Point frogs

[hornbeam]

Hi all

I'm looking at building a diamond crossing (45 mm crossing gauge 3) and want to have a go as I don't want to Pay to much and if it works may result in me home buIlding some points.

Now the gauge 3 society offer some jigs but am wondering if there is another method. Rail section can either be lgb, tenmille g or maybe even peco. I see peco offer point frogs and some machined rail so this could work. Tenmille used to offer a cast brass frog but seems to no longer be available so wondering if anyone else makes frogs ( no no not the pond kind!)?

The crossing angle is not important as it can be laid to fit.

Si

 

[bobg]

Reoint frogs

Si, whilst a cast or pre-made frog/crossing nose is a simple solution, you could manufacture you're own by cutting rail section and soldering (soft or silver) the parts together. Can't claim to have done it in "G" but I have in bigger stuff, and the result was very pleasing and much more realistic. A jig is not essential but will make life a h**l of a lot easier if you are doing more than one.

 

[Rhinochugger]

Reoint frogs

One of the US track suppliers does them - Llagas Creek ??

 

[Wobbleboxer]

Reoint frogs

I started a thread on this a while ago http://www.gscalecentral.net/tm?m=143940 . Mr Spock had built one and there are some photos of both his and my attempt in the thread. Mr Spock sent me some templates which I adapted as I didn't want such a shallow angle. Happy to send them on if you want them. This was all done in Peco 250, but the templates can easily be used with any track. You don't need specialised frogs but you will have to think about electrics depending on where and how it will be used. If I recall Mr S was all battery so didn't worry, mine has a few well placed cuts through the rails.

 

[tramcar trev]

Reoint frogs

I have made quite a few for my tramway points. I make mine integral with the points cutting the rail in a "mitre" style and soft soldering the lot together. I remove the flange way with a suitable cutter in a rotary tool once its all soldered up. I solder my rail to PCB sleepers though.
If you wanted insulated frogs then I would make them up out of rail trim to length, polish and finish and then make a silicone rubber mould and cast them in resin....
If you look in "track and track laying" there are some good examples that others have completed there...

 

[Bruce in NZ]

Reoint frogs

I hard solder the frogs and then soft solder the wing rails without any risk of the frogs coming apart. My frog angles are between 1 in 6 and one in 8, unless the point is a Y or 3 way, in which case the angle is more like 1 in 4.5 or 1 in 5. Soft soldering is not totally straightforward but does not require an engineering background - you need a small quantity of thin rod, a flux powder and a butane torch. There are plenty of how to's on the web.

 

[trammayo]

Reoint frogs

You don't say if you want it for track power. I made a simple one with the frog noses made from Milliput (moulded in-situ). The track is cut to whatever length the crossing angle dictates and I didn't use check rails. I originally infilled with ply to represent old sleepers but the weather took care of that, so it remains in use without!

Cheap as chips.