Are all crossing vees the same?

[Ikcdab]

well obviously the answer is no. But..
If anyone is following my RMWeb thread, they will see that I am about to start building the track in the main station. I have the 5m x .75m templot printout to prove it.
Now i intend to mostly build the pointwork in situ, but the crossing vees and switch blades i will make in my little shed first...
So to the question.
The first job is to build 4 x D12 turnouts that make up a pair of crossovers. If i printout a duplicate template for the crossing vee of just one of the turnouts and i then make 4 crossing vees and wing rail assemblies to match that template, will they all fit their respective turnouts? So in other words, are all D12 crossing vees the same irrespective of the curvature of the turnout?
I have tried to overlay the templates and they seem to be the same, but i need to check.
Heres my layout thread: https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/157222-charlton-bridge-4mm-brs/
I have also attached an extract of the station area box file.
Thanks
Ian

 

[Jim Guthrie]

They're all the same. The "12" in the Turnout type states the crossing being 1 in 12 angle so your four turnouts have the same angle of the crossing nose.

Jim.

 

[Martin Wynne]

If i printout a duplicate template for the crossing vee of just one of the turnouts and i then make 4 crossing vees and wing rail assemblies to match that template, will they all fit their respective turnouts? So in other words, are all D12 crossing vees the same irrespective of the curvature of the turnout?

Hi Ian,

All 1:12 crossing vees are filed to the same 1:12 angle at the nose.

So you can make up 4 identical vees (or more if there are other 1:12 turnouts on the layout ).

But all 1:12 V-crossings are not the same. When you build those vees into each turnout, you will be curving each vee rail to match the template. Unless the turnouts are all straight, it's very likely that each turnout will be curved to a different radius.

If the V-crossing is regular pattern, both rails in the vee will be curved to the same radius in the same direction. If the V-crossing is curviform pattern, the two vee rails will differ in radius, and may curve in opposite directions. More explanation in this video:

https://flashbackconnect.com/Movie.aspx?id=pu2F-wveux5-EWGYuqPd3g2

However, if all these turnouts are making crossovers, they should normally all be regular. The setting is changed in Templot, see the video.

All this means that the wing rails are also not the same, they will curve to match the template, in front of and beyond the knuckle bend. My red in your quote above.

Even if the turnouts are straight, the wing rail front on one side will need to be curved slightly, according to the hand of the turnout.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[Ikcdab]

Hi Martin, thanks, thats very helpful. I have regular crossings and i understand it much better now.
Ian

 

[Ikcdab]

This morning has seen these four beauties made up.

I'm stuck waiting for plywood to cut sleepers out of so may make up other components for now.
Thanks to both for your input.