Episode 106 18 The Gormo 3 Link Coupling Pt II

Discussion in 'The Collection' started by gormo, Jun 1, 2018.

  1. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    Gary I can`t quite follow what you mean there about " allowing the three link and magnet set up to swing freely under the end of the wagon "....???
    Your second suggestion, mounting them on the bogies on an extended wire loop, is a solution that would work, but defeats what I`m trying to do with all connections coming off the buffer beams.
    The split pin and wire across the chain is working properly now, so I guess the next stage is to find the longest wagon and try that and see if that generates any further issues.???
    :tophat:Gormo
     
  2. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    G`day Beetleton,
    Point 1...yes you are correct......this system really is best used on an end to end layout where all wagons will be set in one direction.....either chain first or hook first depending on what end you start from. All stock can be moved and sorted and will remain in the same orientation. If a train is drawn into a terminus hooks first, the loco uncouples, runs around and comes in behind the brake van, uncouple the brake van, withdraw and run around again and place the brake van at the other end of the train. Run the loco back around again to the opposite end of the train and shunt the train up to the brake van and couple. The train can then be sent back to a fiddle yard or another station at the other end of the layout, where we go through the same process to send it back. There is no need to handle the rolling stock.
    I am still thinking through a two way system but the penny hasn`t dropped yet.???
    Point 2 ...The links were and are dummy links which are purely cosmetic. It`s difficult to find commercial chain of the correct size that is not attracted to a magnet. Most chain is iron core. I have seen some alloy chains but they are totally wrong. I have considered making my own from copper but at this stage it`s not a priority. A dummy chain could be fitted so that it won`t interfere with operations.
    Good luck with your conversions.
    :tophat:Gormo
     
    Beetleton MPD likes this.
  3. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    If some how you could make a flat lazy susan and fit it under the floor of the wagon, this would allow the complete coupling to rotate (slightly) to the left and the right and avoid buffer lock.

    ABCD.jpg

    Cheers, Gary.
     
  4. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    I've never seen a subject take off quite like this. Its a great talking point and well worth developing as this has to be one of the biggest bug bears of all model railway modellers. I think the system as it stands has reached its potential as in its simplicity ...... it works absolutely fine. Ok, longer wagons aside but they are doable on the same principle as its all down to slight changes in geometry. its as universal as it can be and I don't believe that there will; be any other system that would not face the same limitations in terms of varying wagon sizes.

    Top job Gormo.

    :thumbs::tophat:
     
  5. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    Sorry mate........I disagree.....it would actually make it worse. In the scenario below, the loco pushing the chain, in turn, would push the split pin towards the top of the picture and consequently close up even more and lock the buffers.
    This situation below works, even though the chain is off at quite an angle, because all parts are under compression and the train is still moving forward. Think of the chain as a tail shaft and the hooks and split pins as universal joints.
    :tophat:Gormo

    DSC06026_v1.JPG
     
  6. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    Thanks Toto,
    It certainly has got the boys talking.......YouTube is running hot too....it`s like being on two forums and Justin from Model Railway Scenery has just put it in his weekly newsletter. That usually doubles the viewings on YouTube.
    These things develop once you plant the seed of an idea, and no doubt somebody will come up with an even better solution. I just wish they`d hurry up before I convert all my wagons.......:avatar::avatar::avatar::avatar:

    Well Toto....hopefully it`s another plus for the forum.....it may encourage a few more new members
    :tophat:Gormo
     
  7. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    I'm sure it will. However, the important thing is its opened up a terrific coupling solution to all. how long has everyone been restricted through lack of an easy, affordable solution ? ........ no more.

    toto
     
  8. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    Yes ....true....well it certainly is easy and it certainly is affordable. I think my little grandsons may even find it easier because they don`t have to position a wagon over a magnet to uncouple. Mind you they might be a bit heavy handed with the shunting pole..:scratchchin:.....:avatar::avatar::avatar::avatar:

    :tophat:Gormo
     
  9. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    a learning process for them Gormo. Maybe just keep your favourite stock hidden that's all. :avatar:
     
  10. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    OK Folks,
    A further video update regarding long wheelbase wagons.
    I have converted my longest wagon now and I have created a new link for the chain connection, similar to the previous update.
    It works fine and traverses the dreaded " S " formation quite easily



    :tophat:Gormo
     
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  11. ed

    ed Full Member

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    :thumbs:

    Just thought though, have you tried pushing (rather than pulling) the 3 link setup around any curves on the main lines. Just wondering if it will be ok on 2nd radius curves if you have any, which will be a tighter radius than the medium radius points.

    Not asking for myself as I'm working on something else, but anyone else considering having a go might well have second radius curves on their layout.


    Ed
     
  12. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    Excellent result Gormo. I'm guessing you will be banging a few nails into some wood to form up a bending jig next ?? ;)

    Cheers, Gary.
     
  13. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    G`day Ed,
    No I don`t have that radius on my main lines......my minimum was set at 24" but most of it is much larger than that.
    What I do have though is some old Atlas set track which is 18" radius, which is close to second radius, which I believe is 17 3/4"..??
    I set up what I`ve got, on the floor, for a demo.........back to train set days...:avatar:



    The hooks on both ends of the wagons can be extended slightly if required to deal with the smaller radii, however on the the demo we just got away with the large radius setting.......just..???.......so I don`t think it would be a problem. I`m pretty sure you have to be careful with tension locks, especially with coaches at 18" radius.??
    Anyway there you are mate........people can form their own ideas from watching the video....:thumbs:

    :tophat:Gormo
     
    ed likes this.
  14. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    I`m thinking about it Gary.........that link I did today with just pliers.......but it worked out OK.
    To be honest with you.....if it were easier to make these special links, I would use them in preference to the other system, however it could be quite a daunting project if you`ve got a lot of wagons to change over.??
    :tophat:Gormo
     
  15. jakesdad13

    jakesdad13 Staff Member Moderator

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    Thinking in the long term, that one link with the limiting bar could be made by etching it in brass, it only needs the other links to be steel.
    Maybe a project for the future, getting someone to make them?

    Cheer's, Pete.
     
  16. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    Now there`s an idea Pete...........I was thinking about a wire bending firm but it seems to be mostly big stuff that they do. Brass would be good. Just have to look into it to find who and where it can be done.??
    :tophat:Gormo
     
  17. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    G`day Folks,
    This video is breaking some records for my videos on YouTube so far. The video is about one week old and has attracted 1047 views at time of going to pixels.
    It`s got the boys talking,as a bit over half the views were from Platform 1 members, but the rest are from non members......so what does it all mean.????.....probably nothing but it`s interesting nonetheless.
    This YouTube business is an exercise in patience, if you`re out there to make a name for yourself,which I`m not, because the growth is exponential.
    When you first start out the views may be lucky to crack 80 over 6 months, unless you have some brilliant talent or some wonderful idea or on the other hand, you may be some radical nut case with extreme views who will appeal to the masses mostly out of curiosity, or possibly your fellow nut cases will follow you thinking you`re some kind of Messiah.
    For myself........I didn`t start out to be famous or a YouTube celebrity and I`m not........I couldn`t give two hoots about that stuff because I`m now an old bugger, and I don`t care whether people like me or hate me or are indifferent. They can think what they like but I will do what I like, when I like and how I like in spite of what goes on out there in web land. I am old enough to have seen and understand what fame can do to people and I don`t want to go down that road.
    If you look for gratification from social media......you need to turn the stuff off and get out there and mix with real people and get a life.
    The growth on my YouTube channel has been steady and one could say it`s like the grapevine, where like minded people start finding the links to what they are interested in and gradually the numbers increase.
    With all this comes a certain responsibility I think.???. You have these subscribers who are interested in what you are doing, for whatever reason, and in the back of my mind I`m always trying to think of something that might appeal to them. So I`m always planning the next shed. At the same time you are conscious of how you behave and what you promote because children could be watching these programs. Actually I don`t think I appeal to the youngsters, they probably just see some silly old grampa talking about toy trains, but there you are....???? My three biggest and most loyal fans are my three Grandsons and I lap that up graciously as any Grandfather would.
    So all this has come from nowhere really..........My first video ever on YouTube was about the development of my manual point control system.It`s a very ordinary video but after six years on the Tube, it has had 19,507 views. I just put it out there as part of the model railway information bank. I found after a while that I was enjoying making the videos and I was using them to update my progress on Great Chesterford Junction once I had started participating on railway forums. Gradually the videos improved, along with the equipment and understanding of the editing software.
    Next thing you know......Toto McGillicutty asks me whether I would be prepared to do a segment on Platform 1. The suggested name for the segment was Gormo`s Shed. I thought " Well I`m making videos anyway....why not.??? ". So there you have the start of stage two,...... Gormo`s Shed.
    My total subscriber count at the moment is 1534 and as I say, the growth towards that was exponential. I feel if I stopped now and did nothing else, it would continue to grow simply because of the numbers of people involved and their links to other people. It must happen. A little while back I monetized ( Ads ) the site. I thought I might as well make some money out of this too. Ah yes....but you see...it`s the numbers again. You need bloomin` big numbers to make anything reasonable. But every little bit helps.
    At the end of the day.....it`s a numbers game. If you are putting content out there, somebody will be watching it and somebody will be watching what they are watching and so on and so forth.
    The simple trick to keeping you grounded is just be aware of that. Don`t be influenced by the numbers. Just be yourself....do what you do and keep trying to improve.
    On Gormo`s Shed, what you see is what you get....that`s the real Gormo....like it or lump it...:avatar::avatar::avatar:
    That`s your lot..!!!!:facepalm:
    :tophat:Gormo



    ,
     
  18. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Yeeeeeee harrrrrrr. You tell em Gormo ....l :avatar:you can afford to as folks have your measure ....... And they like it.:thumbs: A great combination of every day interesting how to's and affordable as well ....... What's not to like. Oh ...... And it's free. Bring it on. :thumbs:
     
  19. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    OK Toto.......:avatar::avatar::avatar::avatar:
    :tophat:Gormo
     
  20. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    Great stuff Gormo. You are totally yourself in your productions. I can say that as I have spent many hours around you and in your shed. I for one, appreciate what you do for the hobby.

    Keep it up mate. :tophat:

    Cheers, Gary.
     

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