2021 Releases

[RSR Engineer]

Hornby clearly didn't take any further notice of my letter of October 2019 about Setrack double slips. They've sat on it (if it hasn't already landed in the wastepaper basket) for over a year now and, considering their reply of that time, I'm not exactly optimistic. (Time to do some chasing up, I think, although I must admit I did forget and let things slide.) The one new item that I do find interesting is the W1, a genuine addition to the range. While we're about it, they have also failed for the umpteenth year running to offer matching coaches for the Silver Jubilee and Coronation. Or did I miss something?

Cheers,
Artur

[Walkingthedog]

Perhaps Peco will make one. Far better track in my view.


I thought they did make the coaches or was it some time ago.

[Mike Parkes]

A setrack double slip is not that easy to design as each of the four tracks need to be straight and then the diverging route curve away. I bought a HO one that was advertised as having a radii roughly equivalent to Hornby/Peco 2nd radius but that was taken overall and the curved parts are akin to 1st radius which is not much use for many locos sold today. The Peco Streamline Double Slip is virtually that which would equate to Hornbys Express Points and with the smaller straights from both Hornby (R610) and Peco (ST202 and ST203) can be made to fit in a Setrack layout, albeit it would be a lot cheaper using flexible track than the various setrack components

[Brian]

A Double Slip is a smaller version of two left hand or two right hand standard points placed single line to single line ends. So a simple but larger DS replica can be produced in any code format if space permits

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[RSR Engineer]

Thank you for your comments, gentlemen. I must however beg to differ. If space permits, Brian? The reason for having a double slip is that space doesn't permit, plus we want to avoid a succession of reverse curves. Referring to Mike's diagram, there is no need to cram the point blades in between the frogs like Peco do. You could follow the example of Tillig and Märklin. Look how Märklin solved (it in the 1950s already). And the curved routes are of constant radius. They even made the DS in two radii. And they accommodated the third rail. So come on, makers, fingers out, please, where there's a will there's a way. I attach three examples.

Cheers,
Artur

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[Walkingthedog]

Impressive. How long is the modern version compared to Peco?

[Mike Parkes]

The Tillig 85391 is longer overall ; 276mm along the straight routes and the curve is 1050mm radius; the Peco one is 249mm overall and the curve is 610mm radius.
They do make a smaller 85390 which is 228mm along the straight routes and the curve is 484mm radius which is roughly midway between UK 2nd (438mm) and 3rd radius (505mm).

Suspect if we were to get a Setrack double slip from Hornby it have 3rd radius curves and consequently part of a new range of 3rd radii points.

Tillig points have a number of distinct improvements over Peco -they have one piece switch rails and the rails have a weathered appearance saving on that tedious task. They do not have a locking mechanism so you need to use them with a point motor that holds the rails in place and they are slightly delicate so a slow motion motor which they sell or a Cobalt or Tortoise is preferable to a solenoid
The rail whilst code 83 in width has a height with the sleepers that it matches reasonably perfectly that of code 100 rail unlike other Code 83 rails where there is a need to pad the Code 83 track or grind down the approaching Code 100 rail height slightly.

[Walkingthedog]

Thanks Mike.

[RSR Engineer]

If I've got the right one, WTD, the straight of the Tillig DS is 276 mm long and the radius is given as 1050 mm. The crossing angle is 15°. Diagram from their website attached.

You mention also about the LNER coaches. I had a look on ebay. Hornby did produce some silver-grey things (R837) that bore no resemblance to the prototype. A bit like John Cleese's ferret with a wooden leg. For the Coronation I saw some very expensive kit-built stock from Australia. So my earlier comment stands.

Cheers,
Artur

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[Mike Parkes]

And the small Tillig double slip can fit into a Hornby/Peco Setrack plan using R610s and ST203s to fill in plus a length of Tillig pieces in this examples. There is a slight overwide distance between the rails caused by the R610s on either side of the double slip and again the better, cheaper solution would to be use to appropriately sized lengths of flexible track.