After having some issues with Marklin couplings being a real pain and also having some ROCO rolling stock I took the overall forum guidance and decided to go with ROCO universal couplers everywhere I could.

I then found out that Marklin startup rolling stock doesn't have NEM pockets to make the coupling changeover easy/possible. (Those Marklin starter sets - I've got some questions and I'll go there later).

It seems this is a very old topic but I went around and around in many circles on the web and in forums - the end result was that you're in Australia and in a world COVID crisis - there's no hope of a solution arriving any time soon unless you make one.

So I've made a 3D printed NEM shaft for some startup rolling stock to allow a ROCO universal coupler to be fitted to those carriages. These are prototypes, they're up and going but certainly could use refinement. I'm a novice at both 3D printing and Marklin so there is absolutely no limit to how wrong these can be. Also, if I knew what I was doing with 3D printing then the end result could be whole lot prettier.

So, here's some pictures with links to the 3D printer files to follow ...

Tech Notes - PLA 200/60 degrees, the mounting hole may need drilling out if your 3D printer isn't precise - 2.4 mm or 3/32 drill. 4 wheel rolling stock can use the basic adapter but bogie style startup rolling stock need the bogie version - the mounting post on the 4 wheel rolling stock is a 2 mm fit but bogies are a 2.15 mm fit according to the dozen or so startup bits I have on hand.

EDIT - 3D objects should now be available online via the drawing package I use called TinkerCAD, object names are Marklin Startup NEM and Marklin Startup NEM Bogie. What could be improved is the exact size and taper of the circular mounting hole and the spring loaded centering effect of the "whiskers".

Edited by user 13 August 2021 23:09:48(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

That is an amazing job. I have a Rivarossi 0389 Wegmann Henschel which has a really weird coupling setup and came missing most of its couplers. Have been unable to locate anything that will work with them. What software did you use to create the couplings? I tried using a free software but it was just too inaccurate to work.

Hi,

This one from Märklin looks similar.


Märklin parts number: 323679

Peder

Hi,

They’re asking 35 SEK (about €3.50) a piece where I have purchased them a while back. I’m impressed about your 3D prints. If you make the STL file available I would like make a try. I have some more waggons to convert…

Thanks, Peder

Put the files into a ZIP file and post that.

TinkerCAD is amazing, but I have moved onto OpenSCAD - much more flexible and powerful.

Great, thanks for those. I'll see if one of the guys at club can print them for me.