@Junctionmad
Hi David,
At this stage you shouldn't "assume" anything at all. "Experimental" means nothing is finalised and anything might change at any time. The whole object of conducting an experiment is to find out what works, what doesn't, and what works best. Until the experiment reaches some sort of conclusion the plug track is not really ready to be used in anger on an actual layout. You can do that if you wish of course, but you shouldn't be surprised if parts made with one Templot update are not compatible, or even doable, in a subsequent update. I'm releasing it in this ever-changing experimental form so that you can tinker with it and report your results, which is valuable feedback for which I'm extremely grateful. It's been great to see what others have done with it -- it's encouraged me to keep going.
Some things can reasonably be assumed. For example anything which works in one scale, gauge, size or radius should work in any other scale, gauge, size or radius -- within the limits of your printer or miller, of course. Except the rail filing jigs and the tweezer tips which are currently only for 4mm/ft scale and even more experimental than the rest.
With the current Templot update 236d you can get as far as this, and no further:
View attachment 5030
All chairing is currently to REA bullhead designs. There is nothing yet for GWR or pre-grouping designs or anything for flat-bottom. All rail is vertical -- Templot plug track does not and will not support canted rail. The chairing can be set to fit any model bullhead rail section.
Plain track at
A can have all S1 chairs, or all L1 bridge chairs (for waybeams), or if you set the sleeper width to 12" all S1J joint chairs, as the joint sleeper at
B.
Currently done chairs are:
S1 ordinary chairs
S1J joint chairs
P slide chairs, switch opening adjustable for different track standards
1P, 2P switch heel slide chairs for REA switches A..D only
3P..11P switch heel block chairs for all REA switches A..F
L1 bridge chairs
All chairs can be made with separate loose outer jaws if wanted, or as solid jaws. EXCEPT the switch heel chairs at
C. In 236d those are possible only with solid jaws and the chairs are in 2 separate parts, with separate sockets, one on each rail:
That will CHANGE in the next update -- the switch heel chairs will be a single chair and socket, with the option of loose jaws. This means switch heel chairs and timbering from the next program update will be incompatible with any heel chairs or timbering made from the current or previous program updates. If you are using them you need to make all you need, or at least export the files for them, before updating.
I'm currently working on the chairs for check rails, which I'm hoping will be possible in the next program update, and hopefully some improved tweezer tips for any scale. After that I shall be working on the chairs for V-crossings, but I can't say when they will be ready, hopefully before this summer. Chairs for K-crossings, slips, etc., are still in the sunny uplands far away.
Likewise the 1P and 2P heel chairs for switches E and F. You can make such switches now, but those two chairs will be unprototypical.
Currently done track furniture is:
soleplate:
To discuss all this in greater detail, why not join in one of the Zoom meetings? Next one is this Wednesday at 8pm.
For the full chapter and verse on plug track, see this long topic:
https://85a.uk/templot/club/index.php?threads/229/
cheers,
Martin.