G3 screw couplings

[Lawrence Back]

Is anyone making G3 Screw couplings? I have tried Slater but the cast coupling snapped and I had to fix it using a paper clip - not good Lawrence

[John Candy]

Hello Lawrence,
That is disappointing news since I have several sets of Slater's awaiting assembly.
At the AGM I did buy a few sets of Walsall Model Industries screw couplings which do look stronger than Slater's but I have yet to assemble them. GRS used to sell working screw couplings which were strong but I don't think they stock them now ... only non-working ones cast in nickel silver.
Regards,
John.

[MikeWilliams]

I've used Walsall.  Not quite the finesse of some but good value, cheap and do the job.
Mike

[hornbeam]

While they are not fully working ones I have a a large number of the GRS ones and they preform well.

[Lawrence Back]

Hi all, thanks. Its a bit disappointing that there is not a proper working screw coupling available. But don't give up with the Slater - see pic - with my own paperclip links. You need good fine pliers a lots of tries. Lawrence

[MikeWilliams]

I actually find the Slaters couplings dificult to assemble, mainly the etched bit in the centre which holds the end of the hinged tommy bar.  But they look good and work well for me, so I'm amazed that their cast nickel hook should have broken.  Unless there was a flaw in the casting I can't see how you can get stronger than a solid cast hook.  Unless you laser cut steel, which is then just a plain outline with no chamfers or shape.

Mike

[Lawrence Back]

Hi Mike, It was the link not the hook that broke - It think it was a casting fault. but I can't imagine the links are that strong that they would take any strain. I didn't us the hook as my loco had a steel one on both ends. Yes the tommy bar was a nightmare to fit and it tends to slip - may need a spot of superglue to stay put. see pic of the original links and my many attempts to get it good enough. Are the Walsall couplings working? I still need another couple of sets. Lawrence

[MikeWilliams]

The Walsall couplings are working, in that they can be adjusted for length, but they just have a long bolt through the centre (8BA from memory), so not the correct left and right handed threads.  But they work fine.

I just remembered another issue with Walsall.  Their links are slightly overscale thickness.  That adds strength and doesn't matter at all except that I have a cast hook for an LNWR loco which is true scale and the Walsall link won't fit into the slot.  They fit my wagon and carriage hooks just, but not the true scale loco hook.

Mike

[Lawrence Back]

Hi Mike,
I have two locos I need couplings for.
So the Walsall coupling might might be OK except the links may not fit  my existing hooks on my locos. I might get one to see - should fit one of them. Lawrence

[Dave796]

A bit late, sorry, I too found Slater's couplings fiddly to assemble to say the least, but their biggest drawback to me was that even when screwed up as far as possible there was still a gap of 3-4mm between the buffers of adjacent vehicles, totally un-prototypical.

Walsall are much better in that respect.