Custom 3d printed tracks in action

[Jacek]

I'm working on the narrow crossing, and will try to do the bottom holes in this design first. Hope it prints well despite the reduced contact patch. Anyway, I will have some results in about two weeks - I'm going on vacation leave for a week.

[Jacek]

@jrathfon As promised, here's the narrow crossing. Still a prototype, not sure if the studs on top are needed or wanted :) Will have the wider curves soon (with holes in the bottom). The originals are R24 (studs between center of the circle and center of rails). Should the bigger R be 40 or rather R36 so there's a space of 6 studs between the rails supports? After that, the dual turnout and then we will add the holes to our regular tracks I guess. The holes make the tracks a bit less rigid, but otherwise they are ok.

EDIT: Just saw the other thread, not sure if there's already some conensus on the radii.

 

Edited December 28, 2016 by Jacek

[Jacek]

On 11/23/2016 at 5:00 PM, jrathfon said:

I think straight tracks would be redundant with the adapter and the availability of loose rail from lego. Wider 4-wide curves and a dual gauge turnout would be the most useful and crossings would be cool. Dual gauge turnout with the 3rd (center) rail just having a flat end would allow connection to normal lego 6-wide track with loose straight rail placed in the middle for dual gauge track. Hope that makes sense. The nice thing about a dual gauge turnout is that it can be made passively with no moving parts (for an inside turn).

This piece is what I keep referring to as loose rail: 3228c

Dual gauge turnout: turnout with a rail guide on the standard gauge track instead of a moving frog as pictured

Just finished a small "system" for the narrow gauge based on the dual gauge turnouts and R24 curves: https://www.trixbrix.eu/en_US/c/Narrow-Gauge/26. Curious what you think :)

 

 

[jrathfon]

14 hours ago, Jacek said:

Just finished a small "system" for the narrow gauge based on the dual gauge turnouts and R24 curves: https://www.trixbrix.eu/en_US/c/Narrow-Gauge/26. Curious what you think :)

 

 

These are amazing!!! Couple questions:

1. What is the shipping situation to the US, I saw free shipping over 100Euro, what about smaller orders?

2. I think you nailed it with the inside curve R40 pieces, perfect!

3. I would love to see inside studs for ballasting on the straights and cross track. I like the minimal sleepers, as it allows for flexible ballasting, but not having top studs is an issue for me. I ballast everything.

4. I think the turnout is spot on, with one caveat. Much like the lego R40 switch, it limits you to parallel track arrangements. Would it be possible to say do a "half" turn, or "stubby" switch and have two half curves that allow either parallel sidings or true turn-outs? Also, as I mentioned in the other thread and decent two axle bogie or F-B-F wheel arrangement rubs hard on R24. It would be awesome to get the wider radius system going, e.g. R30 or R36 switches/turn-outs.

My few cents, awesome job on the concepts!

[Jacek]

Hi jrathfon, sorry for the delay, I missed the notification.

 

ad 1. Smaller orders cost about $13 to ship to USA.

ad 2. Thanks :)

ad 3. I think we will add them eventually, still weighing pros and cons.

ad 4. What do you mean that it limits you to parallel siding?

Thanks for the feedback!

Jacek