Magnetic Coupling - Hunt Elite

[@ngaugefouroaksstreetstatio6932]

The running shots look superb.

[@SimonsShed]

Many thanks, I enjoyed 'playing trains' to get the shots 👍

[@Hal-Zuzzu_Model_Railway]

I received the same pack today and have tried them on my troublesome Dapol ballast wagons. Still not convinced, but more to try. Wish me same luck you have had with yours!! 🤞

[@SimonsShed]

I'll keep my fingers crossed 👍🤞

[@thegrowler-blackwoodngauge]

Hi Simon - the way you tell which way up the couplings go is to look at the shank end. Where the coupling clips into the NEM socket the shank end has a slope on it. When you remove the rapido or easy shunt they have the same slope. Just note whether the slope is on the top or bottom when you remove it and push the elite into the socket the same way round. You may have to fettle the Hunt Couplings as they aren't mm perfect - but they do work ! Cheers Euan

[@SimonsShed]

Thanks Euan, that does explain a few things, e.g. sometimes the couplings just clicked in 1st time and fit like a glove, whereas even the other end of the same loco sometimes took a lot of fiddling to get it seated properly 👍

[@pim1234]

how does it uncouple ?

[@thehairygolfer]

Hello Simon, I recently bought a Dapol Schools class and 3 coaches and 3 lightbars. A tidy investment. The standard couplings were awful, would let go at the drop of a hat. Certainly far worse than Granham Farish or Mintrix. I have just ordered these in standard length and hope they will do the trick. It's certainly put me off buying any more Dapol gear. I don't expect to be making repairs and additional expense on something brand new out of the box. Cheers.

[@onnomulder9775]

Very great review on those couplings!!! Thanks for sharing. Cheers Onno.

[@SimonsShed]

No problem, thanks for watching Onno 👍

[@SwanSycorax]

Thanks. Great video to show how well they couple and the length considerations, but you didn't mention what system you use to provide automatic uncoupling for the Hunt Elites. Any recommendations?

[@iansngauge]

Great video Simon! I've not decided what couplings to fit to my stock yet, but Hunt couplings were high on the list before I realised you could get ones that would couple in any direction, so thanks for the info! Medium sized for carriages, but now you've got me wondering what size I'll need for small wagons! I'd better go and order a set before I forget! Cheers, Ian.

[@SimonsShed]

Thanks Ian, they do seem good, its so difficult to know what you need in advance as everyone has different rolling stock and different radius curves so I definitely recommend the starter pack with the 3 different lengths 👍

[@iansngauge]

@@SimonsShed - Ha! I went to buy a pack almost immediately after I'd watched your video Simon, but alas they were out of stock of all sizes! Oh well, it's not like I'm close to needing them! Lol! Ian

[@exehavenharbour]

I have some Hunt Elite couplings Simon, had them for sometime and haven’t fitted them yet, I think they maybe a little job for this week. Interesting video though and I certainly will be fitting them over a period of time as I think with my gradients it may cut out the occasional uncoupling I have. Nice running session and some different angles I haven’t seen on the layout before, cheers for now, John

[@SimonsShed]

Cheers John I think these are the way to go, now I just need to swap out the other 3 makes of couplings spread across my rolling stock 😅

[@EngelsNederfiele]

The mediums look a quite realistic distance between items whilst giving minimum derail potential. the longs are probably designed for BO-BO stock with longer than average buffer beams.

[@SimonsShed]

Yes will stick with medium mostly 👍🏼

[@flymajj]

I think I might try the long ones for my Revolution Sturgeons, a couple of which seem to uncouple from anything.

[@rogerclark5869]

Great video. I sometimes have problems with hunt coupling with light weight coaches. What’s the solution do you think for my Graham Farish spring couplings. Keep up the great work 👍

[@SimonsShed]

Thanks Roger, yes I guess with the strong magnets the coaches do need a bit of weight so the couplings flex around bends properly. For the Farish spring couplings (ELC couplings ?) I think they do a version of the Hunt Couplings you can use...I'll have to give them a try.

[@rogerclark5869]

@@SimonsShed thanks Simon happy Modelling

[@Chris-BognorRegis]

Hi Simon - I never get tired watching things like this. I also purchased the starter pack but have yet to test them out. I am typing as I work through the video. Love the way you are doing the test, just as I would. When I open them I think I will mark all one side with a dab of white paint so it is easy to distinguish top from bottom, ta. Not really sure what we might use the short couplings for after that first test Simon? Medium to medium looks ok, I thought the spacing between carriages looked good aswell. Fantastic demo Simon, you have saved me a job. Are you going to do a freight test? Guessing you are going to change all your couplings on everything over to Hunt? Must admit it is the way I am thinking of going over to. Regards Chris

[@SimonsShed]

Thanks Chris, the white paint is a good idea, you wouldn't believe how many I got upside down even after I thought I'd checked 🙃 Yes I think I'm going to standardise on these now (gradually!) The NEM pocket stock is easy enough but for the fixed (Elisie couplings I think they're called) I might just change the 1 at each end of the rake.

[@paultaylor9652]

Great informative video Simon, any more building coming in the near future?

[@SimonsShed]

Thanks, Yes there's a lot more to add / improve on the layout once I've done a bit of rolling stock shopping 😀

[@TheHeritageLine]

Hi Simon, good choice with the Hunt couplings they are excellent for fixed rakes and layouts with inclines, when it comes to small wheel based wagons they may need a bit more fettling. It's really great to see some running action on your layout, shame about the Class 24, but these things are there to try us LOL! Did the class 24 die in front of a camera by any chance? it's amazing how things start going wrong once filming. All the best Tony.

[@SimonsShed]

Cheers Tony, now I think about it, it did start going wrong when I pressed record...always the way 😅 Thanks for watching 🚂

[@barleyvalengaugemodelrailw3694]

Hi Simon, I have had problems with the Bachmann blue chips they are terrible. I swear by Lenz silver minis and good quality zimo decoders as well

[@SimonsShed]

Yes, think I've only got 1 or 2 of the blue ones. Not tried the zimo decoders but I've got quite a few Lenz silver. minis and they have been great. 👍

[@flymajj]

I also had various issues with the blue wrapped chips. Now I only use them for dummy cars, DMU trailers, DBSOs, etc. Lenz and Zimo (including those now used by Farish) seem to be most reliable.

[@peterjackson-cheadleheath1182]

Hi Simon A good test of the couplings, although I have seen on a couple of other youtube channels, that some people use a mix and match system (ie. different sizes at different ends, ie. shorts or mediums and/or longs with either of the others). Are they any good on wagons though, (even fixed rakes)?

[@SimonsShed]

I did think about mixing them but if you end up turning a coach round you would change the coupling distance so I'll just keep it simple I think. So far I've only tried them at the end of a rake of open 5/7 plank wagons and they performed well 👍

[@PadisherCreel]

Why did you not test short/medium? I use short to short (non Elite) on Dapol MK3s even with buffered stock, and even when the motorised power car is pushing. Btw, the Elite short are longer than the non-Elite short. I do have a section of 1st radius, and no problem

[@SimonsShed]

Yep will have to give that a try 👍🏼

[@timstrainvideos142]

i found these couplings good for coaches but not 4 wheel wagons. i suppose its because the wagons don't all have kinematic coupling sockets and so don't move side to side much. i hope you can fix the class 24!

[@SimonsShed]

Thanks, hopefully it was just the chip in the class 24. 👍🏼

[@Poliss95]

Why do they derail going backwards? Have you ever tried pushing a piece of string?

[@SimonsShed]

😅 good point!

[@grahamthompson6406]

Hi I’m going to get some of these just wondering if anyone on here can give me the size of the magnets as I need to fit one under A4

[@John_N_Quay_Harbour]

How do you uncouple Hunts couplings?

[@PadisherCreel]

You have to pull the stock apart. Not seen anyone who has managed an auto-uncoupling system

[@SimonsShed]

Just pull them apart 👍🏼

[@John_N_Quay_Harbour]

@@PadisherCreel That sounds like a challenge!😏

[@rzholland]

Has he developed a remote de coupling device [that isn't the hand of god] like an electro magnet that pushes them apart??

[@SimonsShed]

Unfortunately not, its the hand of God + video editing 😀

[@mireraru]

やっぱ欧州はバッファーのせいでかなり模型の車間に苦戦してるんだな？ KATOが欧州型を輸入はするのにあまり作らない理由が少しわかった気がする