Focalplane Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 This is probably not a typical challenge. I happen to have a fair number of Shinohara HO points (switches) which I bought back in the mid 1980s. Many of them are the "large number" curved points (up to 45 cm long), as well as one three way point. These cost a lot when new and still do, according to Walther's web site. A few of them have suffered over the years of storage, with the sleepers coming away from the rails, etc. Printing on the underside says the rails are Code 83 FB. So, I have this idea. Why not use the rails on new PCB sleepers? This way I could adjust the sleeper spacing to OO gauge fine scale standards. The problem is, I can't seem to find a supplier of PCB sleepers for OO gauge track AND points. Back in the 1970s PCB sleepers were easy to find and I built soldered bullhead track back then, including points and a single slip. So I know I can do this but finding the correct materials seems to be a problem. I have scanned older posts and various suppliers have been suggested, but the links have either gone dead or the dealers have stated that they don't answer emails of this nature and I should use forums. So, can anyone direct me to a reliable source of PCBs, cut both for standard track as well as longer lengths for building points? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Reichert Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 This is probably not a typical challenge. I happen to have a fair number of Shinohara HO points (switches) which I bought back in the mid 1980s. Many of them are the "large number" curved points (up to 45 cm long), as well as one three way point. These cost a lot when new and still do, according to Walther's web site. A few of them have suffered over the years of storage, with the sleepers coming away from the rails, etc. Printing on the underside says the rails are Code 83 FB. So, I have this idea. Why not use the rails on new PCB sleepers? This way I could adjust the sleeper spacing to OO gauge fine scale standards. The problem is, I can't seem to find a supplier of PCB sleepers for OO gauge track AND points. Back in the 1970s PCB sleepers were easy to find and I built soldered bullhead track back then, including points and a single slip. So I know I can do this but finding the correct materials seems to be a problem. I have scanned older posts and various suppliers have been suggested, but the links have either gone dead or the dealers have stated that they don't answer emails of this nature and I should use forums. So, can anyone direct me to a reliable source of PCBs, cut both for standard track as well as longer lengths for building points? Great idea!. You can even use just a few PCB strips as needed and fill in the rest of the sleepers with the 4m scale real wood sleepers and turnout timbers from the Proto:87 Stores in the US. They'll ship locally via their new UK site if requested. They also have code 83 FB machined points, stretcher bars and common crossings. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Focalplane Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 Well, so they do, but they call them "copper clad", which is a reasonable enough description! Thank you for pointing this out to someone who still thinks American English after living there for 23 years! Thank you, Acklam. And just received the next post from Andy. You remind me of an HO track/switch maker in Canada who also suggest using just a few PCB/copperclad sleepers and sugar pine for the rest. I have some sugar pine strips but they are to HO scale size, so I might just go 100% PCB. Thank you, Andy. So I need to contact C&L next. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Excellent! My initial foray into point building was to remanufacture damaged Peco points on copper clad - this enabled me to put a non standard radius on them and to convert to electrofrog. I recycled the stock rails and blades, although I had to rebuild the vees. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium martin_wynne Posted January 9, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 9, 2015 You will find what you want here: http://www.finescale.org.uk/index.php?route=product/category&path=346_347_359_649 For pointwork you need the 4mm wide strips. Strips for cutting to length are available in two thicknesses, 1.0mm and 1.6mm. For readers and suppliers in the UK I suggest you stop searching on the term PCB and instead call it "copper-clad" which is the usual term used here. (PCB is polychlorinated biphenyl -- a coolant used in old electrical transformers and now an environmental concern, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polychlorinated_biphenyl ) regards, Martin. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Reichert Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 In the US the common use term "PCB" comes from the original misleading name "Printed Circuit Board". Not the same as the polluting chemical. I think the prevalent use of "all" copper clad in the UK for track modelling is due to it's relative lower cost there (compared to the US) and that it is not too bad an approximation for the relatively smooth finished and precise sleepers used in the UK. In the USA, the "ties" are originally a much rougher finish and not maintained as importantly, if they get somewhat split, rougher or distorted with age. The US practice of only using a single PCB tie per every 4-6 ties is partly because it gives a significant cost saving over all PCB ties and partly a very popular time and effort compromise, although it gives a very bare track appearance, with no apparent rail fixings. But realistic track is not a high priority for US magazines, the NMRA, nor most mainstream "modellers". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium martin_wynne Posted January 9, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 9, 2015 In the US the common use term "PCB" comes from the original misleading name "Printed Circuit Board". Not the same as the polluting chemical. Yes I know, but in model railway use here it is usually called "copper-clad". Printed circuit board is usually called SRBP laminate or SRBF laminate (synthetic resin bonded paper/fibreglass). The paper based version is much easier to cut and use (not for outdoor use), but is not much used industrially nowadays, so difficult to find. I do have some stocks of it here from my commercial track-building days, but no longer any means to cut it into strips. For UK plain track sleepers you need strips 3.3mm wide (scale 10"). For UK pointwork 4mm wide (scale 12"). In the UK the term "printed circuit board / PCB" normally refers to the finished product (with holes and copper tracks), rather than the raw material. regards, Martin. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Focalplane Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 Thanks for the information! Back on the early 1970s, before I left the UK, they were called PCB sleepers in the UK. History lesson over! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.