S Gauge - Sequestered and quiet here??

@DRGWno1 posted:

Ukaflyer:

Just went down to check on this.  Found that the L-AF flanges on their new cylindrical hoppers went through the frog smoothly.  There was a slight up tick when riding over the actual frog, but the wheels never left the top of the rail.  When running the Code 110 wheelsets, there is a slight drop between the closure rail and the frog at very low speeds.  This, however, did not cause a problem for me.

Roger

Thanks for the update. So, with a bit of ingenious modification you have effectively   got a universal turnout to suit all needs. Is it worth going to FVM with this and letting them know what you have done? It would then enable them just to make one model of turnout for all needs and they wouldn’t keep running out of the hi-rail version.

@gunny posted:

Lionelflyer,

Think you ought to take out the reverse loop. They require special wiring with 2 rail.

Gunny

Hi Gunny,

I might be a good idea.  Now that I think about it, I guess it would not be practical to reverse a train operating on one line and then move it to one of the other lines.  I could see that being a very complex electrical problem and I'm looking for simplicity.

Also, I appreciate the comment from Bill about having too much reach for the operating accessories.  I'll revise soon and re-post.  I've not anything better to do and it is better to plan first before building.

LionelFlyer

Concerning custom turnouts,  Brad strong of Signature switches makes just about anything in any gauge.  His workmanship is excellent, he will make any variances you want or need.  His prices are reasonable.  You can even crayon a template to converge any arrangement of tracks in any gauge, any code.

When I was building layouts his special switches made the impossible workable.

Diamond on two curves.

He even makes curved and straight ladder tracks with the points butting up right next to the frog.

LionelFlyer, I think the layout is a great first pass. These always take a few minor revisions to get to the "approved for construction" version.

The reverse loop is needed for all your sidings to work. If you take it out than then all the sidings should be "back in" If the running direction is CCW then the siding on the left is not practical. Wiring a single reverse loop is not hard, my issue would be "where there is one there has to be two", if not you will always be backing trains through the reverse loop to turn them. Two reverse loops is more difficult, both with space needed and wiring. All things considered I would take it out and have more sidings. I never put reverse loops in my temporary Gilbert layouts. My permanent scale layout has four, but each one is long enough to hold the longest train so they are trivial to wire up. Unfortunately those kind of reverse loops require a lot of space.

The pair of turnouts on the lower right will not work. Some engines if running CW will hit the housing of the turnout on the outer loop. I also recommend you try to eliminate the S curves by moving some of the turnouts so they are at the curve, one turnout uses the diverging route, one uses the straight leg. Now is also the time to think about operation and decide where you will put uncouplers and action car clip ons. Also mark where you will want fiber pins.

When I build a layout this complex I always mock it up on the floor so I can test everything and get the exact sizes of partial track sections so nothing hits.

Tom Tee, they look amazing. It really does make the impossible possible.

@DRGWno1 posted:

Chuck:

When using the FV turnouts with mare scale flanged wheelsets there are two areas of concern:

1.  The cast frog assembly will not allow these wheelsets to run through the turnout.  The wheelsets will drop into the space between the points and the closure rails.  To address this issue, I added 0.020 X 0.60" spacers attached with JB Weld.  This allowed the scale wheelsets to ride over the space in the cast frog assembly (see Illustration).

2.  The guard rails allowed the tread of the scale wheelsets (Code 110 and 125) to be misdirected through the turnout causing them to derail.  To address this issue, I decreased the width of the guard rail by attaching a 0.030 X 0.100 spacer to the original guard rail.  I roughed up the guard rail with 100 grit sandpaper to increase the bite for the adhesive (I used Eileen's "The Ultimate" ).  I painted the spacer with American Accents by Rust-oleum.  Color: Espresso, a perfect match for the original FV guard rail.  The spacer is difficult to see in the illustration as it has already been painted.

Haven't had any problems in the two years I have had over 20 turnouts on the layout.

Roger

 

 

Bingo!

Tom Stoltz (formerly Tom's Turnouts)

in Maine

You guys on track and frogs have stolen this thread.  Please start you own.

Thanks

@Roundhouse Bill posted:

You guys on track and frogs have stolen this thread.  Please start you own.

Thanks

Well, you were the one complaining about how quiet things were here...

Rusty

LOL Bill!

Sometimes threads take on a life of their own in spite of its creator!

Andre

I find the track discussion informative.

Gunny

@Roundhouse Bill posted:

You guys on track and frogs have stolen this thread.  Please start you own.

Thanks

Sorry, I thought this was the thread... so, what is the thread instead?

Tom Stoltz

in Maine

It started with a question about the forum being quiet and became a great discussion about track.

Gunny

Yeah, sometimes a topic will drift from the original posting.  In most cases, good info comes to light anyway. 

I posted that in sequestration, I have very little train things to do, but here's a project I did just before I disassembled my layout (which may NEVER get done) and put it in storage.  It's a Pine Canyon Rigsby Freight Terminal that didn't quite fit in the spot I wanted. Here's the mock up in place:

Then after some judicious measuring, cutting, CA-ing and painting, here's the result:

It was a god kit, and I wish thy still made more. 

Maybe some day I"ll run trains again.

Okay, swerving back to another previous "track", I've tried making recommended changes to the layout that I was planning.  The reverse loop has been removed and all of the sidings have been modified so that a train can back in.  The entire layout was rotated 180 degrees and some space made so that operating accessories are within reach of the edges.  This covers most of the operating accessories that I own for now.  RR Track doesn't have a listing for the cow-on-track but I'm sure I can get it in somewhere.  

I appreciate the comments that I have received and will take into consideration any others.  Thank you all for the help.

LionelFlyer

Looks good, enjoy it! Should you ever decide to experiment with a reverse loop it will be easy to connect the two sidings to the right to create one.

@poniaj posted:

Yeah, sometimes a topic will drift from the original posting.  In most cases, good info comes to light anyway. 

I posted that in sequestration, I have very little train things to do, but here's a project I did just before I disassembled my layout (which may NEVER get done) and put it in storage.  It's a Pine Canyon Rigsby Freight Terminal that didn't quite fit in the spot I wanted. Here's the mock up in place:

Then after some judicious measuring, cutting, CA-ing and painting, here's the result:

It was a god kit, and I wish thy still made more. 

Maybe some day I"ll run trains again.

Hi,

Where can I buy that Pine Canyon Scale Models freight terminal? Looks like they are not around any more.

That is very nice!

Chad(?),Try  web search.  Some dealer may still have one on the shelf.  I bought mine years ago from Pine Canyon and finally got a "round tuit" a few months ago.  Trains shows are a good source of old kits, but lately they're another victim of the sequester.   The Sprees and Fests were great at this kind of thing, not to mention the national conventions.  I also have done the Pine Canyon's Barrie's Custom Shop and gas station.  I was sorry to see the company discontinue full building kits.  It hurt my sensibilities to cut it up to make it fit, but it came out OK.

Speaking of resin kits, Twin Whistle may still have the Rialto movie theater kit.  Here's mine, which I just HAD to electrify with LEDs.  I use a 3V alarm battery for power. The roof vent is the on/off switch:

This building, along with my whole layout, is packed away, perhaps never to see the light of day (or the basement) again.

Keeping my eyes out for one.

Thanks,

Chad

Since I'm a nut for 1950s cars, I'm VERY happy with the M2 1:64 car offerings for S gauge. This is a '55 Dodge, which came out when I was 13. These have doors and hoods that can open, and they retail for about $8. at train shows. EBay has a good selection, but you'll pay shipping..

Joe,

Be very careful, or acquiring 1:64 cars can become another hobby!  I know of what I speak...

And they keep delivering MORE!