Curved Points

In message , Kevin Rayner writes

There are other considerations, i.e. they look very silly on tight curves.

I have curved turnouts on my layout to save space, but I'd stay away from the Hornby ones. The Peco Streamline ones are a larger radius than the Setrack (which are 2nd radius - 17.25"). You might also want to consider a low profile rail (Code 83 or 75) for a better appearance - in HO a Code 100 rail is 8.7 scale inches high. There was a Track Buyer's Guide in October Model Railroader comparing different makes of track. Curved turnouts are produced by Walthers (USA), Shinohara (Japan) and Fleischmann, Roco and Tillig Pilz (Europe); I've no idea on prices. The alternative is to build your own.

As the Peco catalogue was ambiguous as to the radius of the set-track curved turnout, I held one against the set track curves in the model shop - the curves match 1st radius, definitely not 2nd radius.

Roco (used to) make a code 100 22" outer radius turnout. I have 6 of these on my helix as crossovers - they work very well.

Old (discontinued) Peco are 1st radius. Current (for about 2 years) Peco are 2nd radius, same as Hornby. Both tie in with a track spacing of 68mm

Bother - would have used second radius! Time to buy a new catalogue.

Atlas points would be compatible with Peco, but Walthers are code 83 and will not.

Shinohara make a code 100 range but these are a different rail section, and you would need to adjust the railjoiners. They are also LIVE frog, and need wiring up. All US turnouts are numbered 4, 6, 8 etc. This is not the same as Hornby no 2 etc, but gives the ratio of the turnout angle. It is a much more accurate desription than Peco and Hornby's radius which is completely in accurate. try getting a 15" radius point into a 15" radius circle.

I don't have problems fitting Hornby or Peco Settrack points into a circle (but they don't make 15" radius!). Atlas make both Code 100 and 83 - their Custom-Line items fulfill a similar function to Peco Streamline (Code 100 & 75). Likewise, Atlas Snap-track and Peco Settrack provide fixed radius curves & turnouts.

Atlas are currently upgrading their Code 100 Snap-track and Flex-track components with finer sleepers/ties and rail fasteners. I haven't seen any new turnouts, but the older ones are of inferior construction and appearance to Peco, and don't have the over-centre spring feature (which can be added if desired with a piece of paper clip wire, as shown in Oct. Model Railroader). I find Atlas flextrack easier to lay than Peco, as one rail is fixed to the base and maintains a constant tie spacing on both curves and straights; ties have pre-drilled holes too.

October Model Railroader has, besides an HO track buyer's guide, a useful Workbench Guide supplement on track construction, soldering, adhesives, etc. I've seen it available separately for $1.00.

I've been looking for some really smoothe points as an alternative to Peco Streamline for a high speed mainline junction.

Found the Shinohara details on ScaleLink's web site

A deep breath on the prices, but I think I'll go for some eventually. A recent email said they had them in stock.

David

The prices look pretty good to me. One other point, they are to NMRA spec, so are equal to Fine scale turnouts. OK if you are running strictly up-todate equipment but not so good if you have any earlier pre-NEM stock. Bachmann are all OK as far as I know, but Lima might not all work. New Hornby O.K> but older Hornby might not work without some modifications to the turnouts.