Point Construction Completed
I'm relieved to say that I've finally finished building the pointwork for my branchline terminus. The points were built using parts from C & L components. Although I've hand filed rail section to make Crossing Vees' and Point Blades in the past, I decided on this occasion to splash out and buy pre-made items. The points are built to 31.5mm gauge, using roller jigs supplied by RMweb member "Debs." I think the finer flangeways created by using this 0.5mm narrower gauge result in better looking track, lets hope it also helps to achieve better running! The points were built using C&L "Timber Tracks" bases, with the 2 bolt chairs glued to the wood using Butanone. Cosmetic fishplates were applied, again using componets from C&L.
The points comprise of the following.
Left hand B9
Left hand B8
Right hand B7
Left hand B6
Curved B6
1 in 6 Double Slip
I found the idea of building a double slip a bit daunting, as I've never built one before. I left tackling its construction until after I'd finished building the other more simple points. Although I started with some trepidation, it really wasn't as taxing as I feared! The C&L plans and components, along with the jigs to hold the rail in place really helped make the task almost a pleasure. It was certainly very satisfying to push a wagon through the finished item, without it falling off!
"Lady Jayne" meets the double slip!
Now the points are completed, I need to start building the plain track. I considered using ready to lay flexi track from C&L, but as far as I'm aware it's ony available with 3 bolt chairs. I know it's a bit obsessive, but as I've got GWR 2 bolt chairs on the points I'd like the plain track to follow suit! It would have been difficult to match the colour of the wooden sleepers on the points with the plastic ones in the flexi track anyway, so I'm probably better off building my own. I've bought a bag of 500 chairs, pre cut sleepers and some lengths of rail, I guess I've got a few happy evenings of track assembly ahead of me! I'm planing on gluing some cork flooring tiles to the baseboards as a track bed, then once that's done I can get on with laying some track. I'm really looking forward to having somewhere to run my stock at last, but I guess I've got to tackle the dreaded wiring first.
Best wishes
Dave
- 6
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