My next Scratchbuilt Proto:87 Turnout

[ednadolski]

Something of a follow-up to my previous P87 build, my next endeavour is a bit longer, a #10, again to P:87 standards and made with code 70 rail. As with the previous build, this was using soldered PCB tie construction and based upon an SP prototype turnout as a template.  As you can see, a #10 in 1:87 scale is quite long, here it is next to a conventional Micro Engineering #6 HO scale turnout:



Closeup of the points area:




A comparison of the frog area, note the difference in the flangeway sizes (and wheel profiles) between standard HO and P87:




Here is a video of the longest rolling stock that I have, moving thru the frog area of the turnout.   That SD70Ace it probably the toughest test that I have, considering its long (and rigid) wheelbase, and the large diameter wheels.

Next on the list list to see what kind of detailing I can come up with. 

Cheers,
Ed

[craigolio1]

Wow great job!!!  Hand building turnouts (I’m in N) is something I really want to master.

 I have a #10, curved, Fasttrax built turnout that I bought off of eBay many years ago. When I installed it I just assumed it would be right.  Turns out it had guage issues, guard rail issues, and frog issues. I did some major reworking in place but wheels still drop into the frog.   I’ve also complicated it by slightly super elevating it.

It’s like 90% right now so it’s useable. But the more I see work like yours, and others who are just nailing it… the more I think I’d like to rip it out everything in between the two outside rails, and custom build a new one in place. 

Well done. Very inspiring.

Craig.

[John]

Im agree.  Looks great.   I’ve built turnouts in the past but they always leave something to be desired … my current effort is a curved #10 based on a fast track template.   It works ,  it won’t win any contests

[robert3985]

@ednadolski - Very cool!  The proto87 wheels certainly look slim compared to "normal" 1:87 wheels.  One thing I notice is the big gap between the outer face of the wheels and the inside of the truck sideframes.  Is this correct?...or should the truck sideframes be closer together??

I'm assuming that there will be superdetailing product choices for proto87 track...even cast frogs & guard rails if you're so inclined.  I remember that Proto87Stores used to carry such items (it's been a while since I've looked at the site although only for N-scale products)...however, since the flanges are only a scale 1" in height, many things such as joiner plates and flangeways through frogs will be correspondingly shallow, or close to the railhead...looking correspondingly very prototypical.

Although I'm not interested in EVER constructing anything in 1:87 scale, I find this post very interesting just because I expect you to push the limits, and it'll be fun to see how far you decide to go down this rabbit-hole!

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[ednadolski]

One thing I notice is the big gap between the outer face of the wheels and the inside of the truck sideframes.  Is this correct?...or should the truck sideframes be closer together??

Good eye.  Yes, the trucks are made to accommodate traditional HO code 110 wheels, so swapping in the P:87 code 64 wheels leaves a considerable gap.  Some HO trucks are cast as one piece, and some have separate sideframes/bolsters, but I don't think I've ever seen one that could (easily) be narrowed to prototype width (as opposed to say P:48).

I'm assuming that there will be superdetailing product choices for proto87 track...even cast frogs & guard rails if you're so inclined.  I remember that Proto87Stores used to carry such items (it's been a while since I've looked at the site although only for N-scale products)...however, since the flanges are only a scale 1" in height, many things such as joiner plates and flangeways through frogs will be correspondingly shallow, or close to the railhead...looking correspondingly very prototypical.

For detailing I'd like come up with something using 3D printed parts. Ideally that would use real wood ties and eliminate or at least hide the PCB ones.  If I make it for Code 70 rail then it should (in theory) also scale down to code 40 in N.  BTW, building one of these turnouts in P87 is hardly any different than a hand-build N-scale turnout, mainly just the rail is larger and the gauge is wider

I don't think a cast (or etched) frog is feasible, at least for me, but adding bolt detail to a rail-built frog seems doable.

(AFAIK, the P87 stores site is no longer taking orders.)

Cheers,
Ed