OO gauge curved points?

[davidrivett]

Hi all,

Just wondering is there a curved point available somewhere in between settrack and Peco curved SL87 in code 100?

First is too sharp in 2nd radius, other is not sharp enough!

Thanks

David

[Mike Parkes]

Might be something in the Tillig HO range - its code 83 but a strange rail section which makes it actually almost code 100 in height rather than having the more noticeable step that other code 83 rails have. Those are somehat fragile and need careful handling and also needs a stall point motor as a solenoid type is too violent in action for them. Also they can be bent slightly so the stated radii could be varied slightyly.
DCC Concepts are one stockists but IME it well worth looking around as prices very considerably
https://www.dccconcepts.com/product-cat ... pointwork/

[Mountain Goat]

Here is a trick which someone showed me in a model shop a couple of decades ago with larger radius curved Peco points from their Streamline range. (Best only try this on a secondhand older point and many will say not to do this, but I found it can work if one has no other option, but don't do it to a new point incase it breaks). It is possible to bend them slightly so they can hold a sharper radius or a wider radius curve as desired. I never knew one could do this, and it helped me get just the right curve to fit the size I had on the layout. Obviously one can only alter the curve so far so don't expect miracles, and also I would not want to do this with a new curved point! But when I learned this trick from another modeller working in the trade, it opened up a whole lot of possibilities to help make things fit though be aware this is always going to be a last resort when one has run out of other options.
Second solution is to build ones own track or have someone build it for you. It takes a little practice to scratchbuild track but it is very rewarding and is a great use for track offcuts, as it is surprizing how many track offcuts come in handy when scratchbuilding things like check rails and point frog V's or wing rails etc. Nothing much goes to waste when scratchbuilding, and the good thing is when soldering up a point, is that if one gets it wrong (Especially if ones sleepers are wide enough to take alterations), one can re-heat the solder and move the rails. But if it only needs a very slight bit of a different radius of curve, try bending an old point to see if it will work. Buy a secondhand point to experiment on so if it ends in disaster, one has not lost out too much. Worst case senario if it goes badly wrong is one ends up with parts to rescue in a future scratchbuilding project which is kinda how I ended up into scratchbuilding track.