Sprat & Winkle coupling jig

Carrying on from the S&W couplings saga and

 seeing that i have a crap load of them to make i thought it might be a good idea to make up some sort of jig.

scratching one's head, mind the splinters.

Here's one i made earlier.

(No Fairy Liquid bottles or sticky back plastic were used in the making of this jig)

Take a piece of Ply

First off an overall view of my very handy little jig

Sprat & Winkle coupling jig

Bottom righthand corner is a piece of nickel silver strip 3mmx1mm for winding the soft brass wire for the links. To the right is the 20 degree angle for setting the angle of the coupling 

(coupling facing upwards)

Wrap wire around the pins for setting the buffer wire and the coupling carrier wire

Place in jig for soldering the buffer wire on.

I soldered the carrier staple in before i removed the base plate from the etch, also a good time to tin the base plate ready for the buffer wire at this point 

So, there you have it.

not difficult but a very handy tool. Should you need to come back at a later date to make some more you know they will be compatible to the ones you already have

Went fishing today

Caught some sprats and winkles

Yes, you probably know what i am talking about.

I'm just not that happy with the Bachmann couplings with a staple attached to the dropper, it sort of works but every so often a train will let go when you don't want it to.

Think of the money that could be made if one could come up with 100% reliable coupling that doesn't look to obtrusive.

So, back to reality

Sprat and winkles, been around since i first wrote this blog on a stone tablet. I have never used them before, I have operated layouts that use them and yes they are about the best thing out there.

So, i can hear you asking, Why haven't you used them before? Oh, go on then i will tell you. The thought of converting all these lovely wagons, engine, coaches etc just really didn't appeal.

In learning what is the best way to fit these things.

Here is the very first wagon with spratttts fitted 

I haven't blackened them it was a bit of a test run

the winkles look so much better than those gurt big tension lock things.

There we have it. Only approx another fifty or so to go, if i don't get around to writing another post anytime soon you will know why.

I have either gone insane, rang the men in white coats, given up on life or Jack Daniels has become my best friend.

Footnote.......

Why the hell are they called "Sprat & Winkle"?????