Your videos are brilliant. I’m just starting to build a layout in my loft. I wasn’t going to go with DCC originally but after watching your vids I’ve decided to. Point wiring vid was excellent. Nice one.
Like all great ideas Dave, this a simple but brilliant adaptation to a problem that has existed for years, and good on the manufacturers for producing such a wonderful product.
I like this idea, but I wonder if it might work even better with a three-part coupling system instead of a two-part one. You could have a magnet right at each NEM pocket and then a third separate piece to connect them, which would allow all wagon/loco mounted magnets to have the same polarity, and all the linking pieces to have the other, and would also open the option of stylized linking pieces for different applications, for example one made to look like a chain for wagons where that's appropriate, buckeyes, drawbars, etc. for others, and so on.
Will give those a go on my HSTs for sure. Up to now I've been running them with the motorised unit at the rear to help with the nasty gap! I hope they can handle the 3rd radius curves in my fiddle yard. Another point worth mentioning is they remove the free play from each connection allowing for more realistic running.
Let me know how you get on with the fiddle yard running. I can’t see it being an issue, I ran it through a complex three way point straight into an S bend and it was all good. :-) you’ll find out soon!
Hi Dave another great review. I'm an N Gauge modeler and Dapol brought out the magnet couplers on there Voyager set. I'm a firm believer in there couplings for coaches. Well done to Hunt for producing these.
Hi Dave. Great addition to any loco rolling stock to give that realism 😄 A little foam/black paper between the coaches just to complete the gap 👍🏻 Great review on a good product. Cheers Stevie.
Very nice! Looks like what I need for my ICE train. I never run it because I had a hard time uncoupling the cars. It was so tight I was afraid of braking something… it really felt like I was ripping them apart. I think these will fix that.
These remind me of my old Lego train which worked very well. The magnets on those were on a pivot. I tried out the idea of using magnets some years ago It worked on straight track but not curves with 4 wheel wagons Also they were attracted to the loco rather than it running up to them and coupling. For a fixed rake like the HST I am sure they are going to be as good as you say and will be trying some out on mine. That huge gap is so unrealistic on the old type couplings. Great demonstration. Hope there are still some left LOL
Yes with a couple of 4 wheel wagons which is all I tried out when to loco got about 5mm away the wagons were attracted to the loco Not a great distance but enough to notice it. For uncoupling I was thinking about using a solenoid to raise a peg in the track When the loco moved forward the peg would come into contact with the wagon axle preventing it from moving so the loco would detach. I never tried that idea out and wonder if it would work on say the 4th wagon in the train. A weaker magnet on wagon 2 would split the train there rather than where you intended. For fixed rake trains like the HST I am sure these will be a big improvement. Today I was thinking of a wooden toy train I had which also used magnets to couple it together This used cylindrical magnets that represented the corridor connections. Being round to round the train was very flexible. It did not have track but gave me hours of fun. No idea if cylindrical magnets are available and if so in a suitable diameter but it could be another way of coupling passenger trains with absolutely no gap between the coaches
OK I have not looked for any. I was meaning cylindrical because the surface rolled over the other if you know how I mean Whereas an oblong with rounded corners would be flat to flat on straight track and one edge would need to pull apart leaving a gap at one side going into a curve which may not work depending on the strength of the magnet. The idea of casting into resin sounds good as only a small part of the magnet would be visible
Amazing just ordered several sets worth the money just for the ease of decoupling engines from different rakes of carriages or trucks.Thanks for an excellent video
Another great informative video I need to catch up on all the depot build as not had anytime to sit and watch as in the process of moving house so I’ve stripped my layout ready for move 🤦🏻♂️👍🏻👍🏻
thanks dave will be giving these couplings ago have had some trouble with some of my coaches uncoupling this could be a great solution to this problem cheers al 👍👍👍👍👍😃
Looks like a great variety of couplers to cover the different types of coaches. They have some other interesting items like the HST driver, too! Great price point as well. Iain
Pennyhill Junction cheers Jamie. Click the link and it’ll take you to the shop... they’ve a good range of stuff :-) id even recommend their HST driver they sell :-)
Wow, I’d heard about these a couple of weeks ago. First time I’ve seen them demonstrated though,very impressive. Looks like this has solved a problem which has been around a long time. Cheers Dave.
They look excellent Dave, I’d suggest fitting a set, or probably just one for the close couplers, of the paper bellows just to finish it off and close the gab visually all together 👍🏼
Wow! This really is a game changer Dave. This is something that has been needed for cosmetic realism for years in the hobby. I will be getting some of these! Be interesting on the close ones what they are like on tighter radius curves? Be good on freight wagons as well I think? All we need now is a device we can fit under the track that can flick the magnet to uncouple hands free! I am sure this can be done with an electric current with an opposing pole stronger magnet under the layout board?
BALLAN PARKWAY they are good. Just play around with the different couplers to suit your layout and rolling stock. Maybe they are working on a device for uncoupling :-) Dave
Interesting. What advantage do they have over kadee or Roco close couplings? The secret to close coupling seems kinematic mounted couplings as opposed to old style bogie mounted couplings. Also how about uncoupling systems for older goods shunting?
These look very good! I think the best thing about them, is that you can do a proper push-pull system without worrying about one coupling hopping onto another and listing a bogie off the track and derailing your train. With these, there is no lifting, so you can push a train like a class 90+Mk3's+DVT train without any worries. I think I'll buy some of them... but I'll still have Kadee's on the loco and the end coaches of a rake.
I agree that they are another very good solution for couplings and are providing closer coupling than the standard couplings - but what makes them a game changer? As an example, for the oxford mk3s which are much too far apart when using the standard couplings, a good solution is to use roco couplings to bring the coaches close together. They also uncouple easily by lifting a coach (rather than the standard hook over couplings which are fiddly). I understand people use kadee couplings too and with the ability to uncouple easily. I would think a "game changer" would have to be the electromagnets or electronic couplings?! I also assume with polarity on these couplings you have to either have stock in a A + [B + A] + B format or a A + [B + B] + A arrangement meaning coaching stock may have to be kept in odd numbers or locos remain pointing in a specific direction... and you covered this in the video.
Hi Dave, thanks for such an interesting video, those Hunt Couplers seem fantastic. I tried to buy a set of the standard NEM pocket couplers, but sadly they only appear to be available in the United Kingdom. Hopefully they will be available in Australia before too long. Cheers Greg
Gregory Hale hi Greg. Thanks. Why not email them and ask what their plan are for international postage? They’ve actually sold out of everything variant since Sunday’s launch! The response has been phenomenal! Cheers. Dave
I think this are a great idea and having seen the video on You Tube I got a set of non NEM HST for my Blue Grey Hornby set. I run fixed rakes and whilst I use the Bachmann fixed bar, they are a pain if you want to alter a fixed rake or take them to run at the club or at an exhibition. On unpacking 4 of the magnets had come out of their sockets and I immediately glued them back in place. In hindsight that was a mistake. The two magnets for the power cars are different types. This means if you want to swap power cars to have the powered power car at the front when you change direction and want to keep the correct coach formation you can't. I would have preferred the two power car magnets to be the same polarity and the outermost bogies on the coaches to have the same polarity. Had I thought about it I could have managed this by glueing in the the loose magnets to achieve that. The TGS is a different model to the SO and FO and the gap between the TGS and the adjacent SO is slightly wider than the gap between the other coaches. Pretty sure this is an issue with the coach as the couplings all appeared the same length to me. On my layout the all the coaches except thecTGS derailed at two locations. Both included Peco small radius points immediately after a curve in the non scenic part of the layout. This was caused by the closeness of the coaches. I have ordered 2mm thick x 2mm diameter magnets to place between the Hunt Coupling magnets to widen that gap. I think this will solve that problem. I played around with the couplings before fitting them to see how I could use or adapt them for my 30+ Lima Mk3s. Cutting a notch out of the front coupling bar and attaching the coupling to the underside of the square section between the coupling ring and the bogie is a possibility. However I am also going to try using the 2mm thick by 2mm diameter magnets either glueing then to the front of the Lima coupling bar or drilling a 2mm hole and inserting and gluing them into it. I went for 2mm thick to ensure they were sufficiently strong. Thinking about it the Hunt Couplings are not even 2mm thick so maybe the better option for my Lima would be to glue thinner 2mm or even 3mm diameter magnets to the outside of the Lima coupling bar rather than trying to line up holes to insert the 2mm thick by 2mm diameter magnets. I doubt a Lima version will appear in their range or doubt an easy fit version anyway so I suspect I will go DIY for my Lima MK3s but buy the Hunt Couplings for my Bachmann Mk1 and Mk2 rakes.
I've always used Kadees on my Bachmann Mk Is, however even the No 20 is too short for the Mk IIs, this might be the answer. I presume there is sufficient horizontal flexibility to prevent derailments on curves when the bogie of one coach adopts a different angle to the one it is coupled to. I find Bachmann couplers have an annoying habit of 'self-uncoupling' whilst running, like slip coaches. They might be okay for my Murphy Irish coaches also. Will give a set a try.
Richard Hodder hi, there is a bit of flexibility yeah. Even if you buy a pack and test them, they do smaller sample packs to allow you to test them on your layout curves etc :-) I’ve been testing them all week on my layout. I’m very impressed. They should be back in stock on Monday.
What would you recommend as a functioning coupler that a) looks like a scharfenberg and b) is compatible with Kadee-type (not NEM) coupler boxes? I have five railcars that have kadee boxes built in to the underframe, so can't swap them for NEM.
These look fantastic, understandably they appear to have sold out of the close coupling, hope they can produce more soon, I'd certainly like quite a few sets.
Cheers David, you’ve confirmed what I’d thought about these. I’ve emailed Chris to ask if he can modify the HST ones slightly but I’ve not had a reply yet. These couplings will make things so much easier for exhibitions!
oorail.com They do indeed. I was just having a convo with my mate saying the same thing! I always said the magnet needed to be fixed in to a recess. Great idea 😉
@@mikebuick2332 Yes definitely a good idea. Since the idea is fair game now and a box of 250 magnets is less than $9 on Amazon, time to break out the 3D printer. :)
Game changer right there. It even makes me think twice about using kadee after seeing how well they work. Did you test it heading up your incline? Having a fair few inclines on mine I would wonder if they'd manage heading down a hill round a tight bend and instantly back up an incline and stay all attached. Either way they're a must when I get my hst sorted this year.
Hi gradients were the inspiration to us developing these, many hours of testing up 1/4 gradients upto 14 coaches, thank you for your view on these. We hope you like them when you get some - simplicity is key!
Wow indeed! I am currently researching (watching many many youtube videos!) different types of couplers as my rolling stock run with chasms not gaps and the tension locks just have to go. I was seriously considering biting the financial bullet and going for Kadees, but I think I may have just changed my mind. Cheers Dave......and Hunt Couplers.
@@DeanPark Hi Dave. Already ordered them, along with 3D printed NEM pockets for the "older" rolling stock that doesn't have them! I hope they have a good stock of them because I can see them being very popular. Cheers. Dave
Interesting, and a very good demo, thanks Dave. The closer coupling is a great improvement, and it's good to see there's no issue with buffer locking or similar. But there seem to be limitations for me. Having to always have the polarities the right way round seems a major obstacle, particularly if you're doing some shunting, and I'm presuming that there is no way any automatic uncouplers (mechanical or magnetic) built into the track would work.
Andrew Stevenson is avoid using the close couplers on the mk1, thru got very close to buffer lock on tighter curves in my fiddle yard. Go with standard ones for mk1!.. see summary in description
What HST power cars can be fitted with these stepped Hunts magnetic couplers? All of the them? (including the older tooled?) Can they be fitted to the 2022 RailRoad version R30177? Thanks
Hi, you’d need to contact westhill wagons works about that. Click on the link in the description and contact them via their website. They will be able to give you more details on those specific models.
Have you tried to see what rakes are like when they are being pushed with these couplings rather than pulled? Obviously this will be relevant for your HSTs and push/pull services?
Hi Dave, great review. I would be interested to see how the couplings work in a top and tail formation (ie class 47 both powered at each end of a rake of carriages). I am thinking about using these for my Northern Belle and Belmond Pullman sets, but they run in top and tail formation. Although both locos should run at the same speed, sometimes there is a little bit of a difference in speed and I wonder if these magnets could cope if the rear loco just dropped in speed a little?
FR 71D I’m testing more of their couplers in the next few days. I’ll take a note of this and do a test. Keep and eye out for my new video nearer the middle or end of the week. It’s a Good point you’re make
Hi Dave, very interesting mate, so could you use them on coal wagons etc or will they be bringing out a separate range as they only advertise for carriages and HST. My main question is are they going to bring out a range for N gauge. Don't think you would need to look at magnetic decoupling as they appear so easy to pull apart. Regards Chris
Looks great Dave and I am interested but I have one question. Both tension lock and Kadees have some form of flexibility/articulation built in. On the face of it the Hunt does not have this, in effect creating a rigid straight coupling between the vehicles especially where the coupling is rigidly fixed to the vehicle body and not the bogie.. Have I got this wrong? Cheers. John
These are great for permanently connected rakes of coaches. Not sure it would work with every coach or wagon that needs remote uncoupling on the layout without the "hand of god" making an appearance, or if you needed to run round a rake to hook up at the other end as the magnets poles would oppose each other.
Wow they seem good, I’ve got a rake of Oxford MkIII’s & the gap is huge between the coaches. I think I’ll invest in some of these Hunts couplers - if they don’t work on the Oxfords I can switch them to my Hornby stock...... Informative video, thanks Cheers John B
Fantastic! These look like a really good and revolutionary design for close coupling. Do you know how these uncouple, for example during a bit of shunting? GWR
CG - Great Western Railway hi they don’t uncouple... but that’s not to say they might not develop a system in the future?!.... give them your suggestion via their website. Cheers. Dave
These are an excellent idea Dave, I wish Hornby would do something about the coupling on they're 56s and 50s. They give me nothing but hassle on set track bends with derailing coaches and wagons.😤
You just show the coaches on straights and curves, but where the problem of buffer-locking mainly occurs is on reverse curves, such as crossovers. I would like to see a train of eight coaches pushed through a series of points like a snake.
Alan F Brookes I tested the coaches snake around a curve then into complex small radius Y Point which goes straight into a three way turnout at the mouth of the station. There were no issues. I’ve since tested it in all areas of my storage yard which are all small radius turnouts and curves etc... again no issues. Best thing I can suggest is you get a pack to test in your layout and choose the best set for you.
Oh good! now we can all build shorter platforms! Seriously Dave they look great. Have you tried them on two axle freight wagons and what about my old Lima Mk. III's? David.
Hi Dave, they look great. Have you tried them on Hornby Pullmans or Bachmann Mk.1 coaches, as I have had trouble with both types derailing which I put down to their couplings locking up and trying to override each other. Your couplings may be the solution.
In the description I put that the normal couplers work best for bachmann mk1. The close stepped ones can get very close. Maybe too close for some curves.
The HST looks like one of the newer Hornby models to me. Idk about the poles but I think the level crossing kit is by Traintech (Chech it out on their website). Hope that helps!
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12-x-00-Gauge-Bachmann-Hornby-MK1-Corridor-Connector-Gangway-Bellows-4mm-BR-/122128749200 Not a coupling, but these products already exist in various materials
Which means they don't actually solve any problems. They just make an existing "problem" slightly easier. A problem which can already be resolved using a Decoupler placed on the tracks.
John Horton the link to their website is in the video description. They are all out of stock until Saturday. So try then. But don’t delay as they will Sell fast. :-)
How tight an angle can the close coups go rounds. Maybe try and bend tracks tighter to find maximin min it fits. If want closesr coup but a pair of close don’t go round how about 1 standard 1 Close would they work
Matthew Stamp for the mk1 I wouldn’t use the closestepped ones between coaches. The stepped ones are best kept for coupling the coach to the loco. Standard couplers still get them close. Up to second radius curves are recommended. They work really well on inclines too.
DaveClass47 was really meaning to have a close medium and standard. I use it on the standard close coup n gauge 15x I use a standard and short to give me my clearance
Hi Dave another great video mate how do the coupling work in push/pull working I am ever interested in the new coupling I use kds coupling on my wcml push/pull trains set at the minute have you use them on your oxfordrail mk3a mate? I have kds on my oxfordrail mk3a coaches and they work well on them of me clive
these couplings even exceed kadee, although I would be interested to see the on track uncoupling system to realise full prototypical operation. regardless Dean Park thanks for another detailed review
Your videos are brilliant. I’m just starting to build a layout in my loft. I wasn’t going to go with DCC originally but after watching your vids I’ve decided to. Point wiring vid was excellent. Nice one.
Like all great ideas Dave, this a simple but brilliant adaptation to a problem that has existed for years, and good on the manufacturers for producing such a wonderful product.
I like this idea, but I wonder if it might work even better with a three-part coupling system instead of a two-part one. You could have a magnet right at each NEM pocket and then a third separate piece to connect them, which would allow all wagon/loco mounted magnets to have the same polarity, and all the linking pieces to have the other, and would also open the option of stylized linking pieces for different applications, for example one made to look like a chain for wagons where that's appropriate, buckeyes, drawbars, etc. for others, and so on.
Will give those a go on my HSTs for sure. Up to now I've been running them with the motorised unit at the rear to help with the nasty gap! I hope they can handle the 3rd radius curves in my fiddle yard. Another point worth mentioning is they remove the free play from each connection allowing for more realistic running.
Let me know how you get on with the fiddle yard running. I can’t see it being an issue, I ran it through a complex three way point straight into an S bend and it was all good. :-) you’ll find out soon!
Hi Dave another great review. I'm an N Gauge modeler and Dapol brought out the magnet couplers on there Voyager set. I'm a firm believer in there couplings for coaches. Well done to Hunt for producing these.
Wow, what a difference! The trains look far more authentic visually, Hunt have done a cracking job!
Hi Dave. Great addition to any loco rolling stock to give that realism 😄 A little foam/black paper between the coaches just to complete the gap 👍🏻 Great review on a good product. Cheers Stevie.
They do make the gap look more realistic. I will be getting some of these.Thanks for the Excellent Video.
Tony Larkin cheers Tony! They are good. Dave
Very nice! Looks like what I need for my ICE train. I never run it because I had a hard time uncoupling the cars. It was so tight I was afraid of braking something… it really felt like I was ripping them apart. I think these will fix that.
wow - that's brill !! what a big difference.
These remind me of my old Lego train which worked very well. The magnets on those were on a pivot. I tried out the idea of using magnets some years ago It worked on straight track but not curves with 4 wheel wagons Also they were attracted to the loco rather than it running up to them and coupling. For a fixed rake like the HST I am sure they are going to be as good as you say and will be trying some out on mine. That huge gap is so unrealistic on the old type couplings. Great demonstration. Hope there are still some left LOL
Yes with a couple of 4 wheel wagons which is all I tried out when to loco got about 5mm away the wagons were attracted to the loco Not a great distance but enough to notice it. For uncoupling I was thinking about using a solenoid to raise a peg in the track When the loco moved forward the peg would come into contact with the wagon axle preventing it from moving so the loco would detach. I never tried that idea out and wonder if it would work on say the 4th wagon in the train. A weaker magnet on wagon 2 would split the train there rather than where you intended. For fixed rake trains like the HST I am sure these will be a big improvement. Today I was thinking of a wooden toy train I had which also used magnets to couple it together This used cylindrical magnets that represented the corridor connections. Being round to round the train was very flexible. It did not have track but gave me hours of fun. No idea if cylindrical magnets are available and if so in a suitable diameter but it could be another way of coupling passenger trains with absolutely no gap between the coaches
OK I have not looked for any. I was meaning cylindrical because the surface rolled over the other if you know how I mean Whereas an oblong with rounded corners would be flat to flat on straight track and one edge would need to pull apart leaving a gap at one side going into a curve which may not work depending on the strength of the magnet. The idea of casting into resin sounds good as only a small part of the magnet would be visible
Amazing just ordered several sets worth the money just for the ease of decoupling engines from different rakes of carriages or trucks.Thanks for an excellent video
Stephen Nelmes great Stephen. Let me know how you get on :-)
Brilliant addition to railway modelling exactly what the hobby needed!
Parkside Junction could not agree more.
Awesome coupling system!!! Thanks for sharing this video Dave! Cheers Onno.
Onno Mulder cheers:-) Dave
Another great informative video I need to catch up on all the depot build as not had anytime to sit and watch as in the process of moving house so I’ve stripped my layout ready for move 🤦🏻♂️👍🏻👍🏻
Another excellent and informative review Dave. I'll now have to try these couplers and compare them to my own Kadees.
Thanks for the video!
Lawrence 5987 yeah play around with them and see which ones work for you.
About time someone designed something like this for the uk Oo items....nice demo.
thanks dave will be giving these couplings ago have had some trouble with some of my coaches uncoupling this could be a great solution to this problem cheers al 👍👍👍👍👍😃
Layton Junction click the link, they’ve got. Great selection. Great products.
just been on yeh some great products many thank,s have been looking for a solution to my uncoupling problems thanks for sharing 😃👍👍👍
Such a great product and idea its been ace to see to production of these step by step
Looks like a great variety of couplers to cover the different types of coaches. They have some other interesting items like the HST driver, too! Great price point as well. Iain
Wow! These are brilliant. Thank you for the demo Dave.
I'll be getting in touch with Chris very soon I feel. :)
All the best
Jamie
Pennyhill Junction cheers Jamie. Click the link and it’ll take you to the shop... they’ve a good range of stuff :-) id even recommend their HST driver they sell :-)
Wow, I’d heard about these a couple of weeks ago. First time I’ve seen them demonstrated though,very impressive. Looks like this has solved a problem which has been around a long time. Cheers Dave.
Davison Railways cheers. See summary in video description to see what couplers are recommended for each class of coach. :-)
Davison Railways hi, yeah the mk3 couplers are amazing! They are selling really quickly which is ace!
Great video Dave, those couplers look great. Would like to see a future video as an update on how they are doing. Thanks for sharing. Ken
M and B Homestead I’ll update in my next video at end of month. :-)
love these especially with the ability to replace the pre NEM stuff as well
B Beck yeah these are the real game changer for me! Brilliant. Selling out fast I’ve been told.
Magnetised couplings will also mean it will be easier to power chained coaches for lighting etc!
They look excellent Dave, I’d suggest fitting a set, or probably just one for the close couplers, of the paper bellows just to finish it off and close the gab visually all together 👍🏼
I am defiantly going to be using these on my Shakespeare Express set, I had the same problem as you and your parcel train but no more
Thank you
Wow! This really is a game changer Dave. This is something that has been needed for cosmetic realism for years in the hobby. I will be getting some of these! Be interesting on the close ones what they are like on tighter radius curves? Be good on freight wagons as well I think? All we need now is a device we can fit under the track that can flick the magnet to uncouple hands free! I am sure this can be done with an electric current with an opposing pole stronger magnet under the layout board?
BALLAN PARKWAY they are good. Just play around with the different couplers to suit your layout and rolling stock. Maybe they are working on a device for uncoupling :-) Dave
Aesthetically pleasing and easy on the eye.
Andrew Bailey yeah they are :-) good point
Great product that, makes such a visual difference to the trains. One thought though, how do they (or do they even) cope with auto-uncouplers etc?
They don't!
What a great simple Idea Dave, Excellent............................John.
John Carvil sometimes the simple ideas aRe the best. :-)
Interesting. What advantage do they have over kadee or Roco close couplings? The secret to close coupling seems kinematic mounted couplings as opposed to old style bogie mounted couplings. Also how about uncoupling systems for older goods shunting?
These look very good!
I think the best thing about them, is that you can do a proper push-pull system without worrying about one coupling hopping onto another and listing a bogie off the track and derailing your train.
With these, there is no lifting, so you can push a train like a class 90+Mk3's+DVT train without any worries.
I think I'll buy some of them... but I'll still have Kadee's on the loco and the end coaches of a rake.
I agree that they are another very good solution for couplings and are providing closer coupling than the standard couplings - but what makes them a game changer? As an example, for the oxford mk3s which are much too far apart when using the standard couplings, a good solution is to use roco couplings to bring the coaches close together. They also uncouple easily by lifting a coach (rather than the standard hook over couplings which are fiddly). I understand people use kadee couplings too and with the ability to uncouple easily. I would think a "game changer" would have to be the electromagnets or electronic couplings?! I also assume with polarity on these couplings you have to either have stock in a A + [B + A] + B format or a A + [B + B] + A arrangement meaning coaching stock may have to be kept in odd numbers or locos remain pointing in a specific direction... and you covered this in the video.
Those couplers make a huge difference, I'm surprised no one else has come up with these before now.
Hi Dave, thanks for such an interesting video, those Hunt Couplers seem fantastic. I tried to buy a set of the standard NEM pocket couplers, but sadly they only appear to be available in the United Kingdom. Hopefully they will be available in Australia before too long. Cheers Greg
Gregory Hale hi Greg. Thanks. Why not email them and ask what their plan are for international postage? They’ve actually sold out of everything variant since Sunday’s launch! The response has been phenomenal! Cheers. Dave
@@DeanPark Thanks for that advice. Cheers Greg
Great idea Dave and your system is a credit to you - Kevin
SF-RATON-NZ they’ve done a great job with them :-)
Very nice Dave, I've ordered a set for my HSTs.
shannonman2 cool. I believe they’ve sold out of everything! They are producing more as we speak. I hope you got your order in before they ran out.
@@DeanPark Yes, they arrived yesterday .
Look excellent and I can't wait to see how they'll work on a mk4 and class 91 set.
I think this are a great idea and having seen the video on You Tube I got a set of non NEM HST for my Blue Grey Hornby set. I run fixed rakes and whilst I use the Bachmann fixed bar, they are a pain if you want to alter a fixed rake or take them to run at the club or at an exhibition.
On unpacking 4 of the magnets had come out of their sockets and I immediately glued them back in place. In hindsight that was a mistake. The two magnets for the power cars are different types. This means if you want to swap power cars to have the powered power car at the front when you change direction and want to keep the correct coach formation you can't. I would have preferred the two power car magnets to be the same polarity and the outermost bogies on the coaches to have the same polarity. Had I thought about it I could have managed this by glueing in the the loose magnets to achieve that.
The TGS is a different model to the SO and FO and the gap between the TGS and the adjacent SO is slightly wider than the gap between the other coaches. Pretty sure this is an issue with the coach as the couplings all appeared the same length to me.
On my layout the all the coaches except thecTGS derailed at two locations. Both included Peco small radius points immediately after a curve in the non scenic part of the layout. This was caused by the closeness of the coaches.
I have ordered 2mm thick x 2mm diameter magnets to place between the Hunt Coupling magnets to widen that gap. I think this will solve that problem.
I played around with the couplings before fitting them to see how I could use or adapt them for my 30+ Lima Mk3s. Cutting a notch out of the front coupling bar and attaching the coupling to the underside of the square section between the coupling ring and the bogie is a possibility. However I am also going to try using the 2mm thick by 2mm diameter magnets either glueing then to the front of the Lima coupling bar or drilling a 2mm hole and inserting and gluing them into it. I went for 2mm thick to ensure they were sufficiently strong. Thinking about it the Hunt Couplings are not even 2mm thick so maybe the better option for my Lima would be to glue thinner 2mm or even 3mm diameter magnets to the outside of the Lima coupling bar rather than trying to line up holes to insert the 2mm thick by 2mm diameter magnets.
I doubt a Lima version will appear in their range or doubt an easy fit version anyway so I suspect I will go DIY for my Lima MK3s but buy the Hunt Couplings for my Bachmann Mk1 and Mk2 rakes.
How do you use automatic uncouplers when the coaches are connected to the locomotive by magnets?
Wow indeed! The product we’ve all been waiting for 👍
tjfSIM agree! Totally agree :-)
Excellent review Dave 😊
I've always used Kadees on my Bachmann Mk Is, however even the No 20 is too short for the Mk IIs, this might be the answer. I presume there is sufficient horizontal flexibility to prevent derailments on curves when the bogie of one coach adopts a different angle to the one it is coupled to. I find Bachmann couplers have an annoying habit of 'self-uncoupling' whilst running, like slip coaches. They might be okay for my Murphy Irish coaches also. Will give a set a try.
Richard Hodder hi, there is a bit of flexibility yeah. Even if you buy a pack and test them, they do smaller sample packs to allow you to test them on your layout curves etc :-)
I’ve been testing them all week on my layout. I’m very impressed.
They should be back in stock on Monday.
Which coupling would you reccomend for third radius curves?
TrantonModelRailway it depends on your coaches. You can’t go wrong with the standard Coupler! It’ll work even at second radius.
@@DeanPark I'm using Hornby Mk1s at the moment. Would that work with the close couplings too?
TrantonModelRailway best give west hill wagon works a email! Check their website. Sorry I can’t say about the Hornby mk1 as I don’t have any to test!
@@DeanPark that's a very good idea I didn't think of myself. Thank you!
look really good almost life like
Richard Knox they do indeed :-)
What would you recommend as a functioning coupler that a) looks like a scharfenberg and b) is compatible with Kadee-type (not NEM) coupler boxes? I have five railcars that have kadee boxes built in to the underframe, so can't swap them for NEM.
Excellent video,just ordered a set for my HST set,the gap really bugged me-not any longer!
sean maguire that coupler is the real game changer for me!
These look fantastic, understandably they appear to have sold out of the close coupling, hope they can produce more soon, I'd certainly like quite a few sets.
More Now Available
Great video as usual Dave, I’ll certainly be getting some for my HST and K type rakes, some proper nice couplings for a very reasonable price!
Dyl's Shed yeah. The mk3 ones for non nem are BRILLIANT! Selling like hot cakes! Don’t hold off! Orders are going mad I’ve just been told!
Cheers David, you’ve confirmed what I’d thought about these. I’ve emailed Chris to ask if he can modify the HST ones slightly but I’ve not had a reply yet. These couplings will make things so much easier for exhibitions!
Mike Buick he’s a busy guy today. Lol. I’ll pass that on to him
Mike - These look very similar to the design you posted on Facebook back in October?
oorail.com They do indeed. I was just having a convo with my mate saying the same thing! I always said the magnet needed to be fixed in to a recess. Great idea 😉
Thanks for the video Dave. They do look amazing. When backing on to the carriages or Wagons do they jump onto the Loco being magnets?
@@mikebuick2332 Yes definitely a good idea. Since the idea is fair game now and a box of 250 magnets is less than $9 on Amazon, time to break out the 3D printer. :)
Game changer right there. It even makes me think twice about using kadee after seeing how well they work.
Did you test it heading up your incline?
Having a fair few inclines on mine I would wonder if they'd manage heading down a hill round a tight bend and instantly back up an incline and stay all attached.
Either way they're a must when I get my hst sorted this year.
Tim, Huntsheath did an up and down helix vlog pulling 14 coach set with these couplings without any issues
Hi gradients were the inspiration to us developing these, many hours of testing up 1/4 gradients upto 14 coaches, thank you for your view on these. We hope you like them when you get some - simplicity is key!
@@WestHillWagonWorks cheers Chris. I'll certainly will be especially for an hst set
Wow indeed! I am currently researching (watching many many youtube videos!) different types of couplers as my rolling stock run with chasms not gaps and the tension locks just have to go. I was seriously considering biting the financial bullet and going for Kadees, but I think I may have just changed my mind. Cheers Dave......and Hunt Couplers.
davie maclean yeah try them out. A hell of a lot cheaper than kadee! :-)
@@DeanPark Hi Dave. Already ordered them, along with 3D printed NEM pockets for the "older" rolling stock that doesn't have them! I hope they have a good stock of them because I can see them being very popular. Cheers. Dave
Interesting, and a very good demo, thanks Dave. The closer coupling is a great improvement, and it's good to see there's no issue with buffer locking or similar. But there seem to be limitations for me. Having to always have the polarities the right way round seems a major obstacle, particularly if you're doing some shunting, and I'm presuming that there is no way any automatic uncouplers (mechanical or magnetic) built into the track would work.
Andrew Stevenson is avoid using the close couplers on the mk1, thru got very close to buffer lock on tighter curves in my fiddle yard. Go with standard ones for mk1!.. see summary in description
What HST power cars can be fitted with these stepped Hunts magnetic couplers? All of the them? (including the older tooled?) Can they be fitted to the 2022 RailRoad version R30177? Thanks
Hi, you’d need to contact westhill wagons works about that. Click on the link in the description and contact them via their website. They will be able to give you more details on those specific models.
Have you tried to see what rakes are like when they are being pushed with these couplings rather than pulled? Obviously this will be relevant for your HSTs and push/pull services?
sub39h hi, watch the whole video I demonstrate this. They work both ways.
DaveClass47 ah must have missed that. Thank you.
Hi Dave, great review. I would be interested to see how the couplings work in a top and tail formation (ie class 47 both powered at each end of a rake of carriages). I am thinking about using these for my Northern Belle and Belmond Pullman sets, but they run in top and tail formation. Although both locos should run at the same speed, sometimes there is a little bit of a difference in speed and I wonder if these magnets could cope if the rear loco just dropped in speed a little?
FR 71D I’m testing more of their couplers in the next few days. I’ll take a note of this and do a test. Keep and eye out for my new video nearer the middle or end of the week. It’s a Good point you’re make
How have these taken so long to happen?? Lego were doing it 30 years ago.
Hi Dave, very interesting mate, so could you use them on coal wagons etc or will they be bringing out a separate range as they only advertise for carriages and HST. My main question is are they going to bring out a range for N gauge. Don't think you would need to look at magnetic decoupling as they appear so easy to pull apart.
Regards Chris
Looks great Dave and I am interested but I have one question. Both tension lock and Kadees have some form of flexibility/articulation built in. On the face of it the Hunt does not have this, in effect creating a rigid straight coupling between the vehicles especially where the coupling is rigidly fixed to the vehicle body and not the bogie.. Have I got this wrong? Cheers. John
The product used to produce them has enough flexibility
What is the maximum number of coaches or wagons, which can be linked by these couplings.
A good instructive video but what about the older mk3s? You know the ones released in the late 70s. Cheers
These are great for permanently connected rakes of coaches. Not sure it would work with every coach or wagon that needs remote uncoupling on the layout without the "hand of god" making an appearance, or if you needed to run round a rake to hook up at the other end as the magnets poles would oppose each other.
Wow they seem good, I’ve got a rake of Oxford MkIII’s & the gap is huge between the coaches.
I think I’ll invest in some of these Hunts couplers - if they don’t work on the Oxfords I can switch them to my Hornby stock......
Informative video, thanks
Cheers John B
Colwich Junction a Oxford MK3 test will follow next week :-)
Will someone please tell me where I can get these
Just wondering why rub marks on the ends of the gangways would be bad if it did happen as that’s prototypical
Fantastic! These look like a really good and revolutionary design for close coupling. Do you know how these uncouple, for example during a bit of shunting? GWR
CG - Great Western Railway hi they don’t uncouple... but that’s not to say they might not develop a system in the future?!.... give them your suggestion via their website. Cheers. Dave
@@DeanPark thanks Dave. Will do. GWR
These are an excellent idea Dave, I wish Hornby would do something about the coupling on they're 56s and 50s. They give me nothing but hassle on set track bends with derailing coaches and wagons.😤
You just show the coaches on straights and curves, but where the problem of buffer-locking mainly occurs is on reverse curves, such as crossovers. I would like to see a train of eight coaches pushed through a series of points like a snake.
Alan F Brookes I tested the coaches snake around a curve then into complex small radius Y Point which goes straight into a three way turnout at the mouth of the station. There were no issues. I’ve since tested it in all areas of my storage yard which are all small radius turnouts and curves etc... again no issues. Best thing I can suggest is you get a pack to test in your layout and choose the best set for you.
Which one would you recommend for Oxford Rail MK3As and would these work on second radius?
Great product! Any idea if they will cater for N Gauge??
Fenton Central in the pipeline Ive heard!
Excellent !
Oh good! now we can all build shorter platforms! Seriously Dave they look great. Have you tried them on two axle freight wagons and what about my old Lima Mk. III's? David.
Just noticed that you cover the Bachmann Mk.1s in your video, but what about the Hornby Pullmans?
Excellent review David def worth looking at instead of buying all new rakes
Andy Hudson exactly! Saved me a fortune!
Isn't this the same idea which Brio have been using for years?
James Wells these are a bit more technically advanced. But it’s on the same principle yeah
exactly James , exactly the same magnets system , suprised it took this long for a decent way of coupling coaches
And the Thomas and Friends!
Lego had magnetic couplings early 70s too.
Hi Dave, they look great. Have you tried them on Hornby Pullmans or Bachmann Mk.1 coaches, as I have had trouble with both types derailing which I put down to their couplings locking up and trying to override each other. Your couplings may be the solution.
In the description I put that the normal couplers work best for bachmann mk1. The close stepped ones can get very close. Maybe too close for some curves.
i think this is great, look forward to the n gauge version
Why on earth haven't the major manufacturers a) standardised on current coupling and b) used these or something similar?
Hi these look amazing. Do you do a conversion for Lima "OO" mk3 coaches?
Where did u 1) by the intercity HST 2) Get those lvl crossing signs and 3) the cantenary poles please help me out mate
The HST looks like one of the newer Hornby models to me.
Idk about the poles but I think the level crossing kit is by Traintech (Chech it out on their website).
Hope that helps!
Piroz Contractor cheers mate
great video but I was wondering how they would fair with the Oxford mk3s?
Cambridge East Model Railway test coming next week! Watch my end of minty depot update video
DaveClass47 Thanks!
I love this!!
Just a thought, why hasn't anyone devised a gangway connection instead? A concertina.
That is what your average entrepreneur calls an opportunity.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12-x-00-Gauge-Bachmann-Hornby-MK1-Corridor-Connector-Gangway-Bellows-4mm-BR-/122128749200 Not a coupling, but these products already exist in various materials
Back in the 1950s there was an article in Model Railway News about how to make the concertinas out of black paper.
There's nothing new about that.
I was only thinking about a system like this yesterday, good to see
Robert Roche yeah great products. Selling very quickly
I'm looking for New Close couplers and I'm looking on Ebay
Best look I have seen yet. Super realistic. Great stuff.
Rolica yup and selling like hot cakes!
Definitely better than other ones
Oh yeah i was looking at these the other day
mattmaz2 they are superb. Mk3 ones are soooooo good and selling fast!
@@DeanPark they look great, I've ordered a couple of the HST sets so I look forward to receiving them :-)
where can we get them?
What happens at the bottom of a hill?
Tim Woodcock they still work :-)
How can you separate them without the "Hand of God' touching the train?
GaryNumeroUno stop believing in god and use your own hand? 😂
In all seriousness though you still have to use the hands to part them :-)
@@DeanPark cheers for the note Dave. They look good. Yes, God and I may have to come to a special arrangement!
Which means they don't actually solve any problems. They just make an existing "problem" slightly easier. A problem which can already be resolved using a Decoupler placed on the tracks.
A very reasonable price too . . . .Cheers!
dilwich cheers. They are selling like hot cakes since the video went live. I can see them selling out soon
I cant find the link to purchase? Where is it please?
John Horton the link to their website is in the video description. They are all out of stock until Saturday. So try then. But don’t delay as they will
Sell fast. :-)
I do like the idea but I would still use my kadee coupling for rake shunting
Durban Garden City yeah probs a good idea
Dave theirs going to be millions of tension couplings on eBay soon ,nice informative video.........tony
Western Ranger , haha! I’ve a pile of them sitting here already
How tight an angle can the close coups go rounds. Maybe try and bend tracks tighter to find maximin min it fits.
If want closesr coup but a pair of close don’t go round how about 1 standard 1 Close would they work
Matthew Stamp for the mk1 I wouldn’t use the closestepped ones between coaches. The stepped ones are best kept for coupling the coach to the loco. Standard couplers still get them close. Up to second radius curves are recommended. They work really well on inclines too.
DaveClass47 was really meaning to have a close medium and standard. I use it on the standard close coup n gauge 15x I use a standard and short to give me my clearance
Hi Dave another great video mate how do the coupling work in push/pull working I am ever interested in the new coupling I use kds coupling on my wcml push/pull trains set at the minute have you use them on your oxfordrail mk3a mate? I have kds on my oxfordrail mk3a coaches and they work well on them of me clive
clive cobbold oxford test coming next week in my end of month video
@@DeanPark hi dave that is great dave I look forward to it clive
these couplings even exceed kadee, although I would be interested to see the on track uncoupling system to realise full prototypical operation.
regardless Dean Park thanks for another detailed review
1BCamden cheers. Yeah they are a real revelation! Dave
Seems they don’t ship to Belgium looking at their website :-(
Very impressive!