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17 hours ago, hayfield said:

 

Have you tried phoning Phil, sometimes emails are blocked by spam filters. Since February I have had several orders from Phil without any issue

 

Please PM me with your details as I have direct access to him and if there is an issue it obviously needs resolving and happy to assist.

Thank you for offer of assistance.  The order number is #20662.  My PERSONAL contact details as shown on Phil's receipt are correct.

I have a SIGNED acknowlegement of payment which was enclosed in the box with an overlapping order so there is abosolutely no issue with communications.  He knows both my postal and email addreeses. 

I have an outstanding order from February 2020.  It was paid for by bank transfer.  Phil has not responded to my emails.  I have complained to Trading Standards and he is now on their records.

But it doesn't "look" right in a running line. Building crossovers and junctions using "A" switches makes them look like toy track, or as if you are running express passenger trains through the goods yard.

 

If you want the shortest turnouts with the easiest radii, it would be better to abandon the REA geometry and use old-style straight switches. A 12ft straight switch has the same deflection angle as a "B" switch, but creates shorter sub-natural turnouts with easier radii. Model switches using the old straight-switch geometry could be built as flexible switches instead of loose-heel. The old pre-grouping designs offered greater design flexibility than REA, as is evident from the complex pointwork seen in old photos. The REA designs were introduced after grouping to unify the many different pre-group designs in use, but in the process a lot of the design flexibility was lost.

 

cheers,

 

Martin.

I think a degree of reality needs to be injected here.  In the real world the CB, B, CA and A bullhead switches are all limited to 15 mph on the turnout.  So it really does not matter what you do!

Quite frankly a modern FB transitioned crossover does not look right either but permanent way designers don't change the geometry just to make it look good!

We are in the world of toy trains where anything goes.  EMGS are not learning from the supermarkets!  Why incure more production costs in rail, plastic and a bigger box when it is all unessesary to achieve the required specification for the model?  It might seem trivial but like the supermarkets when you multiply by the number you are selling the cost can be significant.

It was once put to me that if you are going to go to all the trouble of building track and rewheeling your collection of rolling stock for EM why not bite the bullet and go for P4?  At least we have the wide range of turnout kits available from Exactoscale.

To answer a few points that have been made in this thread:

FB A switches are/were used in the main running lines at Kings Cross for the electrification scheme.

B Switches are no longer permitted in running lines without good reason.

EM Gauge check chairs are available from Exactoscale.

The most commonly used turnout by the Big Four and BR up to about 1968 in both BH and FB versions was the C10 by a long way.  A C10 kit for P4 is available from Exactoscale and I have six of them on my layout.  Admittedly no one in their right mind would sponsor an RTR version. 

As an experienced P4 modeller of some 14 years, to all those who are contemplating a change to EM or P4 I would say don't.  O Gauge is a far better option when considering all the recently introduced RTR rolling stock.  

"A" switches are not normally used in running lines, they were designed for yards and sidings. The 1:24 switch deflection requires very low speeds.

 

A B-6 is not a common prototype size, but it is the shortest turnout which can be used in running lines and look the part. The larger radius of the "B" switch provides a useful transition into the turnout curve for faster running. A B-6 is a good general-purpose size for models in a limited space.

 

If you were creating a range of sizes, you might choose an "A" and a "C". One for sidings and yards, one for running line crossovers and junctions. But if you can have only one, a "B" is a good compromise size.

 

See also: http://templot.com/companion/a_or_b_switch.php

 

Martin.

When you do the sums there probably isn't a 4mm scale model railway in existence fit for more than 20 mph on the main running lines.

A B6 has a turnout radius of 312 feet and an A6 has a turnout radius of 326 feet.  Not a significant improvement but the A6 is over 6 feet shorter.

So in simple terms with a slightly larger radius an A6 would be about an inch shorter.  Also the reversal in a crossover configuration is slightly better.

Why choose a B6 turnout?  An A6 is shorter and has a larger turnout radius.

B switches should not be paired with anything less than a 1 in 8 unless there is a very good reason.

From a retired permanent way design engineer.