Building O14 track and turnouts is not difficult. I’ve always found it one of the more enjoyable parts of the hobby, but I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
However, RTR O14 track and turnouts seem a little unlikely - partly because of the tooling costs for what is inevitably a niche market, partly because of the disparities in size and design between “skips with everything” industrial trackage on the one hand, and the more sophisticated p.way used on common carrier lines such as the L&B or the Rheidol on the other.
The most difficult/tedious parts when scratchbuilding a turnout are the crossing nose + wing rail assembly, and the switch blades. The closure rails and check rails are simply standard stuff cut to length, as are the crossing timbers. Might the answer thus be to supply pre-assambled crossings and pre-planed switch rails, to suitable crossing angles, and perhaps in Peco code 65 for industrial lines and Kalgarin code 82 for big brother? ?A properly thought-out stretcher bar assembly that allows the switch toes to pivot would also help; soldering switchblades up solid to a bit of PCB is asking for trouble later on. The only other things needed would be some photo-copied templates, ?strips of PCB for sleepers and crossing timbers (it’s the width that matters - the trackbuilder can cut it to length as needed as needed), and a roller gauge for each rail size, setting out both track- and check gauge. (Using a roller gauge designed for another rail profile is a no-no, says he from bitter experience!)
This would require little in the way of tooling or up-front investment, and should therefore be do-able for a cottage industry supplier. Moreover, the same components could also be used for 16.5mm gauge, thus widening the potential market to include those modellers seeking a more realstic alternative to the Peco track. (I’m not knocking Peco, who have done a grand job in making 7mm narrow gauge accessible, but their track is a bit “samey”.)?
Some of the above, e.g gauges, ?is already available on the Light Railway Stores site. Add the missing such as the crossings and switch rails, and O14 track and turnouts would be within reach of anyone who can pick up a soldering iron.
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My compromise with O14.I use Sn3 Fast Track turnout jigs. Expensive, yes, but I have a key to theback door which helps...Shinohara Sn3 flextrack for unseen areas. Very hard to find now but Ithink I read in a Scalelink bulletin that someone has bought the tooling?Cheers,CPMark,
I agree with what you are saying. ?I've some S scale track components sat
next to me right now which I bought to try and make up a reasonable
representation of the Penrhyn Bullhead rail I grew up knowing on the
Ffestiniog.
I'm not talking about tooling up every track variant, just a generic left
and right hand point with flexi track. ?I'm not thinking existing O14
modellers are the target audience. ?What I'm proposing is getting the
starting position for the mass market closer to scale. ?Which I believe
would have knock on benefits for
Anyway, these discussions are proving my point. ?There is no group to
drive this project forward, even though I'm sure if it were to come to
market it would be a run-away success. ?Just think how popular an oval of
track with an O14 quarry Hunslet would be!
Thanks,
Rich
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________________________________
From:?[email protected]?<[email protected]> on behalf of Mark via?
<mark_noble@...>
Sent: 01 October 2021 13:52
To:?[email protected]?<[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [o14] O14 mainstream - was: Lionheart 7mm rtr L&B Locos
announced
Kevin,
I agree. I知 a self confessed rivet counter and model in 014 as I like to
get as close to the prototype as possible. This includes the track, which,
of course I知 having to build myself, in my case using Karlgarin code 100
rail to represent modern day WHR / FFR. The issue anyone like Lionheart
has making the investment in manufacturing RTR track representing 2 foot
gauge is which standard to choose as it varies so much. Considerations are
not only rail weight, but fixings to the sleepers, the shape of the
sleeper, the size and material of the sleepers themselves along with the
distance between sleepers. Even the L&B had track ranging from simple
spikes, to clips and bolts, clips and bolts with bearing plates when the
SR re laid the main line and even used reinforced concrete sleepers. The
014 modeller is likely to want these details right and resort to scratch
building making the return on investment for a manufacturer very risky as
volumes are likely to be low. If you池e happy to live with the compromise
of 16.5mm gauge track you are likely going to be satisfied with Peco痴
offering.
Regards,
Mark.
Allan Dare