14.2mm gauge point kits from British Finescale

[Robert Shrives]

Hi 

Such  is the broad church of the 3mm society that getting a single standard is not going to happen, hence the committee favouring a 14.2 turnout as one standard in place.  Creating a turnout to Triang only equally "disenfranchises" a majority, however the 14.2 point opens a fine scale way for many with a big leap forward in the reliability stakes and thus was the right descision.  

What is fun to read on here , the I.O. 3mm forum and FB pages is the repeated " I was gifted a load of Triang TT, what can I get for it now and "wow" it still runs well like I remembered as a child."    Thus it remains a great stepping stone into 3mm and as we have also read on here it shows up where the 3mm scale is very much a "have to make" scale -regardless of gauge/ track standard. But availabilty of parts is a two edged sword - cottage industry supply rates and limited range that is however by entrants measured against 2 , 4 and 7 mm ranges of detail and basic kits, knowing rtr is not on the menu.     

The fact that the society membership when quizzed about a Mk1 coach as a potential rtr project failed to grasp the potential good was a shock to me but a measure of the many pressures that on reflection affect members, with finance, choice of modelling already in hand, age  and a million other factors in each persons case does mean that having a good support of Triang does offer the best way of getting new or changers into this happy backwater of the hobby and then gently showing alternative paths.  Without the support of Triang style/ standard products to maintain and upgrade then getting 3mm modelling to survive another 50 years might well be a big problem, not compared to all the world problems of course but just looking in our little backyard!

Gets coat and heads back to the bench- currently trying to sort mixed boxes of TT stuff so i might even find what I want..

Robert      

[bradfordbuffer]

50 minutes ago, Robert Shrives said:

Hi 

Such  is the broad church of the 3mm society that getting a single standard is not going to happen, hence the committee favouring a 14.2 turnout as one standard in place.  Creating a turnout to Triang only equally "disenfranchises" a majority, however the 14.2 point opens a fine scale way for many with a big leap forward in the reliability stakes and thus was the right descision.  

What is fun to read on here , the I.O. 3mm forum and FB pages is the repeated " I was gifted a load of Triang TT, what can I get for it now and "wow" it still runs well like I remembered as a child."    Thus it remains a great stepping stone into 3mm and as we have also read on here it shows up where the 3mm scale is very much a "have to make" scale -regardless of gauge/ track standard. But availabilty of parts is a two edged sword - cottage industry supply rates and limited range that is however by entrants measured against 2 , 4 and 7 mm ranges of detail and basic kits, knowing rtr is not on the menu.     

The fact that the society membership when quizzed about a Mk1 coach as a potential rtr project failed to grasp the potential good was a shock to me but a measure of the many pressures that on reflection affect members, with finance, choice of modelling already in hand, age  and a million other factors in each persons case does mean that having a good support of Triang does offer the best way of getting new or changers into this happy backwater of the hobby and then gently showing alternative paths.  Without the support of Triang style/ standard products to maintain and upgrade then getting 3mm modelling to survive another 50 years might well be a big problem, not compared to all the world problems of course but just looking in our little backyard!

Gets coat and heads back to the bench- currently trying to sort mixed boxes of TT stuff so i might even find what I want..

Robert      

Personally I would of bought the proposed mk1sbut only if there was a range if mk1s..couldent run multiple bso's...think the way forward I etched sides grafted on to 3d printed shells. I'm in contact with a chap off ebay who does cars and vans in multiple scale but had solid windows I asked if he could do the landrovers with windows that be printed open....he's completely redrawn and in test print stage! So going to ask him for a private commission for a wagon/ underframe as he likes the design stage if wagon success may move to mk1 shell! So it will be like doing a 4mm comet coach conversion...

Taking of coach etched is worsley works still going is Alan still with us as the 2mm section is asking after him and his web has disappeared? 

As for triang been a stepping stone for new members to scale, sorry but respectfully disagree....don't see 4mm modelers dropping there Sutton loco works 24 for a 60year old class 31 and mk1s that are too short hurtling round 18inch curves at hs2 speeds...not any modelers I know....but sent picks of 14.2 point and 08 trundling through and got a ohhhh!

[Silverfox17]

1 hour ago, bradfordbuffer said:

I quite agree but can triang run on code 60 BH? Is society 12mm track run on code 80FB? Think point kits may be difficult in flat bottom....Problems are multi 12mm standards...triang...tilling...lincon loco....

But the developers will know more...

How long can we still suport Tri-ang standards?  Not knocking triang but it's not attracting modellers to 3mm. There is a place for all 3mm but how many Newby opt for Tri-ang 

Surprisingly most new members on the FB TT page are all Tri-ang and a few of them are youngsters. There are not many who have joined into 14.2.

 

My thoughts were if developing a point that Peco H0m rail could be used and there would be no issues. I have 5 Lincoln-Loco RTR models and all of them, including the class 37, will run on Tri-ang track, including small radius curves as well as Peco.

 

Garry

[bradfordbuffer]

2 hours ago, Silverfox17 said:

Surprisingly most new members on the FB TT page are all Tri-ang and a few of them are youngsters. There are not many who have joined into 14.2.

 

My thoughts were if developing a point that Peco H0m rail could be used and there would be no issues. I have 5 Lincoln-Loco RTR models and all of them, including the class 37, will run on Tri-ang track, including small radius curves as well as Peco.

 

Garry

I get what your saying but it's like saying everyone who joins the FB Ford escort page likes Ford escorts

I'm personally not on FB but from seeing swmbo's fb can't see any railway stuff but loads of makeup tutorials and food vids.

You can give someone a fish to eat but only feeds for one day ....give them a fishing rod....?

I prefer 14.2mm but appreciate other denominations....

Regards

G

[Silverfox17]

27 minutes ago, bradfordbuffer said:

I get what your saying but it's like saying everyone who joins the FB Ford escort page likes Ford escorts

I'm personally not on FB but from seeing swmbo's fb can't see any railway stuff but loads of makeup tutorials and food vids.

You can give someone a fish to eat but only feeds for one day ....give them a fishing rod....?

I prefer 14.2mm but appreciate other denominations....

Regards

G

Slight difference as their photos of trains and track are Triang or Triang based with old Bec/Gem kits etc lol

 

 

[whart57]

11 hours ago, Silverfox17 said:

It would be nice if some were done to Tri-ang standards, there are far more people with Tri-ang/12 mm than 14.2 and it would save modifying Peco ones.

 

The fact you speak of modifying Peco points shows why we aren't pursuing a 12mm gauge point with Wayne just yet. Which of the three 12mm gauge standards should we follow? You would like the coarser Triang standard, but then what about those who prefer to follow the Intermediate or FS 12mm gauge options. There is also the question of rail standard - bullhead or flatbottomed, code 80 or finer.

 

There is only one 14.2mm gauge standard, everyone uses the same code 60 BH rail, and has the same check rail gaps and back to back. That is not true of 12mm gauge.

[Robert Shrives]

"And that is the rub" It is just not possible to please most people some of the time...  Oh the joys of 3mm!  Mind you when you look at 4mm  with a number of gauges and standards ending in P4 and even 7mm O gauge can mount 3 in scale 7 and  even in Gauge one the scales differ so affecting gauge but this is often accommodated at track level.

 

I would  have suspected that a triang standards 12mm turnout would be the modal option.  Society  bullhead would seem the best option to make use of current resources.  While it excludes FB points we should aim to make something to keep true to the aims of finding obscure scales and modelling them!     I think my dream of a super triang point  will just have to the nightmare maker for the committee.  For my final ten penth rather than a crossover a double slip and matching diamond would allow complexties to dream of but have some common parts? A tandem turnout would add icing on a cake for fiddle yards and those freight yards of old.  ( Easy to spend somebody else`s money!)

 

Robert 

[Lacathedrale]

Interesting thoughts - though not related to the topic at hand admittedly.

 

I guess shorn of Tri-ang, 3mm scale becomes (will become?) more like S-scale in that it has a certain goldilocks appeal (and oh how I pine for the idea that 3mm and S were the standard tabletop scales instead of 2mm and 4mm!) - but becomes so far the domain of competent scratchbuilders and advanced cottage-industry types, which effectively cuts the legs off external adoption by the unwashed masses?

 

 

[NCB]

Maybe the committee should set up an advisory group of Triang enthusiasts to tell them what developments they would like to see.

Nigel

[bradfordbuffer]

16 minutes ago, NCB said:

Maybe the committee should set up an advisory group of Triang enthusiasts to tell them what developments they would like to see.

Nigel

300mph jinty and a smell of hot lubricant!

 

To be fair when I see triang tt or 3rail at shows sometimes more entertaining and draws bigger crowd !...

[Robert Shrives]

5 hours ago, NCB said:

Maybe the committee should set up an advisory group of Triang enthusiasts to tell them what developments they would like to see.

Nigel

I suspect this would be a case of herding fog or nailing blancmange to ceilings in trying to get a consensus, but fun nevertheless.

Robert  

[Heacham]

On 24/04/2022 at 16:24, Silverfox17 said:

Slight difference as their photos of trains and track are Triang or Triang based with old Bec/Gem kits etc lol

 

 

The reason could be that TT3 Model Train Fans (418 members) many consists of Triang TT Collectors.  3mm and Triang TT (783 followers) does have a few post that aren't Triang based.  Tri-ang Railways TT Gauge (621 followers) is what it says on the tin but I see very few posts. Although there are members of these groups that I know are fine scale modellers they do not tend to post things as they are probably happy sharing their modelling on the 3mm i.o. group. I must admit my modelling has very little Tri-ang apart from the occasional cut and shut 16T mineral on a parkside chassis and a couple of Brush type 2s. I have not done any real modelling for the past 3 years due for various reasons but I do like seeing what others are up to especially your videos and your expertly modelled locos with their hitech etched chassis. 

 

Simon

[Sabato]

On 04/05/2022 at 17:07, NCB said:

Maybe the committee should set up an advisory group of Triang enthusiasts to tell them what developments they would like to see.

Nigel

 

Nigel, two or three months ago the Society Chairman advertised and hosted a 3mm Society zoom session to do exactly what you suggested above. It might have been a first step to a focus group, but sadly it wasn't well attended, and very little in the way of new ideas came from it. Disappointing really, given some complain that "the Committee concentrates on products for the finer end of our scale", but when given the opportunity to contribute, don't. 

 

Apropos rail, Peco is code 75, not quite sure if you call it FB or BH; the Society 12mm track base uses C80 FB; the Society 14.2mm and 13.5mm bases use C60 BH. Using C60 with Tri-ang wheels is unlikely to give good running.

 

 

[Golden Fleece 30]

On 08/05/2022 at 19:04, Sabato said:

Disappointing really, given some complain that "the Committee concentrates on products for the finer end of our scale", but when given the opportunity to contribute, don't.

I did put a few proposals in but all rejected by the society and was told if interested I should pay to get items made store them and sell myself.

 

I agree very few attended the session which was very disappointing but only to be expected as most Tri-ang enthusiasts try to keep in the background for some reason, probably due to the way we get treated and looked down on, by many but not all.

 

Garry

[bradfordbuffer]

1 hour ago, Golden Fleece 30 said:

I did put a few proposals in but all rejected by the society and was told if interested I should pay to get items made store them and sell myself.

 

I agree very few attended the session which was very disappointing but only to be expected as most Tri-ang enthusiasts try to keep in the background for some reason, probably due to the way we get treated and looked down on, by many but not all.

 

Garry

With nearly 500 members interested in triang standards .....poor turn up!

Dont be ashamed of what you model, how good or bad it is...rule 1 .....your trains ...your rules

[NCB]

A lot of people give zoom a miss. Not the best way to discuss things. Better to start a thread or two on the egroup.

[Golden Fleece 30]

17 minutes ago, NCB said:

A lot of people give zoom a miss. Not the best way to discuss things. Better to start a thread or two on the egroup.

That would be a bigger waste of time as even less people comment on anything to do with Tri-ang. There have been many times I have posted and no reply at all.

[bradfordbuffer]

15 minutes ago, NCB said:

A lot of people give zoom a miss. Not the best way to discuss things. Better to start a thread or two on the egroup.

Yep rather poke my eyes out with a swan morton scalpel than zoooom! 

 

How does a 3mmer join e group....was on years ago....recently tried asked for pass words

2 minutes ago, Golden Fleece 30 said:

That would be a bigger waste of time as even less people comment on anything to do with Tri-ang. There have been many times I have posted and no reply at all.

Clicked like....some one likes your post!

[Golden Fleece 30]

30 minutes ago, bradfordbuffer said:

How does a 3mmer join e group....was on years ago....recently tried asked for pass words

It is not a society group but you do have to be a paid member to join.

[bradfordbuffer]

1 minute ago, Golden Fleece 30 said:

It is not a society group but you do have to be a paid member to join.

Yep paid up member

[Golden Fleece 30]

17 minutes ago, bradfordbuffer said:

Yep paid up member

Write to Mike Corp or Jacques Gerber who are the admin for it.

[whart57]

18 hours ago, Golden Fleece 30 said:

That would be a bigger waste of time as even less people comment on anything to do with Tri-ang. There have been many times I have posted and no reply at all.

 

To be fair, most posts are of the "how do I?" or "does anyone have?" variety. They aren't specifically Triang or non-Triang.

[bradfordbuffer]

1 hour ago, whart57 said:

 

To be fair, most posts are of the "how do I?" or "does anyone have?" variety. They aren't specifically Triang or non-Triang.

Would you say hear is a better platform? Also none 3mmers may see and take a dabble?

[whart57]

38 minutes ago, bradfordbuffer said:

Would you say hear is a better platform? Also none 3mmers may see and take a dabble?

 

The e-group is like a club room, this is more like a table in the corner of a busy pub.

[bradfordbuffer]

1 hour ago, whart57 said:

 

The e-group is like a club room, this is more like a table in the corner of a busy pub.

I like pubs!

 

 

Never go into them....but the thoughts there