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Re: O14 mainstream - was: Lionheart 7mm rtr L&B Locos announced
开云体育
I agree, but you miss my point.? I'm not talking about how easy or enjoyable it is for an individual to make track.? I'm talking about getting the underlying basis of a new RTR scale correct before legacy gets in the way.
7mm narrow gauge RTR seems to be coming, as it stands it will be 2-foot prototypes represented on O-16.5.? No one will make their fortune bringing O14 of the shelf track to the market.? There are plenty of other niche products now being bought to market so
I don't think it's a complete non-starter.??
It's easy to find problems, different styles of track, different angle of turnouts, etc.? I'm assuming Lionheart plan to get the Manning Wardle through existing Peco O-16.5 turnouts
so why not something equivalent in O14?
What is lacking is an interested party with means and desire to make it happen, alongside co-ordination with RTR manufacturers.? For instance, I can't believe Heljan aren't following the response and considering whether to offer Lyn in 7mm, with much of the
research and design already done for the OO9 model.??
If O14 off the shelf happened we're no longer talking about a niche scale.? It could be in a mix just behind O, O, N and OO9.??Existing O14 modellers may
indeed say that's not what they choose this scale for, that's fine.? Personally, the idea of RTR models representing 2-foot prototypes on O-16.5 pains me.? It would be a massive missed opportunity not to get it right now.
To the extent I'm trying to stick my neck out and make it happen, which is not my usual moda operandi!? I plan to keep asking questions of various parties.? As I mentioned earlier this is probably not the right place to gain support.? If anyone is interested
please feel free to get in touch.
Rich
Sent from
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Allan Dare <allan.dare@...>
Sent: 01 October 2021 16:00 To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [o14] O14 mainstream - was: Lionheart 7mm rtr L&B Locos announced ?
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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