Ray Von Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 Ok, just a quick one this: I have bought some peco streamline points and some flexitrack as I felt sure that I had read somewhere that they look more realistic than setrack. However to my eyes the sleepers on the section of flexitrack look markedly skinnier than those on the points? I've attached a pic, but it doesn't really illustrate the point very well. Am I missing something glaringly obvious?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinnylinny Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 On the prototype, the sleepers (or timbering) are often spaced more closely together on points than on plain track. I think Peco may be replicating this on their points, which can make the sleepers look more chunky. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCMarvel Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 Once laid and ballasted you won't tell any difference, what you have are correct to each other. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Von Posted April 7, 2017 Author Share Posted April 7, 2017 Cheers, thanks for the help! :-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium nick_bastable Posted April 7, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 7, 2017 Cheers, thanks for the help! :-) points sleepers are generally 12" while running track is 10" wide Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Von Posted April 7, 2017 Author Share Posted April 7, 2017 Thanks, I was really stuck by just how thin the flexitrack ones are. First time I've used it but have to say I really like it! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevelewis Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 Dont forget if laying flexible track on a curve it is advisable the stagger the joints in order to maintain a smooth curve! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium nick_bastable Posted April 7, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 7, 2017 Dont forget if laying flexible track on a curve it is advisable the stagger the joints in order to maintain a smooth curve! and as I recall lay it the right way as I recall its designed to be curved on one side with the gaped side inside the curve I think there are arrows showing the direction on the underside Nick edited for given duff info Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevelewis Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 and as I recall lay it the right way as I recall its designed to be curved on one side with the gaped side inside the curve Nick Cant follow your reasoning, but in order to avoid 'Dog Legs' at the place where 2 sections of flexible track have to be joined on a curve it is advisable to stagger the rail joints ie don't have the 2 joints exactly opposite each other,, but have them staggered by 5 mm or so this enables a SMOOTH curve to be maintained and thus ensures better running and avoids derailments. bEven full size railways stagger their joints on sharper radii, somewhere on here there are some photos as the sunject has been covered before. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dagworth Posted April 7, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 7, 2017 Cant follow your reasoning, but in order to avoid 'Dog Legs' at the place where 2 sections of flexible track have to be joined on a curve it is advisable to stagger the rail joints ie don't have the 2 joints exactly opposite each other,, but have them staggered by 5 mm or so this enables a SMOOTH curve to be maintained and thus ensures better running and avoids derailments. bEven full size railways stagger their joints on sharper radii, somewhere on here there are some photos as the sunject has been covered before. I believe the US stagger fishplates, The UK have the together. Andi Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCB Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 Flexi track always tries to straighten itself out when joined on curves, If you stagger the joints it tends to go tight to gauge, if you don't it kinks especially as you get down to 2ft radius. I cut all the ties between sleepers on the outside of a curve to minimise the tendency to go tight to gauge and brace the outside fishplates with small screws to stop the track moving outwards. I use set track on curves if I can , I used to ease 3rd radius out to 2ft but with 4th radius now widely available this is less necessary. I sometimes use a jig to keep the curve constant while the ballast sets is setting, outside, where I use sand and cement as ballast.... Don't try that at home if you track power. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted April 8, 2017 Share Posted April 8, 2017 Point timbering is wider than on plain track. It used to be 12" and 10", but I can't speak for modern metric days. To avoid kinking, I always set a curve into the rail. That way there is no tendency to straighten out at the joints. Streamline sleeper webbing is precut for curves, but, as this is actually a series of short straight sections, sharper curves need to have all the webs cut away on the inside of of the curve. Alternatively use Setrack for the curves. A transition curve is also a help to good running. Really tight curves ideally should have a measure of gauge widening, but this is not possible using flexible track. Streamline sleepers are to H0 scale dimensions and set closer together than is normal in British practice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCB Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 Part of the problem with all 00 track is the gauge is 2mm or so underscale for 1:76 scale. Grafar used to have 00 spacing and width of sleepers with the length reduced by 2mm or so, Peco seem to build theirs to 3.5mm ft HO which makes the sleepers undersize. It always strikes me that the Grafar track on the old part of our layout looks more realistic than Peco when trains are around and the Peco on the more recent parts looks more realistic when there are no trains around. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamport Southport Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 All very well discussing OO and HO track, but the ones in the OP are N gauge. Jason Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 All very well discussing OO and HO track, but the ones in the OP are N gauge. Jason Oops, The talk of 2 foot radius curves threw me..... The main points (pun not intended) don't change however and I suspect the N gauge track is built to 1:160 for the same reason the 00 track is H0. Their main market is North America. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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