Since starting in P4 back in 1968 I have built track using the ply and rivet, or Brook Smith system that was then the only system on offer. This system is still a viable method of making trackwork and this page attempts to show how I do it.
I have tried to minimise the words and let the photos tell the story as far as possible, more detailed information can be found in the Protofour Manual section 4.
The Crossing Vee
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I
followed my normal practice of using two
offcuts of timbering to make a jig for the vees prior to fixing the
timbers in place to continue the construction. The jig is used
initially to check progress of the filing until the angle of the rail
end is a snug fit in the jig. The point and splice
rails are then soldered together upside down in this jig. |
Filing the Vee
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File
one side of the rail first until nicely into the web, then use a pair
of pliers to bend the rail so that the filed face is in a straight line
with the rest of the rail on that side.
Then complete the filing from the other side, marks on the filing board 6 times the rail width apart (for 1:6 crossings) will help gauge the angle and it can be checked in the vee jig. |
Make two such rails of opposite hands, so one can be used for the point rail, the other for the splice rail.
Assembling the Vee
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When
finished you want the point rail to be in the normal, or main road, the
splice rail in the diverging road. It appears to be the other way round
in the photos because I always solder my vees with the head down and
held by the double sided tape. This ensures that the running surfaces
are held properly by the jig and keeps any tape residue off the bottom
surface which needs to be clean for soldering to the rivets. A touch
with the iron will melt the solder paste and give a good joint.Preparing timbers
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Assembling the Turnout |
The timbers are cut to length and stuck to the template with double sided tape, here the vee and straight stockrail are ready for fitting and a set of Bill Bedford slide plates have been prepared for the straight stockrail. The Bill Bedford plates are available from Scalefour stores as item 165, or from Eileen's emporium. Don't worry if you only have one track gauge, you can manage perfectly well with one and most of my track was built that way, but a second set does help and a chance find at the Scaleforum bring and buy provided mine. When ready the rails are temporarily removed, the rivets and rail foot cleaned up with a fibreglass brush, a dab of solder paste put on each rivet, the rails put back in place and the stock rail soldered. The next task is to prepare the straight wing rail, an unused template is used to check that the bends are to the correct angle. Continue on part 2 |
Copyright Keith Norgrove.
Last revised: September 15th 2011 (fixed a few typos)