P4 trackwork.

Hi, Just thought i'd let people know about my experience at having a go at doing some P4 trackwork. I finally got to grips with Templot (have a look on google if you're interested) and found it a very interesting and rewarding procedure.

The only proviso I would stipulate is to use the filing Jigs from the South Hants model railway society, as they make a job of filing crossovers a lot easier than doing it the hard way.

I shall put some photos of my handiwork on my webserver soon. I'm actually going to put a webcam onto my work bench soon too, so you can see what i'm up to.

Kind regards at all,

Rob.

Reply to
Robert Wilson
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On 16/05/2005 21:01, Robert Wilson wrote,

A double whammy - P4 and Templot! See? Neither are as hard as people make out. :-) What methods did you use for your trackwork?

Also known as the South Hants Area Group. Good acronym!

I look forward to this. Photos are of more interest than a webcam! My own P4 trackwork photos haven't yet been uploaded, but there are plenty of EM photos on my website. This will be written up in due course...

Reply to
Paul Boyd

Almost as good as the St. Helens Institute of Technology.

Reply to
MartinS

Slight confusion here Paul, the owners of that acronym are the Shropshire & Herefordshire Area Group. The group that is linked with the South Hants MRC is actually the Hampshire (East) Area Group. Regards Keith

Make friends in the hobby. Visit Garratt photos for the big steam lovers.

Reply to
Keith Norgrove

I'm just using the tried and tested method of soldering rail sections to Copper clad stips. I am doing some bull head rail turnouts to evaluate my own skills, as my target is Steel flat bottom rail section, as I want model late 20th century British Rail (ie, before privatisation.)

If anyone has photos of flat bottom P4 trackwork/pointwork I can learn from then they would be very welcome indeed.

I did make use of the excellent wheelset conversion packs from Alan Gibson, and did my two class 50's into P4, and they were ex stock and not on a 12 week leadtime like some other outfits. This was a doddle, so I thought the time was right to embark on P4 pointwork.

Cheers,

Rob.

Reply to
Robert Wilson

Robert Wilson wrote: [...], as my target is Steel flat bottom rail section,[...]

Don't use steel, use nickel silver. Steel is the devil's own business to solder, and it rusts, too. If you don't like the look of N/S, paint it, then wipe off the rail head, it will have a nice, shiny, well-travelled look.

Reply to
Wolf Kirchmeir

Wolf, We are talking P4 here, steel is the best material for scale rail, it is no harder to file or solder up than nickel silver, has the correct colour for the railhead when wiped off as you suggest. Rust is not an issue in any normal domestic environment. I have been using steel for over 30 years now and some of the steel track has been with me in 3 continents in that time and has not rusted yet. Robert, ignore the propaganda against steel and stick with your decision, you won't regret it. Keith

Make friends in the hobby. Visit Garratt photos for the big steam lovers.

Reply to
Keith Norgrove

...

A test track I have in my garage is almost entirely steel recovered from the now demolished layout in my son's room ... and prior to being used for testing was stored in the garage in a cardboard box on the concrete floor for a couple of months ... no rust. And while it's not the same as building track I've never had any problems soldering droppers to the steel rail.

Reply to
Chris Wilson

"Wolf Kirchmeir" wrote

Hull MRS have used steel rail very successfully over the years to handbuild track for their various large scale Irish narrow gauge layouts.

I personally wouldn't use it through choice, but it can be used with great success.

John.

Reply to
John Turner

OK, OK, I yield. Use steel if you like, I won't object, and if I ever see your steel rail layouts I'll make the appropriate appreciative noises. :-)

Reply to
Wolf Kirchmeir

I find it amazing that in a climate famous for its regular rainy conditions you have no rust problem. In my climate coastal NSW, if steel is not well oiled or greased it rusts quickly.

Reply to
Terry Flynn

I don't keep my P4 track in the garden, 'normal domestic conditions' I said. Including a spell near the coast in Sydney which had no adverse effect.

Keith

Make friends in the hobby. Visit Garratt photos for the big steam lovers.

Reply to
Keith Norgrove

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