dauntless

/media/tinymce_upload/0e586f6e1413747c3cd7987a4dee99a6.jpg It's a long time since I asked my original question. I started the project, got diagnosed with cancer, spent a year getting better and carried on designing and building. The initial idea to follow the "Operation Build It" plan triggered a lot of extra thinking. In the end, instead of just a one board layout I went for 4 separate boards 6x2 boards that form a 6' x 10' rectangle with a dual loop plus separate branch line station and a raised coal mine area!! Attached is a photo of the board that includes the (expanded) operation build it layout. Can you spot the original plan? Please not too many critical comments as this is my first attempt at a railway layout since is was 14 years old. I have learnt a lot in the process and had a lot of fun. It now is all operational with NCE DCC control and uses cobalt digital point motors and runs with NCE control

It just seems rather strange then that it is advertised full page in the latest (current) edition of MR magazine yet there are no details on the Hornby website. The advert must cost quite a bit to put in the magazine - which is wasted if potential customers go to the website and find nothing. I wondered if it was intended to capitalise on interest generated by the upcoming Great Model Railway Challenege programme starting on TV this Friday?

II saw the advert by Hornby (in Model Railway magazine) for their Family Fun Project, It said see the website for details. I can't find anything on the Hornby website. Anyone know what this initiative is?

Well, they seem a good fit in the grooves on my engine's wheels. I don't have any new Hornby ones to compare the Marklin ones with. The diamater of the new ones seemed small, but they stretched to fit. Acording to the description I saw they are supposed to be for 20-22mm wheels.The old Hornby traction tyres were perished, hardened and broken so not really able to compare. I can't comment on the Airfix model. However, as they are made from a stretchy/flexible material I imagine they may adapt a bit to different dimensions?

I have managed to obtain some Marklin 7152 traction tyres. They seemed small but stretched and fitted OK on my Hornby 14XX. So it is now back in working order. Maybe that info might be of help to others?

I am also in need of traction tyres for a Hornby 14xx. If anyone does know of a source I would also be keen to know about availability.

Thanks to everone who replied to this thread. In the end I will go with 51mm spacing and large radius curves. David

I will be using Peco 75 medium radius points and 24" radius curves so I think I will stick to using the points "back to back" without extra starights for 51 (or 55mm ) spacing.

I realise that Hornby spacing is wider. Also that tighter curves need a greater spacing. For me the strange issue is that the "Operation built It" layout plan was designed for Peco 75 track and is built on basically a 6' x 2' board with a straight station layout, plus an optional in-line fiddle board. So no real curved section. Perhaps the wider spacing helps when manouevering a long(er) loco on the "passing loop"? My planned layout has minimum 24" radius curves so I may go with 50mm spacing (well actually 51mm with insulating joiners on the points) as it reduces the numbers of joints to do (and so the possibilities of failures?)

I have the Hornby Magazines from 2013 -2014 covering their "Operation Build It" layout series. They included a full-size track plan (using Peco 75 track). I notice that the track spacing in the station is not 51mm but about 60mm. They have added a short piece of straight between the "back to back" points which inceases the spacing between the 2 lines. Is their any good reason for this? Or just aethestics? I ask as I am going to use the plan as a basis for my new layout.