DavidBird Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 As part of my venture into handbuilt track, I've ordered a strip of 1mm thick x 10x500mm ground steel, to use as flangeway gauges. As it's a single 500mm long strip, what length should I trim it to? I was thinking 50mm, is this correct? Whatever length I do, I'll have lots left over. Does anybody else need a set? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Siberian Snooper Posted May 7, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 7, 2020 Thats about the length of the gauge strip supplied by the EM gauge Society, I can't measure it, as it's in the clubroom. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon s Posted May 7, 2020 Share Posted May 7, 2020 Just checked the ones I got for 00-SF and your measurement is spot on at 50mm x 10mm. I would gladly have another two, as at my age, I am always putting them down somewhere and there then ensues a search for 10 minutes. They are invaluable.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTrice Posted May 7, 2020 Share Posted May 7, 2020 I always rely on a set of metric feeler gauges from car accessory shops. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold RedgateModels Posted May 7, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 7, 2020 23 minutes ago, MikeTrice said: I always rely on a set of metric feeler gauges from car accessory shops. What he said Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roythebus Posted May 7, 2020 Share Posted May 7, 2020 21 minutes ago, RedgateModels said: What he said So did I but I lost the 1mm one in the railway room.. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidBird Posted May 7, 2020 Author Share Posted May 7, 2020 Thanks to all for your replies. In plucking up the courage to actually have a go, I've been helped enormously by this thread ... with pictures like this one. I did consider using feeler gauges, but not sure if using blu-tak as the 3rd and 4th hands would have held the feeler gauge set. And it will be of the same sort of price as a 2nd set, especially if anybody else can give me a contribution for another pair. When the strip arrives and I get it cut up into 50mm lengths, I'll put an advert in a seperate post (moderators permitting, of course). Cheers David 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTrice Posted May 7, 2020 Share Posted May 7, 2020 Some feeler gauge sets unscrew resulting in individual gauges. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dasatcopthorne Posted May 7, 2020 Share Posted May 7, 2020 Don't forget that you can put a slight bend in one gauge for any points with a curve in the crossing. Dave Smith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim.snowdon Posted May 7, 2020 Share Posted May 7, 2020 Although it's a long time since I built track in EM, I'm sure I used nothing more sophisticated than a length of 1mm thick stripwood, the sort that you can usually find in model boatbuilding and aircraft modelling shops. Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidBird Posted May 17, 2020 Author Share Posted May 17, 2020 (edited) I've recieved the strip, cut it up into 50mm lengths and smoothed off the burrs on the cut edges. It came with a very thin coating of thick grease, which made it unpleasant to handle. I've cleaned this off, but given the individual pieces a smear of olive oil... I will keep 2 sets (in case I misplace one - highly likely), so I have 3 pairs available. 2 are already spoken for, so I still have another set available. Rather than sell them, I will send them for free, provided you PM me with a receipt/screenshot for a donation for at least £5 to either https://thewatkinsontrust.blogspot.com/ - supporting the restoration of Black 5 5025 at Aviemore or http://ontrackatstrathspey.blogspot.com/ - supporting the PW and signalling on the Strathspey Railway. Both links have 'donate by paypal' options. Cheers David Edited May 17, 2020 by DavidBird 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ralf Posted May 17, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 17, 2020 9 hours ago, DavidBird said: Rather than sell them, I will send them for free, provided you PM me with a receipt/screenshot for a donation for at least £5 to either A superb idea David - and you have a PM btw! Cheers Ralf Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hayfield Posted May 18, 2020 Share Posted May 18, 2020 23 hours ago, DavidBird said: I've recieved the strip, cut it up into 50mm lengths and smoothed off the burrs on the cut edges. It came with a very thin coating of thick grease, which made it unpleasant to handle. I've cleaned this off, but given the individual pieces a smear of olive oil... I will keep 2 sets (in case I misplace one - highly likely), so I have 3 pairs available. 2 are already spoken for, so I still have another set available. Rather than sell them, I will send them for free, provided you PM me with a receipt/screenshot for a donation for at least £5 to either https://thewatkinsontrust.blogspot.com/ - supporting the restoration of Black 5 5025 at Aviemore or http://ontrackatstrathspey.blogspot.com/ - supporting the PW and signalling on the Strathspey Railway. Both links have 'donate by paypal' options. Cheers David David Being a EMGS member these gauges are easily obtainable, plus over the years I bought many from various sources simply by keeping my eyes open. I have spoken with Phil at C&L and his gauge supplier, but there seems little interest from track builders for both these and check rail gauges. Both Scalefour and the EMGS make available many gauges for their members, sadly for 00 gauge modellers there is a very poor support from both the retail trade and societies, likewise for those who do not bother to join either the Scalefour society or the EMGS. Though by attending eithers shows they are allowed to buy items from the stoors. So its not surprising that whenever gauges come up for sale on online auctions they keenly fought over Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Reichert Posted May 19, 2020 Share Posted May 19, 2020 (edited) Since the 1mm FW width is critical for 16.2 mm gauge operationally, the tolerance of the 1mm strip as gauge should be too. Andy Edited May 19, 2020 by Andy Reichert correction Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim.snowdon Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 On 19 May 2020 at 22:58, Andy Reichert said: Since the 1mm FW width is critical for 16.2 mm gauge operationally, the tolerance of the 1mm strip as gauge should be too. Andy Yes, but not a critically as the check rail gauge. The only thing critical about the crossing flangeway gap is the quality of the wing rail to nose transition. Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Reichert Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 1 hour ago, jim.snowdon said: Yes, but not a critically as the check rail gauge. The only thing critical about the crossing flangeway gap is the quality of the wing rail to nose transition. Jim The difference between 16.2 mm as a gauge with symmetrical flange ways and regular 00 and HO is that all the 16,2 gauge critical dimensions have to be at their various max and mins to actually have 1mm flange ways. The span dimension is then 14.2 mm and if FW min is less than 1mm then the Span will increase. but it must not reach 14.3 mm or you will get wheel BB jamming with its 14.3 mm min dimension. In practice that means 14.3 mm with absolutely zero wheel wobble. But there is only 0.1 mm (0.004") to accommodate both errors working in the wrong direction. Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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