Timbering Fret

[LittleWestern]

Hi all,

I have the correct dimensions for GWR track panels and timber dimensions/spacing etc set up in Templot. However, I would like to make some sort of frame so I can simply lay it on my mat and place my pre-cut ply timbers in to hold the hole thing stable while I glue chairs and insert rails.
I know there is a way to do this but I cannot for the life of me figure it out.

So I am going to make it via FDM 3d printing, I have a rail length setup for GWR 44'6" 19 sleeper panels (which should be 178.86mm long lengths in 1:76)

The idea would be to make it so that there is a small recess that would hold a rail in place to allow for accurate placement and gluing of chairs and also some connection lugs on either side so that potentially multiple sections can be built at once (i.e 1m lengths of bullhead rail at one time)
Thanks in advance and happy modelling.

James

 

[Martin Wynne]

@LittleWestern

Hi James,

I'm sorry. You asked about this before, and I promised to make a video.

I will try to post something for you later today.

In the meantime you might want to look through this topic (7 pages):

https://85a.uk/templot/club/index.php?threads/extracting-a-3d-timbering-brick-from-a-track-plan.295/

But bear in mind that a lot of it has been overtaken by later developments. The ideas remain the same.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[LittleWestern]

@LittleWestern

Hi James,

I'm sorry. You asked about this before, and I promised to make a video.

I will try to post something for you later today.

In the meantime you might want to look through this topic (7 pages):

https://85a.uk/templot/club/index.php?threads/extracting-a-3d-timbering-brick-from-a-track-plan.295/

cheers,

Martin.

Hi @Martin Wynne
Thanks for the reply, no rush, I know you are a busy person and are involved in a lot of threads also. Just thought I would create this thread so in the future there would be a reference for this specific use case.

Any help you can provide would be appreciated.

I'll have a read of that thread tonight.

Thanks,
James

 

[Martin Wynne]

@LittleWestern

Hi James,

I'm going to delay making your video until I have implemented a new 3D feature -- rail locator pins.

When I implemented the timbering fret feature it was a bit of an after-thought making use of the timber flanges functions. I was thinking that the timbers being inserted in it would have been laser-cut, with sockets ready for the plug-in chairs.

That's still a useful idea because it means the individual laser-cut timbers do not need any sprues or webs attached to them which must be removed after tracklaying.

But clearly you are asking for something more than that -- a proper track assembly jig which can hold individual timbers of different types, for more traditional glued or soldered construction methods.

That requires some means to locate the rails over the inserted timbers. At present there is no simple way to do that. For straight plain track it can be done using the brick walls functions -- with a lot of work. For curved plain track it requires the half-track assembly method, and it does nothing for pointwork.

An option to 3D-print a complete assembly jig in one go would be a useful new feature, which can be achieved by printing rail locator pins between each timber. Given the typical build area on home FDM printers, most such jigs will need to be printed in several parts, but we already have the brick connector clips for that.

To allow for glued construction with canted injection-moulded chairs there will need to be a means of adjusting the spacing of the pins on the outer edge of the rail. And also an option for supporting the rail between the pins at the prototypical height above the timbers, or allowing it to sit flush on the timbers for copper-clad -- nothing is ever as simple as it appears at first sight.

So there will be something along these lines in the next program update. I will get it done as soon as possible. It means yet another delay to getting on with the chairs -- but we will get there in the end.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[LittleWestern]

Hi @Martin Wynne
Thanks for your effort towards this.

Yes, that's exactly what I am after, a track assembly jig for simple panels with 9ft or 8ft6in timbers with 12ft timbers at each end.
I will cut the timbers to size and want simply place them in a jig, have a piece of rail with all the chairs threaded on, and then simply place the rail on the jig and have it able to stay in place while I shimmy chairs into position and glue to the timbers in question After that, I can lift a fully assembled panel out and cut the piece of rail to length after setting it in place.
I don't mind the waiting Everything happening to Templot now is incredible, take all the time needed

Cheers for your response,

James