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TEMPLOT 3D PLUG TRACK - To get up to speed with this experimental project click here.   To watch an introductory video click here.   See the User Guide at Bexhill West.

  • The Plug Track functions are experimental and still being developed. Some of the earlier pages of this topic are now out-of-date.

    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.
  • 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.

New 00 Gauge and EM Gauge turnout kits available

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Martin Wynne

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Released today.

This is a day many have been waiting for. Wayne Kinney has released the first of his new FinetraX turnout kits, which can be ordered on his web site:

https://www.britishfinescale.com/product-p/finetrax-em-b7.htm

These kits can be assembled on a curve if desired. The ready-made components look to be useful in building many track formations.

Many other sizes and gauges are planned.

Martin.
 
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Released today.

This is a day many have been waiting for. Wayne Kinney has released the first of his new FinetraX turnout kits, which can be ordered on his web site:

https://www.britishfinescale.com/product-p/finetrax-em-b7.htm

These kits can be assembled on a curve if desired. The ready-made components look to be useful in building many track formations.

Many other sizes and gauges are planned.

Martin.
Hi Martin,

Is there any indication of how much curvature they will accept in either direction.

This is a bit academic as I am waiting for the 4SF version. However, it would be nice to plan ahead.

Godders
 
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Is there any indication of how much curvature they will accept in either direction.

This is a bit academic as I am waiting for the 4SF version. However, it would be nice to plan ahead.
@Godders

Hi Godders,

The base must be curved before assembly. It is 3D printed in a flexible resin.

To curve it, it will be necessary to cut through the webs on the outside, or remove the webs from the inside. After which it will probably be curvable by as much as you are likely to need. It is also likely to be quite flimsy and need to be stuck down to a template for assembly.

In the extreme, you could cut the base into individual timbers and stick them on a Templot curved template in the usual way.

cheers,

Martin.
 
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It will be interesting to see what the demands is like. At that price I expect quite high.
Regards
Tony.
 
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It is 3D printed in a flexible resin.
@Godders ,

p.s. Godders,

If it is similar to most other 3D resins, it is likely to become less flexible with age and/or exposure to daylight.

If you want to build it curved, it would be a good idea to do so soon after obtaining it. Or keep it in the dark until then. I would avoid a kit which has been hanging in a model shop window for months. Not that that seems very likely to happen, given the seeming demand. :)

Once built and laid, painting the base will help to protect it from daylight.

cheers,

Martin.
 
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Wayne Kinney has released the first of his new FinetraX turnout kits, which can be ordered on his web site:

https://www.britishfinescale.com/product-p/finetrax-em-b7.htm

These kits can be assembled on a curve if desired. The ready-made components look to be useful in building many track formations.

Many other sizes and gauges are planned.

Wayne has now posted the template for the new kits, and I'm pleased to say it's a perfect match to the Templot EM B7 template. :)

with REA B-switch, regular V-crossing, 1:7 RAM:

finetrax_emb7.png


Download: https://www.britishfinescale.com/v/vspfiles/pdftemplates/EM/Standard/B7/EM_B7_TEMPLATE_A3.pdf

For the best fit to a Templot template when building it curved, I suggest leaving the outer webs intact and removing the inner webs.

Note that Wayne has set the timbers centralized, which is not the usual default for square-on timbering. For a perfect match you need to change the setting, as above.

cheers,

Martin.
 
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I don't model in EM gauge so this range isn't directly applicable to me, 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 and the more people will then badger the manufacturers to make their locos and rolling stock easier to convert! I know some of the small manufacturers already allow for this, but once Hornby and Bachmann make space for EM or P4 wheel sets a standard thing, I think things will really take off. Now that would be exciting! We even have RTR EM gauge track from Peco (I think only via the EM Gauge Society - well worth joining for any 4mm scale modelling.)

Sometimes I wish I hadn't moved from EM to P4 - I might have stood a better chance of getting more finished!

Cheers,
Paul
 
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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:

2023274579_RMWeb3(1of1).jpg.53cae9877bf6e61ceb33f555c31bed34.jpg


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:

2_091005_480000000.png


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:

2_091005_480000001.png


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:

2_091005_480000002.png


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.
 
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Hi Martin.
I am not convinced that I work to better tolerances than that myself, so I don't think such a tiny error would in practice be that much of a problem even in P4 given that the stock and check rails should be gauged from the crossing nose anyway rather than set to perfect theoretical alignment, but I do agree with you about rounding over the nose of the vee, which should be standard practice especially where the finer standards are involved.
The real thing wasn't always as perfect as we sometimes imagine either, but they have one big advantage over us modellers. Shear mass.
Regards
Tony.
 
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Tony,
I agree but we have one big advantage over the 1:1 PW gangs - we just need to bring out the Dremel and in 30 seconds we are done assuming it is applied in the right place!

Rob
 
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@Tony W

Hi Tony,

What I'm waiting for is to see the K-crossings, because that really would open up the building of complex formations for a lot of folks.

in the next Templot program update I have an option to create irregular diamond-crossings in the modern way with standard-angle crossings and different radii in the diamond legs:

intersect_angle.png


This will also make it easier to use fixed-angle crossing components, such as the hoped-for range of FinetraX castings.

cheers,

Martin.
 
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Now that WILL be interesting.
Tony.
@Tony W

Hi Tony,

I hope so. My main motivation for it was that it also works on transition curves (unlike the existing make diamond-crossing functions):

intersect_angle1.png


I just wish I hadn't got so many loose ends to sort out before I can get 227a released. I made that mistake once before of leaving too long a gap between updates, and then struggling to get it all finished. You would think I would have learned from my mistakes. Little and often is the best way with updates, even if it does annoy users with the frequent downloads.

cheers,

Martin.
 
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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.

How to be proved wrong in less than 24 hours -- Wayne now has the Standard 00 B-7 kits available:

https://www.britishfinescale.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=finetrax-00-b7

For a match in Templot, set the gauge to 00-D0GAI and reduce the crossing entry to 14.0mm (same as for 00-SF and EM):

finetrax_doga_b7.png


In this case, the timber ends are in-line.

cheers.

Martin.
 
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Wayne has adopted the D0GA-Intermediate standards for his Standard 00 kits.

I have therefore added it to the short list in Templot (it was already in the other gauges long list).

doga_quick.png


Will be in the next program update.

N.B. the 00-SF 15.2mm check gauge tools are not suitable for D0GA-Intermediate. (They are suitable for both 00-SF and 00-BF.) The Finetrax kits do not require gauge tools for assembly.

Finetrax kits for 00-SF are planned.

Martin.
 
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