Model Railway Forum

I have a couple of Hornby 0-4-0’s which I am quite fond of.
I would like to change the big moulded coupling for something smaller. Any suggestions on how best to do this please?

I have done it but not in the way you would appreciate as it is for narrow gauge use using my own home made couplings.
But it can certainly be done but I would advize to first buy a suitable coupling and then work out a method to fit the things rather then cutting the coupling off first and then deciding to buy the new coupling.
I would buy a couple of packs of different types of coupling to keep as spares so one has plenty of spares to use for different types of vehicles one may need to use them with. Part of the issues with doing this are the height and fixing the new coupling in position. I have just looked at one of my models to check. Yes. A suitable hole can easily be drilled either to hold a home made bracket, or to fix a coupling directly to the body depending on the couplings height. To fix directly there needs a coupling which has the right height (Rarely would one find one) so one could either cut and mill away the plastic chassis to get the right height, or one could make a suitable bracket.

I write this assuming the plan is to mount a smaller version of the tension lock coupling for a replacement.

Spot one with your assumption MG. I will think carefully before getting out the Dremel to cut the existing one off.

You wont need a dremel. Snip it off with wire cutters.