NEM Couplings at Chadwick Model Railway | 92. 

I'm not a railroad modeller or even into trains at all but I like your videos anyway. It is nice seeing someone dedicated to their hobby and doing something they enjoy. I also like your humor!

Charlie - another great video! When watching, I feel like you are our own personal train professor! I love magnets, glad they are being used more and more for different model train applications! I am doing my first model train layout and am using earth magnets for my lift up bridge to keep it in place and also for underlayments for steep slopes by DCC Concepts.

I've installed Kadees on most of my stock Charlie but some great ideas here for closer coupling on coaches and to buy some NEM pockets off Ebay. No wonder your YT Channel has so many subscribers as it's just so darn helpful and is presented in such a friendly and disarming manner. Thank you so much. William

Another great update,it’s a minefield now with so much choice,I’ve just got some Hunt couplings to try out.Spratt and Winkle,the look that followed was straight out of a Carry on film,keep it up and all the best 😂👍

Hi Charlie, thank you for another interesting and informative Video! Your channel is one of my favorites on RU-vid! All the best to you and your family! Best wishes from Germany Günter

I was looking forward to you putting up a video on these after asking you a little while ago. Thank you, great video, great advice as always...stay well

Very interesting video Charlie, thanks. Never given couplings much thought.

Great video again Charlie. I bought some of the hunt couplings recently, pretty pleased with them - a few don't fit well in certain NEM sockets but this is likely down to different manufacturers so need a spot of glue, and some of the magnets came out of their housings which was disappointing for the price paid - still a bit of glue fixed this too. The only downside is needing the polarity to be a certain way for it to work so trains need to be set up the right way round for a loco, but not a massive issue and a big improvement on the standard Hornby / Dapol etc. Thanks, Tom

Once again, a very nice video, full of humour and entertaining to boot. Well done.

Thanks Charlie for the information and of course the live theatre entertainment as usual. Cheered me up no end as I struggle with my coupling issues. Just spent 3 hours sorting out/modifying the NEM pocket height issue on a brand new Bachman Prairie. These things are sent to try us!

Thank you for the coupling video. I have used the Fleischmann Proffi couplings in my fixed rakes of coaches, they go straight into a NEM pocket to be used with the "close coupling mech"

So many options out on the market these days in relation to couplings. I will be getting rid of the tension lock coupling on my models and was previously going to go to kadee couplings. Having said that some of these cheaper alternatives are growing on me. A great video Charlie and all the best, Clint

Once again Charlie a very informative and interesting video! This video together with others you did on couplers should help me with some issues I have/replacing the rapido couplers on my rolling stock. Thanks!

Hi Charlie, thank you for your interest in our Hunt Couplings, they were primarily designed to make uncoupling easy and offer reliability in operation with inclines, helix's and push operations. The hst clip sets we do have been designed to work with layouts with second radius curves or helix's and double back on second radius, It has been a minefield and hornby on some models have altered the position of the pin in the coupling on the bogie therefore we have had to design the HST clip set to cater for both, we do do a HST CLOSE CLIP SET but due to hornby's bogie design these are only designed for radius 4 curves and greater, we will pop a set in the post for you to look at. Regarding strength they were tested for upto 14 coaches on a three tier helix, the locomotive started wheel slipping at that point, Love the Tug Of War :-)

Great video, some really good info for me and my rolling stock, thank you. I use Fleischmann Profi & Roco couplings, I agree with you those Hornby HST couplings are horrendous! I would be interested if you ever looked at adding coach bellows as well...perhaps a future vid...!?

Excellent overview. Thank you for your efforts!

Hi Charlie Another informative and fun video, thanks, you may have solved a problem I have with my layout. I’d get a derailment on a bend, instinctively I've gone to track fault, which on a couple was the cause; I had not considered buffer lock. That will be the phone then, I instinctively went to grab my phone (same ring tone), its all good fun. Keep up the good work and stay safe.

Fantastic video been looking forward to it .those shapeways are amazing and as you ve shown they will last . Ps since u numbered the videos I ve now watched them all lol

Nice to see you using something I did a year ago with the Bachmann Pipe couplers.👍

Very interesting Charlie, thank you as this gives me additional options to look at 😊.

Hi Charlie, great video as usual. I have used the Bachman pipe couplings and neomagnets as you used. Never thought of doing what you did with them. The hunt coupling magnets look to have a larger surface area which is possibly why they have more attraction. Anyway, I run 6 coach sets so will try your idea.

Very interesting video! Thanks for sharing Charlie!! Cheers Onno.

Great video Charlie, I have used the home made magnet on the cut pipe system for about 5 years now on most of my coach stock, occasionally it comes out of the fiddle yard a couple of coaches short of a rake but rarely, and it’s cheap and looks right. I would not use it for rakes of more than 9 coaches though.

Hello Charlie,no....not here to knock you this time! A very incisive addition to your videos..I like many others bought a lot of Mr.Keens couplings for a previous layout and found they work very well indeed not only on RTR but a three set brass kit rake of Southern coaching stock-a real bugger to fit,but in the end,got em! I too go with you on the 'HUNT' ones and will refit all my rolling stock with them.Thanks once more for an hours worth of good, interesting entertainment.Best wishes,Larry in Gloucester.

Another excellent video review. I remember seeing the 3 link coupling video and thinking they looked amazing. I have operated exhibition layouts with sprat and winkle couplings and they are ideal for shunting wagons with strategic magnets placed in the track. Keen couplings I've experienced are very good, a bit fiddly to get spot on but worth it in the end. The kadee couplings are probably the best prototypical looking and with a vast variety available, there is something for most needs. I'm glad you fitted a set of Hunt (careful how you say that) couplings to a HST. I was going to get a few sets but I won't bother now. A note on the HST though, the new mk3s have nem pockets wether that would make any difference...... Thanks again

I absolutely LOVE this video. While I am in the US and I know I have made a comment on the previous video about Kadees and my dislike of the uncoupling pin (I have had just too many cause issues at times) I do still like them over other US knuckle options we have here (I really love Rapido MacDonald Cartier ones overall they just do not have spares for sale that I know of) although I do wish the US would use NEM pockets instead. So much easier to change things around. Although I wanted to say that this episode gave me quite a few ideas for how to couple 24' ore cars with a drawbar (will need modifications for using some of what you have shown but I think it would not be super difficult). Some of the railroads would use them in 4 car sets with drawbars on the middle cars. Well done video and thank you for the excellent ideas!! Happy modeling, John

Hi Charlie,Des from Down Under.Enjoyed your video once again.I tend to use a mixture of coupling types.Haviing started,or should I say restarted,I use Roco close coupling/Nem pockets system components on my stock.I tend to use the Roco close coupler for passenger stock (Hornby use a very similiar coupler,but it is a bit bigger(HO as opposed to OO)For goods stock I have converted a lot of my British outline to the Roco type of coupler assembly .At present I have been looking at the Hunt system and also those Bachmann/Earth Magnet type of system you have described very well,the only disadvantage I can see over here the cost is expensive.My HST has been converted on the engine to a close coupling system used by Roco as a spare part which is available as a spare part.and it works well.I do like the system you have used with the earth magnets/Bachmann coaching bar.Hope I have not been too long winded,but in conclusion I would love a a world wide universal coupling system that would be acceptable to all...............yes i know I'm dreaming.kindest regards Des.

Great as always Charlie 👍🏻 Have a lovey safe weekend. See ya next Friday 👍🏻

Thanks Charlie, love the magnets idea but if you do any switching it is not going to be easy. I decided to go with Kadees (metal, for strength) on my HO for looks and operation. Now on my n scale I use Microtrains couplers. But plan on going to their True scale for unit trains. Thanks for sharing....Jack 👍👍👍

Great series Charlie. You're fast becoming my reference Go To guy :)

Definitely cool stuff. Rare Earth magnets are getting a lot of use all over the modeling world.

Brilliant video Charlie Think Gibs Onethirty sums it up well - Kadees are my preferred couplings because of the 'Hands Free' operation and push shunting.... Keep up the excellent work, stay safe & well.......... Regards, Nigel at west hatton model railway.

I started to fit the keen system to my mk3s about a year ago. After quite a bit of surgery I encountered clearance issues between the wheel flanges and the kinematic coupling. With more effort I'm sure they can be made to work. I parked the project at that point and instead have bought some of the hunt couplings which I've not yet fitted. Up to this point I've run my HSTs with the powered car pushing the train. Its not ideal but sure helps with that nasty gap. Freight is a whole separate problem as you demonstrated. Those oxfords, blimey! Not tried any of their stuff yet. Cheers

Another fantastic video really in-depth and helpful looking forward to the next one . Key safe Charlie it is Friday so you can have a beer lol lol

Great video! I'm sticking with tension lock for the moment, but your video has spurred me on to find an alternative for the Oxford Rail Carflat's I recently bought.

Hi Charlie another great video mate I have stared work on my models of BR mk2c tso converting them from old lima mk2b and also building working colour light gantrys I really enjoyed the video mate stay safe and well mate goodbye for now clive

Excellent Video Charlie. As we have come to expect.

G'Day Charlie. Mate what can I say, its a bloody minefield when it comes to couplings. Well presented as always, thanks. I think that is why I just stick to the one type, which is of course Kadee's. Yep even on coaches, to me its more about the reliability as well as the versatility of Kadee couplings. So far I've not seen another system that can allow the operator to uncouple and re-couple rolling stock at will on the layout without involving the "Hand of God" somwhere. At least with the kadee system you can use perma-magnets (or the electro) under the track anywhere you like and not even see where you have installed them (except for where you "Sign Post" your uncoupling spot). Or you can even go the rout like McKinley has with the "Auto coupling" with Kadee's. Can't say the same for the rest of them though.

Always interesting Charlie. Thank you.

Charlie, On Finescale stock you need sprung buffers to stop buffer lock around tight radius curves. Also they need to be fitted with very soft springs so the buffers are moving as soon as they touch. I remember we all used to use very soft black sponge plugs to fit into the corridor connectors, to hide the gap completly. There was an article in the 60's in the magazine Modal Railway News on how to make and dress the outside of the plug to look like a bellow's connector. Still it keeps us in our bubbles. Next week I might put my toe outside the front door. Cheers, Chris Perry.

Hi Charlie, great watchable video as always, I know you are more of a modern image modeller than me but Hornby do make kinematic couplers on the Maunsell coach stock. Hornby provide Roco couplers as well as tension lock for each coach and I've found that they work quite well, easy to split up just by lifting vertically. Cheers stay safe.

Hmmm, thanks Charlie for an excellent video! In fact I quite enjoy ALL your videos - I seem to feel I am sitting there with you in your railway room and talking about stuff! These Hunt Couplings - would love to try them out on some Bachmann coaching stock I have with the kinematic devices, but problematic on some curves on my layout...... cannot seem to find them here in Canada, where I am. I may resort to using the Bachmann pipe type couplings modified with earth magnets that you tried out.

Hi Charlie, just a follow up with the couplings. I use black chenille about 10 mm diameter. Drill 2 holes 1.5 mm in the top and base of the edge of the doorways in the centre, cut the chenille and bend it in so it sticks out a little top and bottom. You do this to both mating ends ,it doesn’t catch on anything and shows no gap at any angle. I use this on modern Bachmann coaches using the supplied brake pipe type coupling. Hopefully this helps. I bought a big bag of the chenille on e bay.

Spot on. Thank you Charlie 🙂 Very informative

Great upload Charlie very informative

Hi Charlie, great video for magnet issues i.e north,north,south,south redling each other if you use a ball magnet on one end of a a coupling it will stick to the north or south poles oand even each other and offers some compliance. On the test you did at the end the failiure was more that rotationanl force through the coupling rather tha a streight pull which is not (prototypical) oops

I love watching your videos, and you’re probably my favourite channel I choose to watch. I would like to see more videos relating on the progress of your layout rather than renumbering locomotives and getting disappointed with the distance between your wagons. Saying that I would like it if you did a video on track cleaning as it would be really interesting to know what you use, and why. Kind regards Ian’s I I

I’ve gone with the hunt couplings and as they update their designs these have got closer so great results with HST close couplings though on the engines, one was loose due to tolerance discrepancies in the manufacturing. It did also catch part of the undercarriage so a little filing did the trick and this was reported to West Hill Wagon Works who were very obliging and sent me a couple more on my next order. Not as much luck with the hornby freight single screw on tension lock replacement types. The hole wasn’t a big enough diameter for the screw and trying to take this out about 0.2mm bigger resulted in it breaking through the surrounding material on two occasions. I was promised an updated product version foc but, that hasn’t happened despite two emails without a response, which is a shame. Loved your narration and video tutorial on the McKinley Railway shunters btw with the kadee cotton motorised uncoupling assembly with ESU programming. Dedication indeed and such a beautiful result.

Great video as always, nice touch with the phone lol cheers Colin

HI Charlie. Just like a real Railway buffer lock ,there was one road in particular in Inchicore railway works where this was a common occurrence with Havsbourg wagons, a Forklift was the usual tool to lift and separate them. Ret Irish Rail Craftsmen.

Once again another useful video. Thank you.

It must be Friday, great video again Charlie thanks

Interesting video, thanks Charlie

Really good idea numbering videos!

Hi Charlie Many thanks for the reply, it looks like a batch of 3 wagons is the answer.

Hi Charlie, Thank you for an informative video... However, despite your best efforts, I will probably carry on using tension lock couplings as I find them cheap to buy (secondhand), easy to fit and very reliable. I don't much like NEM pockets but am stuck with a few newer wagons on which they are fitted...Most of my rolling stock being thirty to forty years old and came with my favorite couplings fitted as srandard. I am thinking about Spratt and Winkle, but probably will not make the change now.

Thanks for another great video. An alternative coupling mechanism is the German Ribu system It consists of a KKK box with adjustable height mounted NEM box. (The KKK is Kurzkupplingkinematic, not the US version!) The box simply is glued to the chassis, great for Hornby coaches with bogie mounted couplings removed. Priced a little high but they work well.

This is great..I found it difficult in older trains that in reverse, they tend to push off the track on corners...

Hi Charlie, I'm not sure if anyone else has mentioned this but I think if you're going down the route of semi-permanently coupled rakes, you could definitely get away with real miniature chain and brass hooks. Obviously more fidely and time consuming but they stay together very well and can easily adapt to imperfections and undulations in the track. Also, it allows you to keep the existing NEM pockets on the wagons, maybe the first and last in the train retaining original coupling to connect to locos.The main reason though is of course the looks - I don't think anything else compares for me.

Hi Charlie. Another great and informative video as usual, and my first comment to you too. Regarding the Modal (4)couplings I think these may designed for use on the Modern container wagons which run in fixed formations, and the 'inner' wagons have no buffers to lock. Just a theory as I have none. I'm currently experimenting with Hunt couplings and find they can be used for selective purposes i.e fixed rakes and quick to uncouple when required. Also although A & B markings are small to see, you'll find the 'A's are coloured Gold & the 'B's Silver. Hope this helps people.

Love your down to earth videos, all my coaching stock is 1980s/early 1990s mainly Mainline & Airfix so living in Christchurch New Zealand it is very hard to find anything to replace the existing tension couplings, so you have to just suck it up! Kadee is about £7.50 a pack.

Im glad we on same page this time,last was not good for me. My old layout is 30ftx 2.....so no real way to expand it...need the other foot for me! Keep it up!

Thanks Charlie another informative vid.

Thanks, Charlie - another great video. A few years ago, I "dabbled" in American outline N, using the "Microtrains" version of Kadee couplings. In the assorted forums I saw, some people had taken to using Z scale couplings on their N scale stock, for closer coupling. A silly question for the viewers: anybody tried N couplings with OO/HO stock for the same effect, and what results, please?

Another legendary video Mr Bishop 😂😎

Hi Charlie as always informative and entertaining . What annoys me is that there is not an industry standard for the height which makes using any type of coupling difficult . At the moment I have a mix of NEM & non NEM couplings so will probably give hunt couplings a try on coaches and wagons which I wont use for shunting.........……...Keep safe ----- Cheers Kev

I use the bachmann dmu couplers .they are similar to the continental type model couplers they are smaller profile,they couple closer for better scale distance and are easier to uncouple with a hand uncoupler such as a thin piece of hooked wire or a bamboo skewer with a notch cut in .they are approx 10 quid for pack of 10 which is a lot of money but they work well .

Morning Charlie, on the 'Hunt' Couplings, did you discover the modifrication made to the Hose pipe coupling to the effect that the contacting faces 'ROTATE' to suit the magnetism of each coupling to hold and not repel. I think they are around 19 GBP bag for HST /Close Coupling. When this Lockdown Lunacy is over I'll be looking at an order. I had the same problem with not enough hold on the magnets I got (1mm) 100 of them so I turned them into MU Cables, glued one to the loco connecter point and one each of a fine Orange wire about an inch long. looks good and took care of surplus stock

I use the Fleischmann Profi couplings. Rolling stock with NEM-short coupling pockets only. Looking sort of OK, technical, not actually realistic and even perhaps a bit agricultural. But they do the job well, carriages can be lifted out of a train like with KaDee's. Uncoupling is mechanical, plastic, no magnetic touch to it. Cheap, I have lots of loco's and carriages. Yet, this is for the continental trains. For the fewer British stuff I have ( Smaller lay out ) I'm considering Kadee. Partly because of your vid on these. Looking great, curious to see how they work for me.

Great video. 3d printing wise it would definitely be possible with a good printer for the 3 link couplings however the bachmann one you showed before would be even easier both would cost a penny or so to produce

I loved this video Charlie! I thought this was a reupload with the same thumbnail on the other video. This was certainly interesting though and I loved it! Would you ever do a small running video? And would you ever do a weekly livestream to see how it goes?

Another good overview of the minefield of couplings. The hunt couplings look a good product, especially with the new elite version. For us finescale modellers as well as the Spratt and winkle, there's a few others such as dingham (my choice probably), dg and Alex Jackson. As well as of course functional 3link and screw couplings which some favour. Regardless of what you model be it fine or otherwise, it will always to some extent be a personal choice between ease of use and cost. I will probably use the hunt couplings on units (though I do wish they'd made the look more akin to buckeye or shefenberg types as used on the railway.

Interesting video. I think Lego nailed it with their coupling system with a rotating magnet, no worry about getting the poles right. 👍👍

I switched my Bachmann MK 1 & 2s to Keen but only because it puts the NEM at the correct height and then I used Kadees for all my stock. I use those 3d printed NEM boxes on my 4 wheeled wagon stock either on the old Hornby wagons or the Mainline/Bachmann wagons. They seem to work quite well. I will be getting the Hunt couplings for my HST sets as they seem a good compromise.

The more I see on shapeways, the more impressed I am. I also build military models and 3D printing is a game changer. Shapeways is a great alternative for plastic parts until I can learn Autocad Fusion 360 well enough to reliably design my own products.

Good video. It's where you pulled the carriages from that affected the uncoupling.

Hi Charlie, Saddo here again lol, I ate my lunch whilst watching this great video.

Hi Charlie good video once again just one point buffer lock happens with reverse where a vehicle passes over a curve in one direction and then immediately there is a refresh curve in the opposite direction allowing one buffer to move around the opposite one and lock up. This can occur in the 1:1 world and minimum. Radius are specified in the track Design handbook to avoid this issue. Would not be on the mainline but in sidings and depots

It's so darned complicated. Even on this side of the pond, we've been besieged by different takes on the Kadee standard. And none seem to improve on the Kadee. I understand that the Kadee coupler doesn't really conform with either the look or the function of European version, but there seems to be tons of possible solutions. Good job, Charlie.

Hi Charlie. Another great video, unlike you I suspected that the rare earth magnets would come a close second. I run up to 12 coach trains using that method but if the engine jerks in afraid that it isn't unusual to have a division. On my HST I'm using Kadee couplings albeit superglued in place. As I don't want to 'shunt' my HST I cut off the auto coupling rods. As an aside, I was surprised to see that you have buffers on your Mk 3 coaches. Then I looked at mine ......... That's a job for this afternoon then!

I model N gauge and regularly use the buck eye couplings sold by Fleischmann. Fleischmasnn also sell couplings that let you convert others wagons that don’e have the NEM type socket

Great videos as normal Charlie 👍 stay safe

I looked at my phone Charlie thinking it was mine ringing.. LOL ... Cheers Charlie

Hello Charlie, I'm not a railway modeller, but I have found the coupler discussion fascinating. I have seen on RU-vid Ree magnetic couplings which look very effective, but you make no mention of them. But like you say, there are so many variations out there, you could write a book on the subject. Best wishes!

Hey Charlie, Thank you very much for your nice Coupler Ideas of what I never heard before. Some guys in germany do make experiments with 2 polarity electric couplers using strong magnets and looking like the prototype Scharfenberg coupler head. Me I am modellinc a fictional privare railway company in the year of 1908 based at Luebeck in northern germany. During this period of time Luebeck wasen't imperial prussian kingdom terretory. From 1899 to 1909 the imperial prussian state railway made a general coupling test to use the Krupp Middelbuffer Coupler, which had some similarities to the older Janney Coupler. My fictional private railway using the new Krupp Coupler of course, too. I had been compatible to Hook & Chain Coupling with side buffers, the Hook & Chain had been mounted onto side of the middle buffer shaft and could be swinged onto side to use the traditional european Hook & Chain Coupler, too. Since I read from the general coupler test, I can fitting my era 1 (1835 to 1919) cars prototypely with kadee knuckle coupler or kadee compatible couplers together with side buffers. So the models looking real like the prototype did it, too by using the Krupp Coupler.

I thought I had coupler problems. You guys sure have more than we do in the states. Either way it is horrible how much things such as this’d costs so very much. Since I left n scale modeling I had Rapido paddle couplers. Fast forward and now day’s we have knuckle couplers. About time I took my break Kadee was relatively new. They commanded a high price. Good video. Take care and this will be nonsense some be over soon.

Excellent video explaining about couplers. Not trying to sound to bad, what do you mean by “first radius curve”? You did a great job showing how things work. Thanks for sharing. Ken

Hi Charlie. Your homemade magnetic coupling will always fail first as the force being applied is vertical not horizontal (watch the coupling as the pull apart, the magnet lifts before separating). The hunt couplings line up perfectly with the strongest force of the magnet - horizontal.

Hello Charlie. Just to advise that if your site doesn't register all of the 'hits' from people watching, at least here in Canada, I watch your videos via our apple t.v. RU-vid is included on their streaming device, but as far as I have determined, I cannot add any comments or click on any icons while watching on my t.v. set. (only on my computer). I do enjoy your self deprecating sense of humour , but you have provided many great ideas. One of your videos was regarding ballasting and sound transmission through the baseboard. Articles in Model Railroader mentions artists' polymer matte medium as it lasts longer than diluted white glue and gives some flexibility to the track and ballast while some sound deadening qualities . However like many things, there seems to be pros and cons when choosing it over white glue (including the best way to remove it if necessary). Cheers. Ed.

I agree with Human[c]ity Junction Model Railroad. Most modelers here in the US use Kadee's, and I am no exception. Sherrie

Great program learning a lot 10:06

Hi Charlie I hope that you are doing well .You have now convinced me that Hunt couplings are worth while .They are the winners by far . The telephone call was all you needed not .I know the feeling. Best of luck with your railway and see you again soon

Hi. Hornby Maunsell coaches come with the kinematic system and the Roco style Close couplings. You can also mix one Hornby with one Roco to get them even closer. Why didn’t you cover the Roco couplings? As I replied to your other video I love the Shapeways couplings on wagons. Keep safe Alec

Available in OO gauge, but in my case uin N gauge, I have for many years used DG Couplings. My main operation is uncoupling but on my layout where rakes of up to 60 wagons are run, I use my own homemade hook and eye couplings on wagons in groups with a DG serarating them, and on pick up goods wagons I use solely DGs. I have to agree that couplings from the manufactuers are absolutely visually horrible, especially in N gauge. Thanks for the interesting info Charlie. Stay safe Cheers, Bob

A company I worked for years ago used neodymium rare-earth magnets for water treatment. A larger size than you are experimenting with. They came with a warning, as they were so strong you could physically get injured if you caught your finger or hand between two magnets. Mighty powerful things.

Hi Charlie. Another interesting and entertaining video though a slightly confusing title.....surely you have already established in video 81 that the best NEM couplings are Kadees. What you are really looking at are kinematic coupling mounts and the best couplers to use with them. In this case you should really be looking at the Roco and Fleischmann close coupling types which have been easily available in the UK for over 30 years. Hornby also offer a near identical copy of the Roco type. I can only think of one advantage Hunt couplings would have over either of the types above: Coupling on curves. Both Roco and Fleischmann types can be 'disengaged' and used for shunting in the same way that a Kadee can. The Keen System coupling mounts are really designed to be retro fit kinematic systems and used with any NEM pocket coupling and not just the Keen 'knuckle'. These mounts should really have been put onto the Hornby HST in your video and then could have been used with the Hunt NEM, Bachmann bar or the Roco types - or any other number. If you have not had experience of Roco or Fleischmann close couplers I would urge you to seek some out. They are not the answer to everything - but for rakes of coaches or wagons with kinematic mounts (at the correct height), I think they are great. Stay safe - I'm off for a look at your new ballasting video now.

Another great video Charlie. Thank you for posting. Have you tried the Hornby 'Roco style' close couplings for NEM pockets? I find them really excellent and they also allow you to simply lift the rolling stock off the track too. I just bought a pack of 50 Roco close couplings from a well-known auction site for £44.50.

As someone who models continental trains this is fascinating. Continental manufacturers have been fitting kinematic close coupling and NEM boxes to their freight and passenger cars for decades. The oldest example I have in my collection dates from 1973. And the couplings on that model are also power conducting for interior lighting and direction changing head and tail lights. Marklin, Roco and Fleishman all sell couplings which are better than Kaydee and any make of coupling will fit any make of rolling stock using standardized NEM boxes. But the couplings from each manufacturer are different so you have to fit the same to each wagon or coach. But they all couple or uncouple easily, although they are designed to stay together over bad points. Fleishman style couplings are also available from Viessman in a power conducting configuration which will still couple with the ordinary ones. Even the power conducting ones couple or uncouple easily without having to leave rolling stock permanently attached. I believe Hornby sold a knockoff of Roco couplings for a while at an inflated price. I don't know if they still do. I tried them on a rake of Hornby coaches with kinetic close coupling from the factory but Hornby had not worked out the distances properly and they didn't work, derailing the coaches on curves. I never have that issue with continental rolling stock because they do their math properly. Personally I use Fleishman and Viessman couplings as they are sturdier and stay coupled better over bad track.

Great video as always Charlie. To answer your question about how much it would cost to 3D print a coupling. You would want to print it with an FDM (Filament) printer, not the MSLA (liquid resin) printer. The cost of filament varies, but a good rule of thumb is about US$20 per kg (between £18-£20 per kg). I've done replacement couplings for the Eurostar, and they run a fraction of a penny per coupling, and those are a bit bigger than a normal NEM coupling. Couplings are definitely a problem that nobody has really nailed down yet. I've actually had about 2000+ or so small magnets laying around for various projects (including couplings) for the better part of a year. I don't really see the point of static couplings. You can get about 100-200 small magnets from Amazon for under $10, so I'm pretty sure I can 3D print functional magnetic couplings for between 3p and 7p each (with the magnet in it). As for those Bachmann drawbar couplings, you can produce something much better for about a half penny in material per coupling. Stay tuned to my channel, I'm almost done with the Trackside3D website updates, so that will free up my time to wrap up the umpteen 3D printing projects I have on the go :)

I've got one of the Hunt couplings close coupling pack ... looks the dogs on my rake of Hornby Mk2s, and also bought the pack especially for Oxford Rail Mk3s, not fitted those yet though... I would love to see how a rake behaves on 3rd radius curves as I haven't finished my layout yet ... if you happened to be sending your Mk3s around your layout and your camera was out ... hint hint 😁