I first started experimentally coupling N gauge rolling stock using home made hooks & fine chain to give a more prototypical look to some of my goods stock without chunky `standard' couplings filling the gaps between & below the wagons. I used 9 carat gold chain as it was the finest I could find, This cost approximately 40 pence per wagon and worked well, but I had to use 5 links instead of the prototypical 3 links to get the trains round the nasty `7 & 1/2' inch radius curves on Stoneybridge. This made the wagons sit 0.8mm further apart than they should be when being hauled but didn't look too bad.