04-02-2011, 02:31 PM
dave_long Wrote:The problems that peco track cause are due to compensations needed for running over scale wheels through larger than scale flangeways. If we were talking about UK 4mm I would be bantering on about P4 however, if you've made the decision to stay clear of Peco then your going to have to look at Micro engineering or Shinohara those are the ones easy to source in the UK, well I say that I'm still waiting for my ME turnouts.
My suggestion to you Jon now would be try Shinohara track and turnouts. http://www.scalelink.co.uk/acatalog/index.html You've got a choice of code 100/83 and 70. The code 83 is made for Walthers and is probably the better version as its newer and DCC friendly. However the code 70 is still good I've actually placed an order for 2 turnouts today. I've read that the check rails actually work which should mean that the wheels wont drop ( thats the theory ) I'll let you know later in the week when they arrive.
If you want the code 70 the turnouts will need modifying slightly to work better on dcc and if you look here http://www.proto87stores.com/p87stores/shinstmp.htm and ignore changing the frog to P87 then it gives you a nice upgrade to the turnout switch area.
Dave
Dave, thank you, that's very kind.
Frankly, I doubt I'll ever get the hang of track 'fiddling' so if the Shinoharas do the business, I think I'll opt for them as they are - unless of course the upgrade really is as easy as made out. So please, let me know how they fare as and when they eventually arrive.
Jon
PS..........had a another go at building a scratchbuilt turnout today using the left over Peco 75 track and a vernier gauge............this time I genned up on the NMRA standards for wheels and track and downloaded a couple of templates for a No.6 turnout from both Proto 87 and Fast Tracks to aid the process - incidentally, Fast Tracks have kindly published their preferred measurements for Flange, Check and Gauge widths, so I decided to make mine to these. Needless to say, I still encountered wheel drop. I would add, though, that their preferred track width of 0.660" (a tad over 16.5 mm) in my opinion, doesn't help matters and if I EVER ventured there again, I'd built to the target measurement given in the NMRA tables. I probably won't which is why I'm grateful for your post.
Before I go, these RTRs caught my eye <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.proto87.com/super-fine-easy-ho-turnouts.html">http://www.proto87.com/super-fine-easy-ho-turnouts.html</a><!-- m -->, but at around 24 quid each (plus shipping of course) they're a tad expensive. Just depends how your 'experiments' go.
Jon