Murphy 141 buffer replacement - has anyone done it?

[Mol_PMB]

With a Murphy 141 on the bench in front of me, I note that the buffers look too close together, and too small. 

 

I have a set of Appleby Model Engineering 141 buffers in my stash which are a bit longer and have a bigger face. They look a better match to the prototype. However, they're solid cast metal rather than sprung.

 

Has anyone on the forum tried swapping the buffers and resetting them at the correct spacing? How did you get on?

Or is it just me with this level of OCD? Probably!

 

Cheers,

Mol

 

(photos from Jonathan Allen and Ernie on Flickr)

[WRENNEIRE]

Its just you.....

[Mol_PMB]

11 minutes ago, WRENNEIRE said:

Its just you.....

All I can do is apologise. Again. I am sorry. 

[Rob R]

What are you using for couplings?

If it is Kadees or tension locks then buffer spacing will only be a visual issue (but well worth doing).

For the likes of 3 link or Alex Jacksons then you will need the buffers at the same centres as your rolling stock ( who's warranty you violated voided some time ago....)

I am sure someone somewhere could 3dp them.

[Mol_PMB]

Many thanks @Rob R

I’m using kadees so the buffers are mainly visual.
At present I think I will do the buffer swap on this loco and see how it goes.

The idea of producing more of these buffers is very appealing!

Cheers,

Mol

[Mol_PMB]

Arch60 (former 4Dmodelshop) that I use for custom etches are able to duplicate the buffers as white metal castings.

Would anyone else like some, if I get some made?

Here are the originals:

[RedRich]

I'd definitely take some. I love the 141-181 MM models and the prototypes were and are still my favourites. Let me know how you get on and how many sets could be produced. I always regretted not getting any of the Appleby Models buffers.

Rich,

[warb]

A long long time ago I commissioned Appleby Models(John Talbot) to produce the following before any Irish outline bits were available. Memories.

Warb

 

[Mol_PMB]

3 minutes ago, warb said:

A long long time ago I commissioned Appleby Models(John Talbot) to produce the following before any Irish outline bits were available. Memories.

Warb

 

Aha! So that's the origin of them. The supply has now dried up, sadly. Though I'm sure modellers around these islands have some sets stashed away in boxes.

[warb]

They were done in batches  of 50 of which i got 4/5 batches approx of each and what ever Appleby produced.

Thanks

Warb

[Mol_PMB]

Have you still got a stock of them? 

[warb]

All gone sorry bar 6 packs of the freight bogies.

Warb

[Mol_PMB]

Ah, many thanks. I’m looking in to getting some more made, but the cost may be prohibitive. We’ll see. 
cheers,

Mol

[warb]

They were prohibitive at the time nothing changes.

Warb

[Mike 84C]

I know Lanarkshire Models has sold his business to ? but if you know who that maybe a line of oppertunity? Lanarkshire buffers were 1st class. Or maybe killian Keene of this parish could print them for you?

[Mol_PMB]

17 minutes ago, Mike 84C said:

I know Lanarkshire Models has sold his business to ? but if you know who that maybe a line of oppertunity? Lanarkshire buffers were 1st class. Or maybe killian Keene of this parish could print them for you?

I don't know what's happened to Lanarkshire models, except that they're no longer available either. They were indeed very good and I have used them on some of my Irish wagons.

I'm not very keen on 3D printed buffers (or resin cast) as they can be very fragile. 

The problem with getting extra castings is the cost. It's £115+VAT for the mould, plus £8.65+VAT for each time a set is cast. That's not unreasonable considering the manhours and materials needed, but works out way too expensive for 4 buffers.

However, there would be space in the mould for more items, it doesn't change the prices but means that more bits are produced each time. 

I'm going to have a think if there are any other things I have in stock that would be useful to duplicate. 

 

[WRENNEIRE]

Since Murphy produced his first run of 141/181's and indeed his second run of them no one has complained to me about the buffer size or spacing.
Just saying.......

[Mol_PMB]

Indeed. That doesn't make the size or spacing correct. I have seen some comments online about the buffers, and I believe the spacing was corrected for the 121s.

However, it is a good indication that no-one else thinks it's worth the effort to correct them.

So I think I'm probably ploughing a lonely furrow here, and it's unlikely that it will make financial sense to spend a lot of money replicating some buffers that no-one else wants.