Building an EM gauge catch point

[hayfield]

I have been asked to build an EM gauge catch point, so I thought I would make a quick thread of the build

 

 

I needed a plan so it was to Templot I turned to, I whipped up a simple plan by overlaying two templates to achieve a shorter curved stock rail

 

 

Usual method of tracing paper over the plan and two thin strips of double-sided sticky tape

 

 

As most of the chairs on one side are slide chairs I put two thin strips pf plasticard so I could stick the timbers to them (as slide chairs do not grip the rail )

 

Timbers were stuck in place, ruler to keep the timbers in line

 

 

Straight stock rail fitted

 

 

Followed by a curved stock rail

 

 

Switch rail fitted (using the special switch chairs. The letters relay to the type of chair.  S1 standard   P slide chair   PL  special slide chair

 

 

Slide chairs fitted in place (superglued to the stock rail)

 

I just have the temporary tiebar to fit for testing, once soldered in place (soldering would damage the chairs either side of it ) I will fit the remaining 2 slide chairs. 

 

The rail is C&L HiNi other parts Exactoscale

[hayfield]

 

Temporary tiebar fitted, it could be used, but a wire coming up through the baseboard with a wire attached to a point motor/relay and soldered to the switch blade would look better

[down the sdjr]

Really nice work.

 

I got inspired to make track from your posts, made a catch point a while back, I think it turned out ok.

 

 

[hayfield]

Looks to be fine, but the photo seems to show the switch rail needs finishing, but it might be that the light is shining on the rail and giving the impression of an unfinished switch blade

 

Like all things as we gain experience our methods improve, glad my ramblings have proved useful 

[Grovenor]

A good start for a budding track builder. A little worrying is the absence of a set in the curved stockrail so the switch blade won't maintain gauge properly. I would think it well worth spending a bit of time fixing that.