Hornby - new Gresley coaches - price increase.

Semi-flex supposedly keeps its shape better than flex, but is harder to re-straighten. Hornby also has rigid straights approx. 26" long.

In message , Flingel Bunt writes

When I started this layout, Peco were in the midst of their Luddite phase, not allowing website addresses in adverts in Railway Modeller, which turned me against them somewhat: why should I support a manufacturer that was behaving like a bloody idiot?

R.621 Flexible track, length 970 mm (38.2 inches) R.8090 Semi-Flexible track, length 914 mm (36.0 inches)

I have discovered that after 5 years in the garden the best thing to do with track that you have lifted because you are changing the layout is to throw it away and replace it with new.

Yo

Ah ha ... thanks for that! Never noticed what type of Hornby it was I used up on my test loop 6 months ago, just nailed it down ;-) I bought it 10+ years ago when I thought Hornby only had one type of flexible and Peco was harder to come by (in N. Ireland and before the '.net' took off).

I wouldn't consider buying Hornby track now tho' ... The Hornby flex I used seems to have slightly wider rails (rail top thickness) than Peco and Hornby points are a bit ... iffy.

Thanks for the answers (incl. Martin S.)

All the best

Fling

In message , Flingel Bunt writes

Hornby only do sharp radius points (even their "express" point is too sharp) and Peco streamline points are also "iffy" as their current switching breaks down after a month or so outside, so I bond the closure rails to the adjacent stock rails before laying, and the "over-centre spring" stops working after a while. It would be nice if someone would market a series if C8 points and associated crossings in code 100 for OO, but I suppose I'm whistling in the wind.

Yo

C8? No.8?... like this stuff?! from

I can't remember where I read it but there's something about those Shinohara points not being DCC friendly although they are supposed to be releasing updated ones this year or next (I forget exactly).

Didn't know Peco might be iffy tho' I assume you mean in the extreme ie. outside in British weather. I haven't got around to any sort of 'proper' layout yet and it'll be a small shelf layout (prolly) when it happens so I have some time to decide which make of track to go for (I'm tempted with those Shinohara's mind).

All the best

Fling

In message , Flingel Bunt writes

Yes, it's the DCC friendly ones I'm after. I notice that their double slip and scissors crossover are No.6, however, and I expected the radius of No.8 points to be something like 9 feet. I shall wait until the updated ones come out, then buy a sample to see what it's like.

However, the Shinohara stuff is American in style, like the new Peco stuff that they've just released, so might look a tad worse than what I've already got. Maybe I'll have to build my own, which could be interesting to say the least. Now where can I get a kit for a C8 DCC friendly scissors crossover with dead frogs in code 100?

Yes. And don't even think of using Peco point motors outside: they rust solid in no time.

Have you considered pneumatic actuators?

See

Yo

I'll bet they don't work ;o)

Try the 'Track' page in the URL in the sig of the post you replied to ;o) (

In message , Joe Ellis writes

Yes, see my web pages.

In message , Flingel Bunt writes

Oh yes they do! At least the ones I use do.

Yo

Is it nickel-silver? I went for Peco because theirs looked more durable outdoors?

"Brian Watson" wrote

Both Peco and Hornby are nickel-silver.

My personal preference would be for Peco, but only because it is made in the UK.

John.

In message , Brian Watson writes

Yes

"Brian Watson" wrote

I prefer to keep British workers in a job if at all possible, but that isn't an option with rolling stock unfortunately.

John.

The detailing is excellent, far better than the old style Hornby teak Gresleys. Time to start saving my pocket money :-)

Guy

I loved the claim by Simon Kohler that there's no lighting because it would have protruded too far into the coaches. So, nothing to do with saving on cost then?

Personally I always watch model railways with my head flat on the baseboard so as to check whether the lighting unit is visible from ground level or not :o)

(kim)

"kim" wrote

LOL - I can't believe with the latest price on these coaches that you can accuse Hornby of saving on cost!

Personally I don't give a toss about such gimmics as coach lighting. I've never yet seen it done effectively and unless you're running on DCC then the damned things will go out when you stop the train. How realistic is that?

John.