The On30 folks have done this ... as a fellow 'newbie' I think this is quite informative & pretty cool! Does S/Sn3 have anything like this???
BTW How long do I have to stay a 'newbie'? Ben Conspirators: This series will be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/On30conspiracy/files/A-03/ Comments, corrections or suggestions should be sent to me privately at [EMAIL PROTECTED] ============================================================================ On30 For Newbies by Bobber Gibbs Part Two - Track, Turnouts, Ballast, Curves, Wheels and Couplers TRACK Since HO gauge track is close to 30" in 1:48 scale, there are several choices to consider for On30 track. Of course, you could use regular HO track and your equipment would operate perfectly, but in On30, the HO ties are too short, too narrow and to close together for narrow gauge. You could lay your own track on On30 ties or use one of several commercial brands of On30 flex track. Some Conspirators install hand laid or commercial flex track at the front of a layout where it can be seen and regular HO track in tunnels or in hidden sections behind the scenes. Some even use regular HO track in areas where the track looks like it has sunk into the ground, where the ballast covers the ties completely or where the ties are covered by asphalt. A neat touch where HO track is sunk into the ground is to have the ends of a few narrow gauge ties sticking out here and there to give the illusion that all ties are the same. In general, ties for On30 are the same or slightly smaller than those used for On3. In 1:48 scale, Code 100 rail equates to about 75 pound rail. Code 83 equates to about 55 pound rail and Code 70 represents 35 pound rail. 70 pound rail is adequate for 11 tons per axle loading and 35 pound rail will handle nine tons per axle, or an 18 ton 4-wheel critter. For fast or heavy mainline trains like the Colorado narrow gauges, Code 100 would be appropriate and for slower and lighter trains, Code 83 might be used while tiny critters and ore cars will look better on Code 70 or smaller. Lighter equipment could operate on heavier rail but heavier equipment would be unsafe on very light rail. Tie plates might normally be found only under the heaviest rail for heavy trains but there are exceptions to every rule. TURNOUTS At this time, only one manufacturer produces On30 turnouts to match its On30 flex track but you could use any HO turnout and carefully bury the ties, keep only the ties necessary to maintain structural integrity and replace the others with On30 ties, or install HO switch kits over On30 ties. I prefer route-selective tournouts so that when I throw for a stub spur, the spur is powered and when I throw for the main, the spur is dead. That's an easy way to store unused locomotives without fancy wiring. Note that when two route-selective turnouts face each other and create a runaround track, power must be fed from the single sides of the turnouts and insulated gaps must be used on both rails of both tracks between the turnouts. A turnout that incorporates a spring to keep the points tight against the stock rail is a benefit when you are moving turnouts around in your experimental phase. After final placement is determined, I prefer a manual ground throw or switchstand to an electric throw as very few narrow gauge lines would have had powered turnouts and it looks more realistic to stop a train to allow a crewman to throw a turnout than to throw the turnouts ahead of a moving train. BALLAST On standard gauge railroads, crushed stone ballast, with its sharp edges and points, is used to keep the ties and rails level and in position and a raised and properly profiled right of way provides for drainage. On a busy and well-maintained industrial line, the investment in ballast might be justified by the management but for most temporary logging or quarry lines, ballast was seldom used at all. On my quarry line, where we produce and ship ballast, crushed stone is everywhere and only the tops of the rails show in some places. CURVES The tiniest 0-4-0T Porter ever built was a four tonner with 36" wheelbase that could negotiate a 12' radius curve on 12 pound rail. Our tiny eight ton Porters will wrap around a six inch radius curve easily, but may have problems with the couplers on some tiny cars. In my tests, the Bachmann Mogul, with a slight modification, can operate in both directions around a 12" (48') radius curve but it looks better on a wider curve. The Bachmann Shay will negotiate a 12" curve in a counter-clockwise direction, but has problems with tight curves in the clockwise direction due to a restricted right-turning ability of the front truck. Minimum turning radius is supposed to be 15" for the Shay and tight curves would be negotiated only at dead slow speed by any locomotive. Where possible, incorporate a slight easement into and out of any sharp curve. WHEELS On most freight cars on the Colorado narrow gauge roads, the wheels were 26" while on most standard gauge freight cars, freight cars were 33" and, later, 36". Bachmann On30 wheels are right on for 26" while HO 33" wheels equate to about 16" in 1:48 and HO 36" wheels equate to about 18". Many smaller cars used 16" or smaller wheels. An HO shorty flatcar equates to just over 16' long and the HO archbar trucks look perfect with 16" wheels. COUPLERS You sure can use link and pin couplers if you wish to and IMHO, everyone should try it. Once. That will be enough to convince most Conspirators that knuckle couplers are the way to go and besides, they're prototypical on my line and could be on your's. I dont use magnetic coupler ramps and I nip off the "air hoses" and use a tiny screwdriver between the knuckle faces to uncouple where ever I choose. Couplers that are at HO height (use a coupler gauge) will work perfectly but you may choose to change the couplers on your larger equipment to the common standard of 26" from railtop to coupler center. No one is ever going to convince every Conspirator to use the same standard, but it makes a lot of sense to recognize two standards, HO height and/or 26". ================= Next, we'll create a display/test track and get into some operation. Bobber Gibbs On30conpiracy Advisory: 1. Sign messages with first and last name and general location. 2. Be courteous and respect all fellow modelers. 3. No attachments or private messages to full list. 4. No political, religious, racial or ethnic references. 5. Delete all but the relevant part of a message when replying. 6. To unsubscribe, email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] On30 Home Page at http://pw2.netcom.com/~lrickert/On30/On30.html On30modeler at http://hometown.aol.com/on30modeler/index.html On30guy at http://on30guy.gerenm.net Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> . [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] S-Trains list sponsor: http://www.americanflyertrains.com All the Flyer you desire...books and accessories too! To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list send a note to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
