BR 9F 92079 front coupling problems

[DESPATCH]

I recently downloaded "The Banker's Gambol " activity for the new excellent Bristol - Birmingham route which uses the above loco as the banker up the lickey incline. This needs to be joined on the back of the train as banker but refuses to couple. I have tried changing the coupling parameters and even the train coaches but to no avail. The couplings are all chain so I don't know what it can be. Any suggestions please?

[MikeandDi]

I had a similar problem which I resolved by shortening the bounding box lengths on the loco and the first carriage, using the Bounding Box Editor ( UKTS File ID: 6107 ).

I hope this helps.

Mike

[scampispeedway]

Hi Despatch, if I get the same problem as you are getting, I always check the bounding boxes of the used activity stock in the above editor and this cures it.
I do the same when I occassionally get a broken coupler when at crossovers or points and the last resort is to increase the coupling break figures as sometimes they are very low.

Bob

[DESPATCH]

Thanks for the information. However I do not know what to do about changing the box parameters. I have seen a program for altering them but having seen warnings about what might happen if it goes wrong I have left well alone. A little guidance will be of help!

[rlmathers]

Hi DESPATCH

You may have this already , if not:

Shape View 2.2.237 [3203441 bytes] - SView22.zip File ID: 7930 Date: 10 Apr 2008 - 13583 Downloads

Using the Shape Viewer to display the model, View tab
Bounding Box (from SD)
Bounding Box (Calc)
Show Bounding Info

Make a note of the Info, these values are relevant in the .eng and the .sd files.

In the .eng file:
Size ( 2.67691m 4.02714m 12.6837m )
InertiaTensor ( Box(2.67691m 4.02714m 12.1837m) )
These are the corresponding Width, Height and Length from the Show Bounding Info
You will notice that in the InertiaTensor the length has been shorten by 0.5m, this gives the desired coupling movement.

The remaining values from the Bounding Info are the Min and Max values which are used in the .sd file.
ESD_Bounding_Box ( -1.336384 0.033615 -6.0015 1.340523 4.02714 6.6822 )
These are the respective (Min X Min Y Min Z Max X Max Y Max Z)

Using the values from Shape Viewer should give you the correct values for the model to couple and uncouple.

Examine the Tender in Shape Viewer to collate and adjust the values in the .wag and .sd files.

Use the Bounding Box (from SD), Bounding Box (Calc) to test the limits of the values before and after any changes you make.

Kindest regards
Ray

[DESPATCH]

Thank you all for the assistance, however when I checked the bounding boxes as specified I am afraid No 92079 still comes bouncing back! The figures in my inertia box and bounding box are the same as you quoted Ray. I have no trouble with some 9Fs so after many hours of fiddling I have given up the struggle - for the moment att any rate. One thing strange on the calculation in shape fixer for the min y I get a figure3.361416E - 02. The figure should be 0.33615 And I get similar peculiar figures on other calculations for this parameter- any ideas?

[rlmathers]

Hi DESPATCH

Will download BR 9F 92079 to enable me to investigate further and post my findings.
3.361416E -02 is the scientific notation for 0.03361416
3.361416 E (Exponent) 10 raised to the power minus 2

Kindest regards
Ray

[ray2750]

Hi DESPATCH

There may be another reason for this.

In real life, a banking loco used to buffer up behind the train that it was assisting WITHOUT coupling up.

The idea was that the banker pushed the train up the hill and when the top was reached, it just eased off and drifted away from the rear of the train, stopped, then went back down the hill, light engine.

At the top of the hill, the train which had been pushed, just continued going. If the banker had been coupled up, the train would have had to stop to allow it to uncouple, thus wasting time and money.

It may therefore be that the model you are using CANNOT be coupled when used as a banker.

Just a thought.

Regards ray2750

[jbilton]

Hi
Yes in real life the Banker wouldn't couple .... but MSTS it would need to.... otherwise the brakes will not come off.

In the description Martin says

"When you couple up to the train in Bromsgrove platform give it a shove forwards as sometimes the loco gets "stuck".

So maybe your being too gentle ?

Cheers
Jon

[rlmathers]

Tested BR 9F 92079 front and tender coupling and uncoupling without any problems.
Try Jon`s advice, stop short of the consist and `drive` slowly into the buffers.
Failing that, you will have to look at the coupling, .wag and .sd parameters on the stock you are trying to couple to.

Kindest regards
Ray

[tialho]

I had the same problem with this activity, and went through all the checks of coupling parameters and bounding boxes mentioned above, with no obvious cause identified. Finally resolved by re-downloading the maroon Mk1's - think I must have accidently installed an earlier version. Just a thought!

Tim

[DESPATCH]

I have tried different 9Fs supplied from the Birmingham-Derby route by Kim Durose which couple up very well. I have therefore used ONE OF these as I do not wish to change the bounding box on the coach. I use the 9Fs by Paul Mitchell on other activities perfectly well , but not with front coupling. Thanks for all the information it has advanced ny knowlege of MSTS a little!