Coupling height on Hornby 50

If you meant me, I used the short NEM mount, 17 I think, the longer one fits straight in but sticks out to far for my taste, the shorter one I used won't go in far enough for the tails to latch until you shave a bit of plastic off the back of the spring holder where it fouls the buffer beam. I did that so it fitted in snugly. Keith Make friends in the hobby. Visit Garratt photos for the big steam lovers.

I've been over to my mates with a vernier and a Kadee height gauge if a no 19 is fitted in the NEM socket the couple is 2mm high (not the orginal 5mm) however this is still far too high if all your other stock as set to the std. kadee gauge.

Which is what I said, most but not all Bachmann UK stock have the NEM sockets set so the KDs come out at the correct 12mm height specified by the NMRA for 4mm scale. That's what I use so I'm happy. Those of you who insist on using the H0 height for 00 couplers will have to bodge it as best you can. Keith

Make friends in the hobby. Visit Garratt photos for the big steam lovers.

Is this something they're planning? Or just wishful thinking?!

Gary

"Gary Lawson" wrote

I think a class 58 is unlikely in the short-term. They're not even comitted to getting their 31 out this year. My choice for the next diesel from Hornby would be a 56 or a 60 - bearing in mind that everyone and their dog are planning a 66.

John.

Personally I find less bodging neccessary for the HO height given the small matter of bufferbeams. The lower the Kadee the better.

Mike Parkes snipped-for-privacy@mphgate.removetoreply demon.co.uk

I agree - unanimously.

Same here.

If you want improved appearance using KD's to join equipment which should have screw links, try using the KD 78. They are expensive and come pre assembled. You can cut back the coupler box so it does not stick out. It's a good idea to screw together the coupler box before cutting the box, otherwise there is a good chance of loosing the centre spring.

As far as I can make out, Bachmann use two different height settings for their NEM pockets, and two different height couplers to plug into them. In my experience, using the Kadee HO coupler gauge, only the lowest setting is directly compatible with Kadee NEM couplers #17-#20. We need to pursuade Kadee to do another NEM series with a different underset. In the meantime, I make my own hybrid underset coupler by using the tail end of a Bachmann coupler with the business end cut off, and then glue and pin a Kadee #17 on the underside. I cut off the tail prongs of the Kadee coupler. This drops the Kadee coupler by the required 1.5mm or so.

David

Thats an excellent solution I'll give that a try. I stick to the standard HO Kadee height since this is compatable with all my stock. This is important when uncoupling for example which is one of the big attractions of Kadee in the first place.

"Martin" wrote

Oh yes? Even *if* they were, that it seems is still well within the capabilities of the 50 *without* traction tyres.

John.

"Andrew Sollis CVMRD" wrote

constructive!)

The Lima 60 is/was one of their better offerings, but totally ruined by their mega-crap drive system. Interestingly enough it has been muted elsewhere that the Hornby class 50 drive would fit this model without too much in the way of modifications. The driven wheelbase is virtually identical, and only new bogie sideframes and underframe/fuel tank detail would be necessary to turn the Lamer 60 into something worth having.

Still not heard of anyone actually doing the mod, but with the RRP on the class 50 up to GBP85.00 this year, maybe cost is a factor.

John.