Starting out in EM gauge.

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Robert Wilson - 12 Jun 2004 10:48 GMT

Hi folks,
I'm trying a foray into EM gauge modelling and I was wondering what the
general concensus was for doing point work, switches, and crossings in flat
bottom rail, either with BS110A type from C and L or the code 82 Rail that
Pete is doing at www.intercitymodels.com as part of his 'FASTRACK' system

I have got hold of the crossing jigs from Souht Hants model railway club,
but I can't get good results from them. Any tips or recommendations?

Thanks,

Rob.

Reply to this Message

Paul Boyd - 12 Jun 2004 11:40 GMT

> I'm trying a foray into EM gauge modelling and I was wondering what the
> general concensus was for doing point work, switches, and crossings in flat
> bottom rail, either with BS110A type from C and L or the code 82 Rail that
> Pete is doing at www.intercitymodels.com as part of his 'FASTRACK' system

Hi Robert.

Welcome to the wacky world of EM! I assume you have joined the EM Gauge
Society? http://www.emgs.org/

> I have got hold of the crossing jigs from Souht Hants model railway club,
> but I can't get good results from them. Any tips or recommendations?

I'm not sure that the jigs you mention are designed for coping with
flat-bottom rail. I don't model using FB, so I'm not best qualified to
comment, but I think the general consensus is that it takes twice as long
and is twice as hard as using bullhead. Have you built *any* trackwork
before? If not, it may be worth having a practise with bullhead to get the
general idea, then extend to FB. I assume you are modelling modern image
(whatever that means!!), so perhaps getting in touch with some of those
groups may help. DEMU comes to mind.

Signature

Paul Boyd

http://www.pbhome.plus.com/
http://www.ecsl-ltd.com/

Reply to this Message

Rob Wilson - 12 Jun 2004 19:14 GMT

Thanks Paul, those snippets are useful. I was in the EM Gauge soc but my
membership lapsed and have'nt got round to renewing. I was at the Welshpool
and Llanfair railway here in my neck of the woods and noticed how the
crossover is formed, and realised I was going about it in the wrong way. I
will try doing stuff in bullhead to start with and then graduate onto FB
Rail. I am hoping to model the 1980's British Rail, preferably before whent
he 40's disappeared. I guess things will be mostly blue in this case.

Thanks again,

Rob.

> > I'm trying a foray into EM gauge modelling and I was wondering what the
> > general concensus was for doing point work, switches, and crossings in
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> (whatever that means!!), so perhaps getting in touch with some of those
> groups may help. DEMU comes to mind.

Reply to this Message

IanClarke - 13 Jun 2004 20:25 GMT

> Hi folks,
> I'm trying a foray into EM gauge modelling and I was wondering what the
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Rob.

Might be worth taking a look how the Proto 87 boys do it.
I know its 3.5mm/ft but the construction principles will be the same
for EM flatbottom.

http://home.freeuk.net/nmrabr/p87/home.htm

Reply to this Message

Jim Guthrie - 13 Jun 2004 23:50 GMT

Rob,

>I'm trying a foray into EM gauge modelling and I was wondering what the
>general concensus was for doing point work, switches, and crossings in flat
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>I have got hold of the crossing jigs from Souht Hants model railway club,
>but I can't get good results from them. Any tips or recommendations?

You might want to get Iain Rice's book on buildign 4mm track - "An
Approach to Building Finescale Track in 4mm" published by Wild Swan.
He covers nearly every variety of track construction and he's got a
good load on information about the prototype as well.

Jim.

Reply to this Message

Model Forum / General / Railroads / June 2004

Starting out in EM gauge.