Hello again Grahame- we have conversed on this most interesting topic before.....

May I ask- am I right in thinking that you are going to use Easitrack track bases for plain track- at 2mm finescale gauging?

And are the pre-milled point bases going to be used at their correct (finescale) gauge- but just with different flangeway clearances?

If so- this is going to solve a problem I have been mulling over for ..er...years!

If it all works (and I sincerely hope it does) please post your findings immediately!

Yours with bated breath and poised soldering iron....

Peter

Hello again Grahame- we have conversed on this most interesting topic before.....May I ask- am I right in thinking that you are going to use Easitrack track bases for plain track- at 2mm finescale gauging?

And are the pre-milled point bases going to be used at their correct (finescale) gauge- but just with different flangeway clearances?

Yes, the plain track is 2mmFS Easitrack built as it's supplied; to 2mmFS 9.42mm gauge - it's simply a matter of sliding the rail in to the pre-moulded chairs on the sleepers base sections (no soldering or gluing required).

The points are made using 2mmFS components (pre-milled track base, rail and chairs) but built to 'N' 9mm gauge and N gauge NMRA flange-way clearances (which are a lot finer than Peco points but a little larger than 2mmFS) using a special N crossing jig rather than the 2mm one. Obviously to join the plain track (at 9.42mm) to the points (at 9mm) the rail needs to be slightly flared/tapered. It's hardly noticable because you're only talking about a deflection of less than a quarter of a millimeter for each rail. In fact if you look at the photo you'll notice a small piece of Easitrack plain track base butting up the point at the left end with the rails slightly diverging between it and the point.

G.

thanks Grahame- the penny has finally dropped. because the Easitrack system has glued-down chairs holding the track to the milled point base- you can put it wherever you need it- right?

So, next question (you knew there would be!) where do I get the 'special n crossing jig" and flangeway thingummies?

thanks in anticipation......

Yes, the plain track is 2mmFS Easitrack built as it's supplied; to 2mmFS 9.42mm gauge - it's simply a matter of sliding the rail in to the pre-moulded chairs on the sleepers base sections (no soldering or gluing required).

 

The points are made using 2mmFS components (pre-milled track base, rail and chairs) but built to 'N' 9mm gauge and N gauge NMRA flange-way clearances (which are a lot finer than Peco points but a little larger than 2mmFS) using a special N crossing jig rather than the 2mm one. Obviously to join the plain track (at 9.42mm) to the points (at 9mm) the rail needs to be slightly flared/tapered. It's hardly noticable because you're only talking about a deflection of less than a quarter of a millimeter for each rail. In fact if you look at the photo you'll notice a small piece of Easitrack plain track base butting up the point at the left end with the rails slightly diverging between it and the point.

 

G.

So, next question (you knew there would be!) where do I get the 'special n crossing jig" and flangeway thingummies?

The point bases and vee filing jig (one on the left in pic) are available from the 2mmSA shop - you need to be a member to purchase from it. The special N gauge flange-way crossing assembly jig (middle aluminium one in pic) was specially produced. Contact Noel Lever on the Yahoo group as he is collating interest for the next batch;

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ngauge/message/117741

G.

I too will be following progress on this with great interest.

I certainly don't feel confident enough to tackle pointwork (especially slips and scissors crossovers!) with so little experience, but I will be having a look at the plain track with a view to following Etched Pixels example on using it in conjunction with the Peco Code 55 points. His filing of the point rail ends to lead into the wider gauge of the plain track looks do-able as a trial with my skill level. I have a couple of spare small radius points available to sacrifice for a test piece.

You don't need to file the rail ends to match up the Easitrack 9.42 gauge with Peco points 9mm gauge. You can make the transisition at the end of the length of Easitrack so that the rails match up gauge wise - although they will still be different heights; code 40 to psuedo code 55. I'll add a photo to this thread showing a multi-gauge bit of Easitrack.

The 9mm gauge is on the left for the first two sleepers and the 9.42 gauge is for the last two sleepers on the right. The middle two sleepers are the transisition sleepers and have no inner chairs (cosmetic ones could easily be glued in place). Bearing in mind how blown up and times greater than real life the pic is, once ballasted, painted and weathered it should be more than acceptable with no obvious joggle or joint between the two gauges showing.

G.

Grahame, hello again.

I'm finally ready! I've joined the 2mm Association (after deliberating for about thirty eight years) and have bought all the bits, together with the jigs and gauges via Noel Leaver.

But characteristically I have hit a snag before I've even started- or perhaps I'm thinking this through too much.

It's just occurred to me that the check rails are held in place by double chairs- and hence the flangeway gap will be to 2mm finescale standards.

This is going to be a problem isn't it? If so- how did you work around it?

Best

Peter

I too will be following progress on this with great interest.

I certainly don't feel confident enough to tackle pointwork (especially slips and scissors crossovers!) with so little experience, but I will be having a look at the plain track with a view to following Etched Pixels example on using it in conjunction with the Peco Code 55 points. His filing of the point rail ends to lead into the wider gauge of the plain track looks do-able as a trial with my skill level. I have a couple of spare small radius points available to sacrifice for a test piece.

 

You don't need to file the rail ends to match up the Easitrack 9.42 gauge with Peco points 9mm gauge. You can make the transisition at the end of the length of Easitrack so that the rails match up gauge wise - although they will still be different heights; code 40 to psuedo code 55. I'll add a photo to this thread showing a multi-gauge bit of Easitrack.

 

The 9mm gauge is on the left for the first two sleepers and the 9.42 gauge is for the last two sleepers on the right. The middle two sleepers are the transisition sleepers and have no inner chairs (cosmetic ones could easily be glued in place). Bearing in mind how blown up and times greater than real life the pic is, once ballasted, painted and weathered it should be more than acceptable with no obvious joggle or joint between the two gauges showing.

 

G.