but what is exciting is that the easier it is to build finer scale track thanks to kits like this, the more people will want to do it
@Paul Boyd
Hi Paul,
I suspect the interest in 00 will be even greater. I think Wayne has started with EM as a toe in the water before gearing up to full production for 00. What will be interesting will be the split between standard 00 (DOGA Intermediate), and 00-SF. The latter will probably be first out because it can use the same crossing casting as EM.
The possible effect on the number of Templot users will also be interesting.
Here's some stuff I posted on RMweb a few months ago:
When I saw these new FinetraX cast V-crossings:
I was struck not only by their accuracy and realism, but also by the possibilities they create. By keeping them to the very minimum length necessary for the polarity switching, Wayne has created components which can be used in almost the same way as prototype crossings.
Prototype bolted crossings are normally made "straight over straight" within the bolted section, and are "faired" into a ruling curve with a big hammer. Some curving of the bolted section is possible by slackening the bolts, and re-tightening after curving, but not much.
Prototype curves are much gentler than most model curves, so the error introduced by having a short length of bolted straight in the curve is not much. Any roughness is soon worn off under traffic, which is one of the reasons for a speed restriction for a few days after new track has been laid.
This is a B-7 curved crossover in EM:
Such a crossover can't be constructed use Peco curved turnouts, or any other ready-made pointwork. That's because both of these turnouts are the
same hand, left-hand here. That's the only way the two running lines can be concentric (parallel), and on the prototype they would not require a speed restriction along the main lines.
Normally you wouldn't use B-7 for a curved crossover, a longer turnout such as a C-10 would be preferable. But sometimes on a model needs must, and a short curved crossover might be the only option which will fit. Here by allowing the inner radius to go down to 840mm/33", I was able to get the radius in the running line down to 1980mm/78".
This is what would happen with the Finetrax EM B-7 kit:
The blue lines show where the rail edges should be if curved through the crossing, and the yellow lines show the effect of a dead-straight FinetraX V-crossing superimposed over them. You can see that the error is very small:
Measuring with the ruler tool in Templot, it's about 0.06mm, or a couple of thou. That's within the typical construction limits for 00 and EM handbuilt track (but might be a worry in P4). Model trains won't wear that off any time soon, but if necessary we could fettle the crossing with a needle file or abrasive paper instead. It's likely no fettling would be needed, but it would be worth rounding over the nose of the vee in any event for the best running when building these kits.
What this long ramble is trying to say, is that those who have admired layouts having smooth flowing pointwork, but have felt that they lacked the skills to build it themselves, may well find that these new kits come to the rescue, and can be built into curves almost as easily as dead straight.
And if the components become available separately, they will allow complex pointwork formations to be constructed quite easily, and with very little restriction on the possible geometry.
cheers,
Martin.