Using the easy-assembly Finetrax pointwork kits in 00 and EM (and possibly P4)

[NFWEM57]

I was recently given the opportunity by a company, British Finescale, to try out a prototype OO gauge point kit and thought I would share the results with you.  I have no link to the company developing the product other than a keen interest.  The OO gauge finescale prototype kit provided is of a B7 Left Hand point and is based on prototypical drawings. 

 

 

I managed to dry assemble the kit, which came without instructions on purpose, in around 30 minutes using nothing more than track cutters and small pair of pliers to bend the check rails.  The frog is cast and the switch blades are pre-formed.  Latterly, I glued the nickel silver cast frog in place, to which I had previously soldered a dropper wire, and soldered the switch blades to the tie bar.  I then attached the almost complete prototype to some PECO Bullhead, images of the finished product below. 

 

       

 

 

 

 

I am advised by the company that, based on some of my feedback, there will be some refinements prior to production; tabs on switch blades already soldered on, cast frog will have wire already attached – so for the production kits, no soldering is required, just some glue.  I am also advised by the company that a wide range of point kits, like those they already manufacture in N gauge, will be available in both OO Finescale and EM gauge.  The rail used for the OO version will be SMP whilst the EM variant will either be SMP or rail like that provided for C&L and EMGS scratch build purposes.  I am looking forward to test assembling a prototype EM variant soon.

 

Approaching retirement and returning to railway modelling last year after a 50-year break I was somewhat surprised, given the progress in other areas, DCC and fine detailing to name but a few, at the lack of progress with regard to track with the choice still being either mass market Peco OO/HO or scratch-built track.  Having never liked the narrowness of OO, I initially considered P4 but the recent introduction of PECO manufactured EM flexi track and B6 points by the EMGS was a significant influence on my final choice of gauge, EM; ease of RTR conversion was the other.  Not everybody wants to, or is comfortable with, scratch building their own points and nor do they want to pay a premium to have points made for them.  I think the planned OO Finescale and EM gauge range of point kits will therefore fill a gaping hole in the market and at last bring kit point assembly into the 21st century. 

 

I have no doubt there will be mixed opinions – cost, accuracy, aesthetics will, as usual, all be debated at length - but I see this product as a significant and long overdue step forward.   So, while the debate goes on, I will be getting on with more easily building the layout I have planned with a near prototypical product and, critically, probably at a much reduced cost (monetary, time and stress) in comparison to other near prototypical kit offerings.  I can now use more of the finite time I have available on RTR conversions, scenery and enjoying my planned layout and possibly scratch building one or two more unusual point configurations for my layout; unless bespoke ordering becomes a possibility..!

 

Patrick

Edited November 8 by NFWEM57
amend topic title, restore images

[Joseph_Pestell]

Very interesting. Somewhat different from the N gauge variant where the sleepers are not completely cut out. I had assumed that was due to the manufacturing method but perhaps it was for strength and that is not needed in 4mm scale with larger sleepers.

 

These are certainly a gamechanger for many of us who do not enjoy trackwork construction. 

[D-A-T]

Following with much interest. Especially for EM gauge. A range of larger radius turnouts, slips etc would be highly welcome. 

[NFWEM57]

Hi,

 

Yes, I think it will be a game changer.  Looking forward to getting my hands on the EM prototype and the finished products.

 

Patrick

[Wayne Kinney]

Hi Patrick,

 

Thanks for trying out my prototype B7 kit. You've done a great job assembling that without any instructions, these will of course be included in the production version.

 

Yes, a few things will improve on the production version, namely the machined switch blades will be pre soldered to 'pins' that locate into pre drilled holes in the tie bar. So assembly will really be a 'cut rail to length and slide in' affair. As with any track laying, even with 'set track', power feeds would need soldering to the rails.

 

I am happy you managed to assemble in 30 minutes, this was what I was aiming for in the design. Should hopefully be less than this with the pre soldered switch blades.

 

Currently working on the EM Gauge prototype, should have this ready to send to you in a week or so.

 

 

 

[Roger Sunderland]

Tremendous idea, definitely a game changer and deserves to do well. The naysayers and rivet counters will no doubt have their say but I think these will give real variety and allow people to build much more accurate track formations .

[Tankerman]

Apologies for asking such a basic question. what is the physical length of this B7 point?

[dpgibbons]

Good to see you branching out Wayne. Are the chairs moulded into the base or are they individually pegged into the sleepers as with your N Gauge units? 

[Wayne Kinney]

10 minutes ago, Tankerman said:

Apologies for asking such a basic question. what is the physical length of this B7 point?

It's 288mm, the EM version will be slightly longer.

[Wayne Kinney]

1 minute ago, dpgibbons said:

Good to see you branching out Wayne. Are the chairs moulded into the base or are they individually pegged into the sleepers as with your N Gauge units? 

Many thanks. The chairs are part of the base, so a huge part of the workload is already done

[NFWEM57]

About 296mm rail end to rail end.

 

[dpgibbons]

1 minute ago, Wayne Kinney said:

The chairs are part of the base, so a huge part of the workload is already done

Ah, so you have moved to injection moulded sleeper bases - will your N gauge turnouts follow? 

[dasatcopthorne]

The flangeways look like they are 1mm.

 

Is that correct please?  (Should have gone for 16.2mm around the crossing area)

 

Dave.

[Wayne Kinney]

1 minute ago, dpgibbons said:

Ah, so you have moved to injection moulded sleeper bases - will your N gauge turnouts follow? 

There is a possibility 

[Tankerman]

Thanks Wayne,

 

That's only 35mm longer than the Peco bullhead point which is easily manageable with my planned layout.

[Wayne Kinney]

1 minute ago, dasatcopthorne said:

The flangeways look like they are 1mm.

 

Is that correct please?  (Should have gone for 16.2mm around the crossing area)

 

Dave.

Thanks Dave,

 

You have a good eye! Yes it's a 1mm flangeway shown in Patricks photo's. The following will be available once I go into production:

 

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).

 

Thanks,

Wayne.

[Gilbert]

This is great news - I appreciate this is all still very early in the process but I can't help feeling that a shorter point will sell very well indeed.

[dpgibbons]

How are the switch blades wired please? Is it through the tiebar tabs?

[Wayne Kinney]

Just now, Gilbert said:

This is great news - I appreciate this is all still very early in the process but I can't help feeling that a shorter point will sell very well indeed.

Thanks. I plan on doing A5, B6, B7, B8, C9 & C10...

 

I plan to make all kinds of formations like crossovers, ladder crossovers, diamonds & slips, and also 3 way turnouts exactly like I have done in my N Gauge range.
 

[Wayne Kinney]

3 minutes ago, dpgibbons said:

How are the switch blades wired please? Is it through the tiebar tabs?

If you are referring to power feeds, these would need soldering to the underside of the rails. A wire will be pre soldered to the cast crossing frog, however.

Edited December 3, 2020 by Wayne Kinney

[Phil Bullock]

This is looking great! Is bull head the only rail option? Guessing fb needs different sleepers....

[Wayne Kinney]

Just now, Phil Bullock said:

This is looking great! Is bull head the only rail option? Guessing fb needs different sleepers....

Flat Bottom rail turnouts would come later, much like I did for my N Gauge range...

[KeithHC]

Well done Wayne looking forward to these especially as I have not started my proposed layout yet.

 

Keith

[cheesysmith]

When can these be ordered? Finally a alternative to the peco pointwork. Was seriously looking at tillag but if these come with a range of points and slips, they will be perfect for me.

[Wayne Kinney]

1 minute ago, cheesysmith said:

When can these be ordered? Finally a alternative to the peco pointwork. Was seriously looking at tillag but if these come with a range of points and slips, they will be perfect for me.

Thanks. I am aiming for Jan/Feb on releasing the B7 kit. Other sizes and formations would follow shortly after this.