Black Five Accessory Pack

[5Dublo2]

I am new to modern Hornby locos (but very familiar with 3-Rail Hornby Dublo) and having received Black Five No 45379 (R3805)  I have a few questions about the content of the accessory pack (X4524)  that came with it:

Q1)

The pack contains a tension lock coupling and a small screw. It is not a spare tender coupling as that looks like it has a NEM socket on it and the coupling in the bag looks more like R8099.

I assumed it was  for those that might want to couple the Black Five at the front and the coupling itself does seem to sit nicely on top of the front bogie with what looks like a screw hole in the bogie in the correct place. Problem is the screw is too small for the hole in the bogie, so just sits loosely in the hole (and in fact I am not sure the hole itself is even threaded.)

Is the supplied coupling intended to be used on the front of the Black Five and if yes, how do you fit it?

Q2)

Are you meant to glue the front steps in behind the buffer beam, or should they clip in?

Q3)

How do you get the brake rods into the very small hangers between the wheels on both the loco and the tender?

 

 

 

[atom3624]

Hi Colin, with the greatest of respect, GO SLOWLY!!

1. 3-link - cosmetic only - pushes into the slot in the middle of the front buffer beam. Looks great, but generally means you've no chance of inserting the front tension-lock coupling.
2. Front steps - think carefully. They go behind the buffer beam - should be a little recess under the running boards - think if you want to or not - will limit front bogie movement. If you've a large-radius track, should get away with it - I'm talking 3rd radius or higher.
3. Brake rods. I have had a few where I use a pin driver to VERY SLIGHTLY open up the holes in the hangers. Be careful with the rods, they have small, smaller-diameter 'pins' moulded at the ends which are very easily broken.

I love detailing my locos and always do, but from experience of the same thing, I know it's one of those think once, twice, 3 times, ... and another few times of consequences (front step and coupling links limitations) ... then proceed.

 

Al.

[5Dublo2]

Thanks Atom3624

I will leave the steps and brake rods off as I think they will be a pain (Qs 2 and 3)

For Q1 The coupling link I am talking about  is a tension lock (and not a 3-link). The image below shows the bogie underside (with hole) and the coupling and screw (and the steps) . The coupling sits well on the front of the bogie, but the screw can be dropped into the hole without having to turn it.

/media/tinymce_upload/7dc8891c6bfdb2f82ddca1be48fd1d39.jpg

 

Colin Weaver

[Going Spare]

The tension lock coupling is indeed a R8099.  I think this should slide in to a slot in the front of the bogie block and is kept in place by the screw from the top. (Insert the screw first and the jaws on the coupling pass around it.)

[5Dublo2]

Thanks Going SpareI do have a reply pending (containing a picture) against atom3624's information, which shows the pack content and the bogie. This was posted in an attempt to confirm the coupling was R8099, however you have confirned that information.When the picture does eventually appear it does not clearly show the front face of the bogie, but I have taken a look at it and there is no slot. Looking at the more recent Black Five Service Sheets (355 and 257E), it looks like the tender on the earlier models had an R8099 coupling and the very latest (TTS designed) tender uses the NEM coupling. As such I suspect the coupling in the bag was a spare for the earlier models and they have not changed the bag content to the NEM one for the latest modelsAcross both service sheets the front bogie appears to not change design as part X9078 (although there is a 'W' variation, which I think means weathered). I therefore  suspect they are not meant to have a front coupling (which is intriguing for an Era 11, Preservation line loco that has mostly been used on lines without a way to turn the loco) The much older Black Five Service Sheet (087) does show a coupling on the front bogie, which might be located in a slot, similar to how you have described it.

[96RAF]

I appreciate folk like their models to be accurate, but from experience...

1. These bits are fiddly to fit.

2. I would never notice them anyhow.

3. Most are likely to fall off or be broken.

... so I never bother apart from maybe putting the driver and his mate in the cab, then realise I hadn’t painted them first.

[Going Spare]

True, some parts are not easy to fit but a coupling is surely much more important.  Without bothering to fit it, how does a mixed traffic loco pull its train tender first?

[atom3624]

That looks like the tender tension lock coupling I think.

 

Just lifted out my LMS 5000 - that coupling's identical to my tender coupling.

Can it fit the front bogie?

Perhaps there's a screw / nut combination - I've an imitation 3-link, etc on the front so cannot consider it, and not bothered.

 

Al.

[Adam82A]

Thanks Atom3624

I will leave the steps and brake rods off as I think they will be a pain (Qs 2 and 3)

For Q1 The coupling link I am talking about  is a tension lock (and not a 3-link). The image below shows the bogie underside (with hole) and the coupling and screw (and the steps) . The coupling sits well on the front of the bogie, but the screw can be dropped into the hole without having to turn it.

/media/tinymce_upload/7dc8891c6bfdb2f82ddca1be48fd1d39.jpg

 

Colin Weaver

Hello! 

You didn't happen to find a solution to this issue at all did you? I have recently purchased the same model and seeing the same issue with the front coupling. Seems like a bit of a design flaw, or the accessory pack hasn't been updated in line with what is now being produced! 

[5Dublo2]

@Adam82A

 

Sorry I didn't find a solution.