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  • The Plug Track functions are experimental and still being developed.

    For an updated overview of this project see this topic.   For some practical modelling aspects of using Plug Track see Building 3D Track.

    The assumption is that you have your own machines on which to experiment, or helpful friends with machines. Please do not send Templot files to commercial laser cutting or 3D printing firms while this project is still experimental, because the results are unpredictable and possibly wasteful.

    Some pages of this and other topics include contributions from members who are creating and posting their own CAD designs for 3D printing and laser-cutting. Do not confuse them with Templot's own exported CAD files. All files derived from Templot are © Martin Wynne.

Dexfield - GWR 30's ish. 00-SF

Quick reply >
Hi all,

I thought I best turn my old discussion into a proper layout topic as I am making some progress. My thoughts for this layout is a 30's GWR layout with shared running from the other companies to add some variety. I am handbuilding all the track using functional chairs apart from the fiddleyard (RH Side) which will be just rtr for ease and speed.

This is my current plan after much deliberating on weather or not to add a junction instead of a branch but with the fiddleyard space I have I don't think it would work very well. So where the mainline disappears the bottom it will just run around behind the backscene and into the fiddleyard (which will be opened up to 00 for tighter curves). With it being plain track there shouldn't be too much issue and the CMX will keep the track clean. The branch line gives me a space to do something really nice and scenic with a single line running through the countryside which I have always enjoyed. The idea with the layout is that it gives me the "best of both worlds" so I can run mainline aswell as branch traffic.

Dexfield with Branch.png

My only question now is, I have kept the mainlines at a scale 8ft distance to leave space for any detailing stuff that needs to go in the middle and ground signals etc. Is this just right or a bit too much? I want it to look right but not cause too many issues down the line. My on scene curves are around 5-6ft for the mainlines until it's hidden.

IMG_1291.jpg


Otherwise I am really liking this plan. My goods loop where it joins the mainline halfway down the left side is quite short but I guess that's a compromise thing as I didn't really want the mainline to follow the branch too much.

Thanks
Mike
 

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  • Dexfield Shorter Mainline with Branch.box
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Bear in mind that quite a lot of the GWR was originally built to Broad Gauge standards, so you will find that the space between tracks is often greater as a result, so I don't see 8ft as a problem at all! Even on other railways the gap is greater in stations and sidings for the issues you identify, by the way I am sure this has been covered before and even mentioned in Templot itself.
 
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Ah thanks, I didn’t know that. I’ll probably leave it as it is then to be honest as it stops me from having to alter what I have already started
 
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Actually if you click on information in the dialogue box for track centres, it says it should actually be 10ft, though I am sure I have seen other dimensions such as 8ft or 9ft track centres bandied about elsewhere.
 
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Well it's been awhile since an update so here goes. The outer line (the "Up line") is now complete and where it disappears into the fiddleyard it trturns to 00 peco track.

IMG_1632.jpg


IMG_1633.jpg


IMG_1634.jpg


However I am considering 1 slight change. Where the track enters/leaves the station into the fiddleyard it goes from a very gentle curve to quite a a 30" radius curve which can look quite abrupt and therefor would need to try and hide some of the corner. However after playing with transiitions in templot some more I have come up with an alternative. This has a slightly tighter radius on part of teh station (so more gaps between coaches and platform) however the curve into the fiddleyard is alot more gentle and so more could remain on scene which would increase scenic space. Thoughts?

IMG_1636.jpg


IMG_1635.jpg


Also my next thing to build is a single slip so if anyone has any tips for building one with functional chairs and info on what bits need to be soldered together etc that would be a big help! Or even if anyone knows where I can find an old C&L template for one showing chair locations etc if there is one?

Thanks
 
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Hi Mike,

Take a look at my special GW chairs in the resources section, it has photos of the chairs for a single slip, at 1 in 7.5, if my memory serves me. Not quite what you're asking for, but may give you an idea of what's needed.
 
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Well it's been awhile since an update so here goes. The outer line (the "Up line") is now complete and where it disappears into the fiddleyard it trturns to 00 peco track.

View attachment 7277

View attachment 7278

View attachment 7279

However I am considering 1 slight change. Where the track enters/leaves the station into the fiddleyard it goes from a very gentle curve to quite a a 30" radius curve which can look quite abrupt and therefor would need to try and hide some of the corner. However after playing with transiitions in templot some more I have come up with an alternative. This has a slightly tighter radius on part of teh station (so more gaps between coaches and platform) however the curve into the fiddleyard is alot more gentle and so more could remain on scene which would increase scenic space. Thoughts?

View attachment 7281

View attachment 7280

Also my next thing to build is a single slip so if anyone has any tips for building one with functional chairs and info on what bits need to be soldered together etc that would be a big help! Or even if anyone knows where I can find an old C&L template for one showing chair locations etc if there is one?

Thanks
Mike

This is the link for the Exactoscale special chairs, always been there. Scalefour also have the P4 Track Company turnout and crossing plans, not being a member I have no access to them

https://exactoscale.com/track-components/chair-positions/


The C&L plans and the Exactoscale guides were both written by Len Newman and there are a few errors so use them as guides

The second thing is the Exactoscale special chairs are for S1 3 bolt so to be authentic in GWR 2 bolt you may be using a lot of outer and inner 2 bolt chair parts

C&L now do 2 bolt sprues with GWR bridge chairs and J chairs, the latter I learned were used in BR(w) era
Modelu make 2 bolt slide chairs

The other point about the special chairs is that they are designed for P4 timber spacing and are single handed on the common crossing chairs, you may have to use alternative centre parts on the PL3 & 4 positions and X,Y,C&D positions on the common crossing. Just trial and error and perhaps a bit of trimming

Use of the centre parts of the check rail chairs will give you aprox 1mm spacings, fit the check rails first, using check rail gauges and 2 bolt outer halves, fit the centre parts of the check rail chairs then glue the stock rail outer chairs
 
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Hi Mike,

Take a look at my special GW chairs in the resources section, it has photos of the chairs for a single slip, at 1 in 7.5, if my memory serves me. Not quite what you're asking for, but may give you an idea of what's needed.
Thanks Phil, I shall take a look.

Mike

This is the link for the Exactoscale special chairs, always been there. Scalefour also have the P4 Track Company turnout and crossing plans, not being a member I have no access to them

https://exactoscale.com/track-components/chair-positions/


The C&L plans and the Exactoscale guides were both written by Len Newman and there are a few errors so use them as guides

The second thing is the Exactoscale special chairs are for S1 3 bolt so to be authentic in GWR 2 bolt you may be using a lot of outer and inner 2 bolt chair parts

C&L now do 2 bolt sprues with GWR bridge chairs and J chairs, the latter I learned were used in BR(w) era
Modelu make 2 bolt slide chairs

The other point about the special chairs is that they are designed for P4 timber spacing and are single handed on the common crossing chairs, you may have to use alternative centre parts on the PL3 & 4 positions and X,Y,C&D positions on the common crossing. Just trial and error and perhaps a bit of trimming

Use of the centre parts of the check rail chairs will give you aprox 1mm spacings, fit the check rails first, using check rail gauges and 2 bolt outer halves, fit the centre parts of the check rail chairs then glue the stock rail outer chairs
Thanks very much, I hadn't thought about checking the Exactoscale website, That helps alot. I have tried some of the modelu slide chairs and they look and work great. I think for the rest of my points I just ended up using some exactoscale 3 bolt parts but only where I had to (I don't think anyone will really notice tbh) Thanks for the tips, I think the only thing left to do is have a go and see what happens.
 
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When building both turnouts and crossings I always use the Exactoscale special chairs, they are excellent and do make building turnout and crossings in most of the finer 4mm scale gauges a bit easier, even using (after adaption) check rail chairs in EM & 00SF.
 
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I can send a scan of the Exactoscale single slip plan (1-7 or 8)
Thanks, I found one for the chair positions following the link to the exactoscale site you posted earlier. I have 1 quick question..

brave_aCN1rqFKlB.png
Is it best to solder the bits circled in red onto thin pcb like you would with the common crossing and then use cosmetic chairs so it all stays together in the right place? Or will it stay put if I use functional chairs on everything (even though some are just side peices)
 
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The answer is Yes & Yes(for plastic timbers) with the proviso that you solder bonding wires underneath

In practice whilst building the K crossing I use wooden timbers, I then solder the rails insitu using 0.5mm copperclad on timbers 20 & 22. once finished cut the copperclad flush with the outside of the rails and clue the chairs in place, You could use 2 extra copperclad pads for extra strength timbers 19 & 23
 
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Just a point to remember (sorry) but the GWR checkrail chairs were two bolt, so you can't really use the Excatoscale ones, to further add to the complications, the type of chair used for checkrails was of the more rounded type, which is unfortunately not available these days, you only have a choice of the squarish edged Exactoscale or C&L types to go at.
 
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The answer is Yes & Yes(for plastic timbers) with the proviso that you solder bonding wires underneath

In practice whilst building the K crossing I use wooden timbers, I then solder the rails insitu using 0.5mm copperclad on timbers 20 & 22. once finished cut the copperclad flush with the outside of the rails and clue the chairs in place, You could use 2 extra copperclad pads for extra strength timbers 19 & 23
Brilliant, Thanks for your help. I shall give it a go and see how I get on :)
 
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