly installed kadee's now! It really is worth the time to iteratively trail and error Kadee conversions especially extensive running tests on shortest radius curves on the layout, and with other rolling stock both being hauled and pushed. Will do the same fix with the IRM cement wagons and the ploughs in due course. I understand the Tara's have the NEM pocket at the correct height. PS: Kadee no 17s would only work on vary large radius track and only if also glued under the NEM pockets because they cannot plug into the NEM pocket without removing the lovely cosmetic coupling hook.

Oh they are just stunning Jason. That must be one of the best ever jobs done on those SSM Plough kits, if not the best. That looks like factory RTR quality, so crisp, so sharp, just delightful.

This is absolutely fabulous. Totally Amazerballs. Stunning concept, implementation, models, scene and railway. Class project.

Kingsbridge workbench thread dedicated to converting the layout stock to Kadee couplings and in limited cases close couplings (Hornby/Roco) for fix rake coach formations. Hopefully as the thread evolves it will show how I converted coaching stock and goods wagons to Kadee couplings using a variety of methods and couplings from various NEM shank lengths to various types of gearbox Kadees which will be needed to convert my old Bachmann 2 axle wagon stock. Some of this already posted in the Q&A forum but I want to keep a record of all the conversions on the layout here as they occur in the comings months. IRM Ballasts before and after conversion to Kadee No 18s plugged into NEM pockets - gap greatly reduced enhancing the look of a rake. NEM pocket a little high but the kadee's work perfectly within a fixed rake of IRM ballasts or IRM cement wagons and actually 50% overlap the correct height for coupling up to an MM 141 or 071 loco. If I encounter any running issues I may adjust the height of the coupling in the end wagons of each rake for 100% loco height match. Overall though it looks like an easy conversion for my IRM ballast and cement wagons. 20ft Skeletal flat wagons before and after conversion to Kadee No 18s plugged into NEM pockets - NEM pocket height spot on Converting Murphy Model CIE Cravens - Make NEM shank adaptor using Kadee no 17 for correct coupler height Murphy Model CIE Cravens closer coupled using Kadee no 17 with DIY NEM shank adaptor NEM shank adaptor correct height for Kadee hook up to Murphy Model 141 or 071 locos Converting Murphy Model Mk2d coaches to Kadee - glue alternate no 19 and 20 to underside of NEM pockets for correct height. Kadee no 19/20 glued to underside of Mk2d NEM pockets correct height for loco coupling 071 or 141 Close coupling - Orange roof Mk2d have kadee no 19/20 pair per coach, black roof Mk2d have Hornby R8220 close couplers. There is little difference when stationary. Both vastly superior to gaps left by tension lock couplings. Hornby R8220 close couplers. Easy to vertically lift stock out of a rake unlike TLCs and these really do close couple yet can cope perfectly with 1st radius curves. Roco 40270 close couplers seem almost identical but apparently are a little shorter for even close coupling. Will try a set next week. More to follow in due course.