Model Railway Update 17 - Extra! A train running on my handbuilt track

[@LeShark75]

Very very nice, Michael. After all the manual track building, wiring, fault fixing etc, it must be nice to just kick back and have a play. Love it.

[@phixer64]

Keep at it, your only get better. It will look better than Peco, when finally finished.Patience is a virtue

[@MichaelHenfrey]

Thanks, I might do that as it does look really nice. I just need to improve on a few areas. Cheers

[@Elvenhome]

Sorry I missed this update and just caught up with it. That ran beautifully. Made a difficult decision even harder. But you can be pleased with your efforts with that running. Now if you will excuse me, that ice cream van had made me need to head to the freezer. Stephen

[@MichaelHenfrey]

Thanks Stephen, It certainly has but I think I have decided to stick with it but I might remove that point after all as I am thinking about keeping the layout more countryside and scenic rather than filling up the space with a big industry and having lots more points to make lol. I have just had an ice cream myself... Nom nom nom. Cheers, Michael

[@GalgormHall]

Michael, I think that is a huge success for your hand built point. I have more issues with my code 75 ones than you are having with that. Think long and hard on what route you are going to take. As for that difference in height, stick a shim in the lower one and you should be ok. Even a coffee stirrer or two may just do the job. Paul

[@MichaelHenfrey]

Thanks Paul, It certainly has boosted my confidence in track making seeing that loco and stock running through it smoothly. I shall try to whom it up to the same height, I think that should work nicely actually. Cheers, Michael

[@FarlandHowe]

It is working well. Much smoother than my PECO points. Rob

[@MichaelHenfrey]

Thanks Rob 😀 It still needs a little work before I am done with it. Cheers, Michael

[@ireneforward8115]

I can only hope, that watching that train successfully negotiate your brilliant handy work , will inspire you NOT to give up on this project . The satisfaction you will experience ,after you have completed those beautiful sweeping curved points into the station , will far out way the frustrations of the build . I wish you every success . Regards , Paddy Owen .

[@MichaelHenfrey]

Thanks, It certainly has helped boost morale abit after that going through smoothly. It's still not quite perfect but at least it works! Cheers, Michael

[@tomjenssen7486]

It's coming together nicely. All the best....Tom

[@MichaelHenfrey]

Thanks Tom, I have actually made a few changes to this but it was good to see the point working as it should. Cheers

[@davidhyde4329]

Very impressive Michael, the point looks amazing .. David

[@MichaelHenfrey]

Thanks very much David, Lots more to make though lol. Cheers

[@SimonLivertonCentral]

Very nice workmanship, all looks well made...Simon

[@MichaelHenfrey]

Thanks Simon! It still needs a little work but it's getting there. Cheers

[@JohnPW22]

Brave decision but looks and runs great! Nice job!

[@MichaelHenfrey]

Thanks very much! I was glad to see it work really well. Cheers

[@JoshMallard96]

Nice video there mate, this Steam Locomotive runs well and nice looking loco you know. Great update too. Cheers for sharing buddy.

[@MichaelHenfrey]

Thanks very much

[@csxrensville5105]

Very good smoothing running. The point looks very well made. I'd stick at it. Keith

[@MichaelHenfrey]

Thanks Keith, It still needs a little work I think. I am surprised the loco and stock ran through so well. Cheers, Michael

[@DungeWoodRailway]

Hi Michael Well that went really well, thumbs up from me, what are you worrying about, your track looks and runs so well. As John already said youll struggle to get Peco point work better and I certainly have found it aĺl goes wrong with those too. Its your choice obviously but seems a shame to ditch it. Cheers

[@MichaelHenfrey]

Thanks Paul, Yes I was worried it wasn't going to work properly and it turns out that modern stuff runs through it fine. It still needs a little work to make it perfect but I think I will try to continue but maybe at a nice slower pace so I don't get frustrated with it all. Cheers, Michael

[@sparkshot]

Stick with your hand built track! I have hand built it before and will again. Had issues with bits but worked through them. If your soldering keeps failing try this: Buy Carrs Speedy Solder and use DCC Concepts No Clean Sapphire Flux. Have your iron really hot, 350c ish and use a fiber glass brush to clean rail sides before applying the flux. When soldering you'll only need 1-3 seconds so your chairs won't melt and it'll flow well. Works for me anyway. I plan to use PECO Bullhead but still going to build track. It's so much more satisfying when you eventually DO get it all working because it looks correct, flows better and the effort pays off. I'm replying more to the older video I just watched but you seem to have it working pretty good now. Stick with it. If you wimp out it may haunt you! Quick question though. Is your track and gauges 00 standard or 00-SF / 4-SF? I ask because I build track in P4 but also will be building some in 00 and am unsure what type of 00 to go with.

[@MichaelHenfrey]

Hi Knuckles, I remember your post about your issues on the scalefour forum if I remember right. Anyway thanks for the tips, I think I may have had issues because I was adding too little solder as I was trying to not have solder blobs on the rail sides, combined with a bad choice of wire they just snapped off. Since then I have changed the wire I was using and the solder and added more and it seems to be holding. (I am learning alot as I go along) So I do plan to continue with my handbuilt track as it just looks so much better when the trackwork just flows. I would say the sweet spot would be peco bullhead and handbuilt points for anyone that wants a slightly quicker way of getting track down. I'm building mine to 00-SF/4-SF, even the plain trackwork. So far I haven't had any issues but I will be able to tell better once I get the loop complete (only 1 side left to go) Cheers, Michael

[@sparkshot]

Michael Henfrey - Ok thanks for the info. Yeah I documented all my hand built track on Scalefour. It's still there in Knuckles's Turnout Construction Log thread although you may need the Photobucket extension downloaded on Google Chrome to see the pictures since Photobucket shafted us all. . I haven't quit P4 at sll, just building an N gauge layout above my bed but the loft layout preparation is still in progress as we build the support structure for the boards. I DID want it all in P4 but alas the curve radii required for the large amount of turnouts and the end curves force me back too 00. However! It will be a finescale attempt either way. I will use some Peco Bullhead turnouts but want to build a load myself. Other than the initial outlay for the jigs if you buy the sleepers and timbers ONLY in 'cut it yourself' strips and make all the V's and Switch Blades yourself you can save oodles of pounds. I'm thus unsure to do 00 standard or SF but thinking SF as it apparently requires little to no faffing with current 00 stock. I'll be building another P4 layout above but it'll have to be end to end.

[@canalsidingsmodelrailway3411]

There you go Michael! Now watch stock running through Peco points. They rarely perform as well as that !! And your track is fully detailed and to scale (not withstanding the 16.5mm guage). Now that I have seen your tie bar I am not surprised that it was not a success. turn the copper clad tie bar 90 degrees and drill for the operating wire. You CAN solder the point blades directly to it but it will always be putting a strain on the solder joints when it operates. Much better to provide a pivot between the tiebar and the point blades which is what the brass pins that I use give you. But don't give up on the hand built track. You are so close to success now that I know that you can do it. ...............................John

[@MichaelHenfrey]

Thanks John, It certainly has provided abit of a confidence boost watching things run so smoothly through a curved point. I will certainly look at your suggestion! I was just trying to keep the hole for the servo wire abit lower so that it doesn't stick up so high in the trackwork as I can never seem to get everything nice and center! Cheers, Michael