These are a couple of recent Hornby coaches, based loosely on Gresley designs, displaying the infernal tension lock couplings that the 4mm modeller is expected to suffer. To my mind, tension locks are easily the poorest design I've seen in any scale and of any nationality. They cause derailments, they frequently won't couple, it's difficult to lift coupled vehicles from the layout and they look utterly dreadful. But perhaps their least endearing characteristic is the colossal gap between coaches - is this really the best we can do in 2005?
Fortunately improvements are to be had easily and cheaply. Hornby have equipped these coaches with the NEM 362 standard coupler socket, which means you can choose from a wide range of coupling devices and plug them straight in. My preference for use within rakes of coaches is the Roco close coupler, product reference 40270 for a pack of four or reference 40271 for a bumper pack of fifty from the usual Roco suppliers such as Mackay Models.
Not only do these couplers provide excellent visual results (the coaches in the photo are pulled as far apart as they'll go) but they also provide a rigid link between the two vehicles. This ensures the pivoting coupler socket built into the Hornby coaches works at optimum efficiency, something that most other alternatives simply don't manage. Despite the wedged-up-tight appearance, these coaches negotiate all curves on my layout, and are quite happy with the set-track curves on my test track oval, too. An added bonus is that the coupler, by design, allows you to easily lift vehicles from a train.
For rakes of coaches, these Rocos are my favourite by a country mile, and at around fifteen quid for a bag of fifty you'd have to be clinically insane not to at least consider them.
The depressing thing is that Roco have been making these things since at least 1976 to my knowledge, possibly longer, and you tend to get them as standard in the box - along with one or two other coupling types for your consideration. Yet over here we're still having tension locks force fed to us. Isn't it time that the likes of Hornby came to an agreement with Roco to provide this basic functionality with the product?
No rush, chaps, it's not until next year that you'll be 30 years behind...
Currently On My Stereo: The Mars Volta - De-loused in the Comatorium