Something I have been wanting to make

[RGSNH (Al Pomeroy)]

I had designed an angle cock several years ago for a customer, and just needed to re scale, but i had not made the hose coupling. i had been buying Proto hands many years ago, but never got even close to a full compliment. working with some prototype info i came up with this:

these are very close to scale 1:20 and have a hole in the center for a 1/16 dia x 1/16 lg magnet.

other than removing supports i cleaned up the 1/16 dia hole with a 1/16 four flute end mill and glued the magnets in place.

for comparison, my new hose coupling is on top , next down is the Proto hand version, Accucrafts monstrosities, and Hartford Products.

although the Proto hands version uses a bigger magnet(1/8" dia)

i am finding on initial tests these smaller magnets are preforming well, and considering the weight of the plastic verses metal. the Accucraft will be the first to be refitted. i need to make a jig for fitting the hose length.
i did consider copying the Proto Hands version, but in the end will probably change all out. one other though i have had is to equip loco’s and cabooses with these but with a steel slug instead of the magnet so they will be universal.

Al P.

[ctown2 (Craig Townsend)]

How are you dealing with the polarization of the magnets? Plus on every A end?

I want to make some working glad hands in 1/29 and put a magnetic ball in so the ball rotates to the correct pole.

[JRad (Jon Radder)]

Those look great Al.

I had quite a few cars set up with ProtoHands and hoses long enough to stay connected around my curves. I found the working hoses just too fiddly when working on the ground and stopped connecting them and shortened the hoses.

I might try again when I re-build as everything will be on benches.

[RGSNH (Al Pomeroy)]

Craig,

i want to Maintain random car orientation, so am thinking a dot of red paint on the positive end might work. cars are take of the layout at each end , so a quick visual indicator when placing cars back should work. there are two wye’s on the railroad but only one industry that could get them turned, and am thinking that there will be special instructions for this industry on how to switch. i like your idea of a ball magnet, but not sure how i would implement in such a small size to retain the ball and keep it able to rotate. as i have shown i needed to ream the 1/16 hole a little to get a good fit.

AL P.

[ctown2 (Craig Townsend)]

Al,
My thought was to make it a two piece design. Maybe make the split along the seam where the flat edge of the glad hand meets the top curved part. Obviously that would make installing a ball magnet a bit easier but it would make the parts weaker.

My layout is point to point so in theory I’d be okay if I lined up all the cars and never turned them. But I’d only be able to see one side of the cars so periodically I’d roasted my fleet 180? every so often. I could then just put steel in the locomotives.

I’m a long ways away from even thinking about this type of project so I’ll let you work out the details and then just steal your best practices.

[RGSNH (Al Pomeroy)]

Craig, My only comment is it would be very tiny to begin with, i have an excellent printer and i would see issues in printing so small of a part.

AL P.

[Cliff_Jennings]

Al, your model is excellent.

For reference on the topic, as I expect you know, Bruce Chandler wrote an article in GR on the subject, “Making some working glad hands - This simple detail will add realism to your rolling stock." October 2008.

Here’s an overview, from his site:
https://www.jbrr.com/rolling-stock/gladhands.html

Bruce came up with an interesting solution to the polarity issue: use tubing flexible enough to be able to twist and make the connection regardless. This required gladhand parts to be not as detailed as yours, because they needed to be reversible.

[ctown2 (Craig Townsend)]

Al,
That’s my worry as well. As I said I’m a long way from working on these types of projects. For locomotives that I want to permanently MU together it’s an easy solution.

[Dave_Meashey (David Meashey)]

Not very prototypical and not operating, but a “poor man’s” version can be cobbled from LGB vacuum hoses.

Just in case you want some that will be OK by the “ten-foot rule.”

Regards, David Meashey

[smcgill (Sean McGillicuddy)]

Didn’t Burl Rice dabble in this subject

[ctown2 (Craig Townsend)]

Yes Burl had some cast in metal they are 1/29. They connect together as well. But no magnets.