SM32 point manufacturers

[Petersfield]

I'm having a bad week... Apart from the searing temperatures, I'm have a serious problem with the railway tracklaying.

Plan A was to use PECO points and flexitrack for my line. However, when I laid the points and some lengths for the first station out loosely in the garden, I realised that PECO's 'medium radius' points have a very shallow divergence and '1524mm radius' is actually the minimum. Taking the point as a whole, including the straight bits at each end, the overall radius is more like 2413mm radius. Not what I'm used to from their 4mm scale points ... I have used Setrack points (965mm radius) on my shunting plank and they do save space but are a bit small for what I wanted on the main line outside. I wanted something in between, ideally around five foot radius (as PECO describe their medium as) but with more divergence and less straight bits.

Plan B ... ask Cliff Barker to make me some bespoke points to 1500mm radius. All appeared to go well - UPS were their usual moronic selves delivering the parcel but that's another story - and on unwrapping, the points looked fine. However, when I tried running a wagon through one laid on the desk, it derailed. Some experimentation and much foul language later, I found that wasn't a random problem. All the vehicles I've tried derail in the facing direction at least 75% of the time, the leading flange rides up on the frogs. Locos don't derail but do lurch up and crash their way through. I have emailed Cliff B and really hope this can be fixed.

But if it can't...? I'm not happy using either of PECO's options and if Cliff B's points can't be used either - where do I go from here? Looking round online, I see GRS do points in code 250, four foot radius. Are they any good?

Does anyone else do points around the 4'-6' radius mark in SM32? I know Piko and LGB do 45mm points and my stock is nearly all convertible - but I wanted to build in SM32. Not least as all but one of our local group use this and going 45mm would limit what they can [easily] run here.

I don't want to give it all up and take up needlework or teddy bear collecting instead. But this has been a very frustrating week. Can any of you offer any ideas or information?

[Preseli Chris]

Have a look at Marcway points .They produce a small selection sm32 turnouts .
Chris

[Petersfield]

Have a look at Marcway points .They produce a small selection sm32 turnouts .
Chris

Thankyou, that's worth knowing. Cheaper than GRS and with an option to match PECO track. I will certainly bear it in mind in case I have to move to Plan C.

[ge_rik]

Plan X - there is some 3D printable 32mm trackwork on Thingivers
Plan Y - You.could try scratchbuiling your own

(Tried X in 45mm. Not tried Y, but a few on here have.)

Rik

[Petersfield]

Plan X - there is some 3D printable 32mm trackwork on Thingivers
Plan Y - You.could try scratchbuiling your own

(Tried X in 45mm. Not tried Y, but a few on here have.)

Rik

X is a maybe. I don't fancy Y in the short term - I read up about track in the 16mm handbook last night. It doesn't sound impossible but I'd want to have an experiment or two before trying to make anything in a critical place. Maybe another winter project?

The exacerbating and frustrating factor with the current problem is that the rest of the circuit depends on the location of this section. Which is why I wanted to start with it. (And why I want to crack on with tracklaying so I can have something running by the autumn). The design of the [spur] station and the location of the exit onto the main circuit does depend horribly on whether the points used are from Plans A, B or C. Or even D, X or Y... I can get on with building the garden wall though, even if I give up railways in disgust, I'll still need that.

I'm trying to sort a solution out with Cliff B's points, currently waiting to hear from him. But I did speak to a couple of others in the local group today. (It really is handy to have helpful nearby members willing to bring their stock over to try things out, thanks chaps). I won't say too much at this stage, other than after their advice and information, I have a nasty feeling plan B isn't going to work ... It would be nice to be wrong about that though.

[philipy]

I'd say go with plan Y. Building points may sound daunting and a lot of people shy away from the idea but actually its not really very difficult. After the first one you'll probably wonder why you were reluctant in the first place and not only that, you'll know that it will fit the location without any need for compromised geometry.

[Petersfield]

I'd say go with plan Y. Building points may sound daunting and a lot of people shy away from the idea but actually its not really very difficult. After the first one you'll probably wonder why you were reluctant in the first place and not only that, you'll know that it will fit the location without any need for compromised geometry.

Perhaps. The trouble is time is pressing at the moment and I'd like to get the first stage complete asap - some civil engineering (both for the railway and non-railway) does depend on alignment and height of the exit of this. Watch this space but I'm inclined to try RTR options for this first part and experiment with hand-built later - there are two stations in stages two and three which will give me some opportunities for hand-built points.

Have you built your points? I'm wondering which tools you needed/used most of and whose components you used - there seem to be various suppliers. I have quite a bit of PECO track (and some points), so I'd like to use Code 200 if possible.