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Chapter 7 - 06/11/2006

Well, Jade and I have just returned from the Ipswich Model Railway Show and had a great weekend. However, a few things were brought to my attention by a couple of people in particular and I would like to take the time to respond now in my own defense and hopefully get YOUR opinion.

It was brought to my attention by a customer of ours that you cannot use Peco points to run QR models as the curve is too tight.

As a point, I currently have 32 sets of Peco points on the layout and have not had any problems. Add to this the fact that my previous layout (based on Ipswich Workshops) had 36 sets of Peco points and you can start to get the impression that the problem does not lay with the points.

When I was building my old workshops layout, I discovered that the angle of the points is not too critical. What is critical is the radius of the curve coming off and approaching the points. The method I used for testing was to run an unmodified BEZY (60') container wagon through them. If the bogies fouled on the underframe then the curve was too tight. Click for large photo!
I am talking here about the Peco 12mm gauge STRAIGHT points, I will get to the curved points in a little while. As they present a whole swag of new problems.
The person in question then proceeded to inform me that our 60' container wagons, "whilst being a nice kit will not go through Peco points". Well, as I have mentioned previously, the problem lies with the approaches to the points as the wagon in question is too long to get stuck on the points for starters.
I pointed out to the person in question that I use a 36" minimum radius for exactly this reason. The customer then pointed out that I have an elitist type attitude and am not accommodating modelers without the luxury of a large space for their layout. And that the 60' container wagons should have been made without the fishbelly underframe that their prototype has, ie I should make an exact model of a wagon that looks nothing like its prototype. About the most sensible thing I can think to say to a comment like this is that "I hear Hornby is making some nice models nowadays… (Even models of Thomas and his mates!)".
I would like to point out to everyone that I am a modeler first and foremost and that whilst I have always tried to make my kits in a manner in which they will accommodate any layout, a line must be drawn somewhere between realistic modeling and a toy that vaguely resembles a Queensland prototype.

If you are modeling QR and would like your trains to look somewhere close to realistic, you need to either accommodate for larger curves or not purchase longer wagons and locomotives. It is interesting to point out that the tightest curves in Queensland (still in use today) are 5 chain radius, this is 100 metres in radius and works out at 31˝ inches in HO scale. So you can see that if you are chasing a true prototypical curve for your trains, then you will need to have 80 inch plus curves and a few hundred spare acres of land to put your layout. For my own layout, I have opted for a minimum radius of 36 inches because it looks fairly realistic and I can run ANY models currently available without them looking like toys. And this after all is what we are trying to achieve with this hobby.

As many of you who know me will attest, I am a very vocal person who will do anything to help a fellow modeler (such as the person who rang me at my wedding reception for tips on weathering). However as a modeler, you must be prepared to make sacrifices for realism and satisfactory running. You have to try and plan your layout so you don't spend a fortune on something that won't fit your needs.

On average, most modelers will spend at least $40,000 (or roughly $84 per month) on their hobby throughout their life so it pays to plan your investment.
Personally the most problematic model I have come across is the QLX box wagon (QRG034) due to the fact that a Kadee coupler box is 8.25mm wide and the back to back clearance between wheels (in 12mm gauge anyway) is only 10.5mm you can see that it is easy to get problems with them fouling.
The solution I found was pointed out to me by Jim Costello of J&J Hobbies (check the retailers page) and that was to use the Kadee #78 couplers, as they have a scale width draft box. This has solved the problem with my QLX wagons and these couplers look fantastic as well.

On my previous workshops layout, (as I have mentioned) I had 36 sets of points and of these 9 were Peco curved points. I found these points present problems on the "throw" (curved side of the points) with passenger cars and all large six axle locos. Whilst they are the same radius as the straight point, they are around 3 inches longer and so you can actually get an entire locomotive stuck on them. Hence I have only used straight points on my current layout to avoid this problem.

Prior to starting on this layout, I looked at the possibility of using Shinohara points, but found that they are in fact the same radius (they look much bigger though) as the Peco points. They are a longer point overall, but this is because they have a longer approach where as the Peco points have no approach at all. So in the end, the Peco points won out over Shinohara as they are sprung, they are cheaper and they are easier to get.

That should about wrap up my little whine. I promise I'll get back to the layout in the next chapter and start on the mountains...

We shall see how we go.


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