09 Beginnings - couplings - wagons - steam loco.

Two Unit Models Open Wagons placed on a 7.5" radius curve to check clearances.

As a new scale/gauge is being contemplated, a number of experiments have to be carried-out.  Ensuring couplings will fit the stock is one of them.  How will they best operate?, and when fitted, will the length of the couplings allow clearance between ends of the stock on sharp curves?

I chose to stick with the Peco GR-101 009 couplings as they are right for me.  Though I had to check how they would fit the first stock I have built, which are a pair of open wagons.  They fit the N scale NR-121 wagon chassis OK, but when the frames of the wagons are placed over the top it only just allows for the coupling loop to lift as the frames are 2mm thick.  There is an advantage that the wagons will couple closer, but the above picture shows that on a 7.5" radius curve the corners of the wagon nearly touch.  It is best to check these sort of things as one can easily lay track and find later that the stock binds.

  I found the the Peco 009 couplings reacted nicely to an ordinary 13mm round craft magnet if laid underneath the track.

Preparing the chassis:-

The Peco NR-121 10ft wagon chassis as intended for N scale.

The buffers and brake gear were cut-off the Peco wagon chassis leaving the axle boxes, then the 009 couplings were slotted into the coupling pockets as seen below.

Spoked nylon wheels are supplied with these particular chassis.  In my experience the spoked wheels are a better gauge than the disc type supplied with other types of Peco N gauge wagon chassis and they certainly traverse turnouts better.  They are also very free-running.

The Shapeways/Teebee 09 side tank loco is just about finished.  A couple of hours were spent carefully sanding the plastic as flat as I could get it without putting the body under too much strain.  It was primed with Humbrol 01 Grey Primer, then the most visible parts of the loco were flatted off again. It was finished with Revell Dark Blue satin number 350, also using a mixed Humbrol grey/ satin black for the skirts, smoke box and chimney.  A whistle was crafted from 1mm and .45mm brass wire and then medium length handrail knobs were added along with hand rail wire.

The steam loco with two of the Unit Models wagons.

The Unit Models diesel and two open wagons.  No weathering has been applied just yet.