After my recent ramblings about coach lighting and the switching of same, Toto commented about my corridor connectors visible in one pic, and suggested that, since my original posting on this had seemingly been lost on the transfer to the Xenfolio portal, it might be a good idea to re-post for the benefit of new members or those who missed it the first time around. As it happens, I still had the original set of pics from the first posting, so here we go again. All that's needed is a sheet of black art paper of the kind used for surrounding photo's in picture frames, no idea what it's called, but available at Artists suppliers (I use "The Range" in the UK, other suppliers are available). The instructions and dimensions given are for 00 gauge and fit most if not all the usual Hornby/Bachmann/Lima coaching stock, but it's simple to vary dimensions to fit your own stock or different gauge models. So to start, using a sharp knife/scalpel, you'll need two pieces of 60mm x 30mm and two pieces of 30mm x 15mm, the smaller pieces being glued either end of the cut and folded 'bellows'.
Taking each 60mm x 30mm piece, fold in half, then fold each half back upon itself, producing a 'W' shape when viewed from above.
......and to complete the basic construction, glue the 30mm x 15mm pieces one at each end of the 'bellows'. The glue I normally use for this sort of job is clear "Uhu", but any decent paper glue will be ok.
Should you need to blend the top edge to suit any curvature, once the glue is dry, compress the 'bellows' and cut/trim the top edge to what's needed.
Finally, when dry, glue to your coach. I only glue to one end of my coaches, two 'bellows' against each other could cause derailments on certain curves, and should you feel the need to fix adjacent coaches together, I'd suggest gluing one side of the 'bellows', and use something like 'Tacky Wax' on the other side so it's removable. With bellows fitted, whatever coupling method you use, they're not really seen, so no worries about whether your choice of coupling is 'prototypical' or not. Wether you're into a bit of 'Origami' or not, these are easy and cheap to make, there are similar available on Ebay priced each at about what a sheet of the art paper would cost, so save your cash for 'loco tokens!' Keith.
Brilliant and so simple an idea Keith, with a bit of light weathering if needed and suddenly its a next to nothing cost project
Well I'm not sure about honorary Keith but maybe an "adopted Yorkshireman"... which is a great tribute I'm led to believe but yes indeed I fairly certain the corridor connectors can be adapted for 7mm which with your full blessing and permission of course will work. I have a plan to build a rake of Ian Kirk LMS Period Three stock to run behind Owen Glendower when that loco goes on tour, so your idea will become a definite.
