Working Vestibule Connections in N Scale
Over thirty-five years ago I bought two Weico N scale VR S car kits—they had aluminium body shells and white metal ends, floors and bogies. They looked pretty good, but I decided they would look even better with vestibule connections that were in contact with their neighbours all the time. After giving it a bit of thought I came up with a method which involved cutting a hole in the end wall, making a solid box to represent the connecting passageway, and attaching it to springs that would permit it to move in and out with the pressure from the adjoining carriage.
The diaphragms obviously do not replicate the actions of the real thing, since a flexible concertina-type arrangement was way beyond anything I was prepared to attempt, but a solid, movable ‘box’ seemed achievable.
The technique worked and I was pleased with the result, so when I purchased three cars I decided they also needed the same treatment. Here’s how I went about it. I’m sure the method could be adapted without much trouble to other carriages of any prototype or scale too.
