Where to start?

I hope this information can be used to help others on the forum as it clears up some misinformation.

It certainly does help, thanks for running it down. Regrettably there are many errors in the detail on the website, some of which the Moderators have passed to Hornby, and others yet to be discovered by the eagle eyed.

We will get there.

R-

Hi DRC, probably mentioned earlier but be very careful of the set-track radii.

General rule is if larger locomotives are to be operated, and if you're planning on fitting the detail packs, keep the radius as large as possible.

I find express points and 4th radius is the minimum which consistently works if you fit the detail packs on steam locomotives.

Al.

I have to admit Al, I have no idea what a detail pack is. I’ve seen no mention of anything like that so far.

Many steam locomotives will come with a little sealed pack, which has parts you can add - details - such as vacuum pipes, lamps even, but certainly brake rigging, cylinder drains and often front steps.

The cylinder drains can often get in the way of front pony trucks or bogies when on tighter curves, and finally steps.

Sometimes steps can be added with a little adjustment to permit the same wheels to even pass them on tighter curves, but often not.

This means quite often to permit a new 'prized possession' to run on many tracks, it's often running incomplete - and you'll know, even if it still looks great, you know it's still missing 'details'.

Al.

pc-recycler offers some great space saving scissor crossover options ideal for changing locos to/from adjoining loops, as at the bottom of your layout. Also, as they are so compact it makes manual points easy to reach, range is shown on ebay and he has youtube videos. I am sure many of us are benefitting from your thread, I remain a confirmed dc guy with the excellent Gaugemaster combi controllers, I can manage without the squawky, unsync'ed TTS sound, and a retailer kindly removed the TTS from a train pack that already had it fitted.

Al - I didn’t know anything about detail packs, that’s super interesting. Being able to add little extras is something I really like the sound of. Do they require gluing, or just push fit?

But I definitely get what you mean, if I couldn’t add the extras because of curve related issues, that would bug me, knowing they were there but unusable.

Corky - Stuff like this makes me feel dumb, but when I try to google pc-recycler, I get links to, well.. computer recycling! I tried to add some key words, 00 gauge, model train, scissor track, etc etc, but I’m still unable to find what I’m looking for.

Could you possibly post a link to what you mentioned? I’m always interested in better track options.

I get what you mean about the TTS, at first I was sure I was going to fit them to all my locos, but the more I hear them, the more I’m leaning towards standard decoders. I might pick up one TTS, just so that I can hear it first hand, and then decide for myself.

Hi DRC, some details are 'push fit', but can fall off / get lost / cause derailments, so better to ensure a 'good fit' or glue permanently.

Pushed on, I understand, means then could feasibly be removed, but many are so fragile, you're better ensuring a permanent fix.

Generally the 'most limiting' are the front steps. Drains are sometimes flexible enough to flex a little when pushed by the bogie / pony.

Al.

@DarkRedCape sorry about the bad steer. "pc-recycler" is his ebay seller name, "Patrick Nicholls point work videos" will find animation of his work, and details of his email address. Most are made to order, but even so, my first came through in about a week, I chose Hornby Express points for him to start with, I think the standard point work is too sharp, and as space is being saved, why not?

Try this YouTube link:

Scissor Crossover Catalogue - YouTube

Thanks Chrissaf, that link worked.

Am I right in thinking that he makes these track pieces by splicing together multiple points and track pieces? If so, you could theoretically design any piece you could think of?

Some of those pieces are amazing, I would have never thought of most of them. Thanks for the suggestion Corky.

One piece I am surprised Hornby don’t make is the diamond cross over piece, but I see that Peco make it. Something like this would save a lot of space.