Wayne Kinney

Not sure if that was a joke..LOL It's 'E-Z', as in 'Easy'...I'm sure you knew that Hmm, perhaps I think I'm living in the US Most people will just say Finetrax anyway

You're right, but I'll be changing the logo so its more generic, you'll see

Thanks Martin, It's really just 'Finetrax', the 'E-Z Build' denotes the new style of kits with the base including the chairs and will be below the main logo. It's a little like: Peco - Streamline - Code 100 Peco - Streamline - Code 75 British Finescale - Finetrax - E-Z Build You get the idea The word Finetrax has already gained strength with Google and other search engines included cross linking/back linking with other websites/blogs, no sense in starting from scratch. P.S, I have just sent you a donation

Hi Frank, The B7 kit should be released in January. I've been in the product design & manufacturing business since 2005 (camera accessories) and 2011 (model railway) and I've learnt that 'pre orders' is an ugly word. I've found its not great for either the supplier or customer (maybe an exception for Kickstarter projects, when that's the model). Thanks, Wayne.

Hi Guys, Many have asked for pricing and I have finally received all the manufacturing quotes from the various suppliers in order to set a final retail price for the standard turnout kits. So, to summarise: The new 4mm Finetrax 'E-Z Build' standard bullhead rail turnout kits will have the following features: Available in: 00 Gauge 'Standard' - This uses 1.25mm flangeways and will allow RTR loco's and stock to run without wheel modification (unless the is a rogue wheelset). 00-SF - This uses 1mm flangeways. 'RTR loco's and stock 'should' run through without modification, but a little more strict in having correct wheel 'back to backs'. The base will have the gauge narrow to 16.2mm through the crossing frog area only, the transition between 16.2mm and 16.5mm will be 'baked' into the turnout base. EM Gauge - Standard 1mm flangeways as per EMG standards. All of the above will be available in either thick sleeper (to match Peco bullhead and C&L Thick sleeper) or thin sleeper (to match C&L thin sleeper & SMP track). Plastic turnout base complete with ALL chairs fitted to the base as one single piece. Includes standard 3 bolt S1 chairs, P Slide chairs, L1 Bridge chairs, PW & PWX check rail chairs, Correctly represented slab & bracket 'A' chair that bolts the V on the crossing frog. 'Wood' texture on the Timbers. Nickel Silver cast crossing frog, complete with correct blunt nose, correctly aligned over the timber (which has a correct slab & bracket A chair on the base), minimal infill behind the splice, spacer blocks and bolt heads represented, correct wing-rail length, correct end flare on the wing rails, correct knuckle gap radius. Electrical feed wire pre soldered into the cast crossing frog. Cast crossing frog has pins underneath that accurately locates into holes in the plastic base. Pre machined switch blades, complete with pins pre soldered, the pins will locate into pre drilled holes into the tie bar. CNC machined tie bar, with pre drilled holes for both switch rails and 1mm hole for 'switch machine' actuator wire. SMP Nickel Silver Bullhead rail. Full colour printed instructions The final retail price for the complete kits will be £22.99 plus postage. After working solidly on these since March, I hope these kits will help many a modeller in fulfilling their dream model railway plan to fruition! Thanks, Wayne.

Thanks Frank, I appreciate you spreading the word It would be similar but I do modify many parameters so may not be identical.

Yes, templates will be available on the website once the kits are released.

Thanks Guys, Next pictures will be an EM Gauge B7 kit. I am sending one to Patrick, and another to one of my customers. Should have these ready to go by the end of the week. Thanks, Wayne.

Hi Rob, Since the switch blades will come pre machined and pre soldered to pins, there will be no need for the jigs so I am not planning on making them, no.

Upright

A REALLY good question. For standard turnouts...YES! Its simply a matter of cutting the 'webbing' between the sleepers/timbers on one side only, but NOT along the cast crossing frog. You must curve and fix the base into position BEFORE cutting rail to length, though. This has been done many times by my customers using my N Gauge range. Diamond crossings and slips can't really be curved, however, due to the use of solid 'obtuse crossing' castings. Thanks, Wayne.

Thanks, please remember this was the 'work in progress' at the time of sending to Patrick. Much work has been done since, and WILL be reflected in upcoming photos...

Old picture, all L1 and M1 chairs (if applicable) are now in the correct position.

Hi Martin, It's interesting, isn't it? In my drawings/photo's, the only one that doesn't show the infill beyond the V Splice is the one that has slab&bracket design for all three X-A-B chairs..LOL I decided to use 'only the A chair is slab & bracket' for my design, seeing this the most common and shown in Exacto scale drawings. I guess this demonstrates the vast variety of formations that were built. Your photo doesn't clearly show from the top, though.

Thanks, I am not currently an 'advertiser' on this forum so do not wish to upset site admin by posting links. I am only answering direct questions, currently. You can search my company name in Google to find my site, thanks.

Hi Martin, It's all down to CAD design, rather than manufacturing limits. These are the 3 main drawings/reference photo's I have been working from:

Hi Martin, Yes, it starts as a CAD design in Solidworks, then 3D printed in wax on a Solid scape printer. I used to own one of these but sold it on, so now use a 3D printing company. I then make a rubber silicone mould of the wax master pattern, then cut this into a 2 piece mould. I own a Vacuum Wax injector, and make my own wax copies, I had to do this to maintain control of accuracy and tolerance of the wax copies. The waxes then get sent off to be lost wax cast in Nickel Silver. Just look at my N Gauge range, cast obtuse 'K' crossings for diamonds & slips, and also special castings for the 3 way turnout. The 4mm castings will be MUCH more impressive. Thanks, Wayne.

Again, you are absolutely right, and I'm glad you mentioned this. The 'prototype' (this word could be confusing, maybe I should call it my 'Work in Progress') does not yet have the correct 'PWX/CC(L)/(R) check rail chairs in place, but are already designed and will be present on the production version.

Absolutely, sure! But in terms of both manufacturing limits, and maximising visual aesthetic, I need to keep the cast section as short as possible while still doing it's job. You can probably open the insulating gap a little over 5 thou while still maintaining a good appearance. 'Cosmetic' 'H' fishplates can still be glued on in the prototypical place.

Many thanks Martin, it's nice to have someone of your expertise appreciate my hard work! Yes, I've modelled in as much prototype detail as I can, I have a HUGE library of prototype drawings that I have made use of, hopefully portrayed in my CAD design : Thanks, Wayne.

I believe Patrick will be finishing off wiring and testing his loco's and stock. Don't worry about 'step up', I've designed the base so that the casting lines up perfect to the rail tops down to within 0.02mm. Yes, the kits are 'electro frog', and the insulating gap happens either side of the cast crossing frog:

Thanks Martin, No track gauges needed for the kits

Thanks, I am currently only considering 00 Gauge Standard, 00-SF and EM Gauge.

Guys, that was only 'tongue in cheek', I already know the retail price is going to be I'll announce this in a few weeks time... I can certainly add 'A6' to the list, no problem