7mm C&L Track Gauges

Joe-lo

Joe-lo

Member
Hi Folks

Im gathering together all the bits 'n pieces I need to start building my own turnouts, using C&L components.

When looking at track gauges, there are 2 on their website. 32mm with 1.75mm flangeway, and 31mm with 1.25mm flangeway.

My question is, which ones do I go for? I'm planning an end to end shunting layout, using Peco flexitrack. Stock will are diesels (smallest being an Class 03, largest a Class 31 A1A-A1A) with 4w 'traditional' wagons and maximum of 50ft bogie parcels vans.

Any help is gratefully received!
 
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adrian

adrian

Flying Squad
Neither!

If you are building your own turnouts then the two options are either Scale7 or 0-MF (31.5mm gauge). If you are willing to change all the wheel sets in your stock and locos then Scale7 would be my recommendation. However I suspect you may have a few RTR items or standard Slaters stock in which case 0-MF is a really good alternative - it will get you running with minimum hassle of messing with wheel sets.

On the forum you will find plenty of photos by @Dikitriki of Heyside which is a superb example of 0-MF
http://www.westernthunder.co.uk/index.php?threads/re-heyside-7mm-l-y-late-50s-early-60s.552/

Gauges for 0-MF are best sourced from @Debs.
Try http://www.westernthunder.co.uk/index.php?members/debs.306/
or http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/user/13493-debs/

Finally if you are building your turnouts with C&L components, then why not go the full distance and build the plain track as well? That way you can keep to 0-MF through-out. If you want to use Peco then you will have to slightly gauge widen the 0-MF turnouts where it meets up with the peco stuff.
 
Dikitriki

Dikitriki

Flying Squad
Hi Joe

To expand a little on Adrian's reply, I assume from your stock list that your diesels are RTR, in which case the flange profile means that they will not go through 31mm pointwork in any event. Apart from the Heljan Hymek and 47, RTR diesels will go through 31.5mm pointwork where the running is very much smoother than 32mm.

The .5mm (.25mm each side) widening at the ends of 31.5mm turnouts to match ready made track is not noticeable, and if you were going to use ready made track, I would recommend you use C&L, not PECO. C&L sleepers are the right size and accurately spaced, whereas PECOs are not. There is only a minimal price differential in the small quantities you will need.

Finally, I demonstrated a point build here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=88&t=45544 and you can see the improvement that 31.5mm has over 32mm in the following photo when for comparative purposes, I built a 31.5mm point to exactly the same dimensions as a PECO point.

Heyside Layout 048.jpg

Richard
 
Steph Dale

Steph Dale

Western Thunderer
Richard,
I don't think that's exactly a fair comparison; even normal FS (32mm gauge) point work can have the tolerances tightened up over those of Peco track.
Otherwise I hear what you're saying. I note you've already rolled out the counter argument; that the FS standard allows the widest compatibility.
Steph
 
Joe-lo

Joe-lo

Member
Many thanks for the replies folks, I think I'll go with 31.5mm for the points and keep to the Peco flexi - I have heard reports that the C&L plastic sleepers in their flexi have been contracting and throwing the gauge out.
 
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