How is flexi track made?

[ikcdab]

I bought a batch of smp Scaleway, but the question applies to all flexi track. It has moulded bases about 150mm long and the rails are threaded on. How is it done? Are the sleeper bases moulded then somehow the rails are threaded through the chairs without distorting it or are the bases moulded around the rails? Is there a clever machine to do this or does Mr Scaleway sit at home and thread endless bases onto rail?

I find it v difficult to slide the bases up and down the rails without distorting everything, so I'm interested in how it's made in the factory. Just and idle query!

Ian 

[Paul Cram]

When Len Newman was producing C&L track the sleeper panels were moulded and then placed in a jig. The 2 rails were then gripped and pulled through. Amazing to see.

[ikcdab]

12 minutes ago, Paul Cram said:

When Len Newman was producing C&L track the sleeper panels were moulded and then placed in a jig. The 2 rails were then gripped and pulled through. Amazing to see.

Sounds very labour intensive. Makes sense though

[Merfyn Jones]

2 hours ago, ikcdab said:

Sounds very labour intensive. Makes sense though

I was doing GEM 00 track that way over 50 years back and it certainly was. Rough on the finger tips too.

[ikcdab]

so how does Mr c&L or Mr Scaleway do it today?

Ian

[hayfield]

11 hours ago, ikcdab said:

so how does Mr c&L or Mr Scaleway do it today?

Ian

 

 

According to Phil C&L still uses a jig and the rails are threaded by hand. I assume Peco do it by machine, but C&L and Marcway are so much smaller than Peco or other similar companies. I have found that Exactoscale and C&L thicker track bases are much easier the thread as the bases are far more rigid 

[RexAshton]

Dapol used to do it by hand in a jig. Probably still do. It was surprising how quickly they could do it though.

[RFS]

I suppose the next question is how do they do turnouts?

[hayfield]

24 minutes ago, RFS said:

I suppose the next question is how do they do turnouts?

 

 

I can tell you about C&L, Phil puts all the parts into a plastic bag

[Alister_G]

46 minutes ago, hayfield said:

Phil puts all the parts into a plastic bag

 

Then he shakes it really vigorously, and out pops a fully formed turnout.

 

Al.

[chuffinghell]

5 minutes ago, Alister_G said:

 

Then he shakes it really vigorously, and out pops a fully formed turnout.

 

Al.

[rob D2]

Here’s the production line at work