O gauge Track

Discussion in 'Hand built track' started by paul_l, Jan 1, 2018.

  1. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    A shame really because they are generally held in high regard. He may be a small company but I'm sure that if he just took a step back and looked at his processes he could instantly improve on what he is doing. One man band or not, his current service is just is not acceptable. Maybe he is doing enough business to get away with it, that may not always be the case.

    I think I have used them once for something and from memory, the service was not good but not as bad as this example. There are plenty mire out there only too willing to step in if they see an opening to provide a better alternative and to cash in.

    Look forward to seeing the end results Paul.

    Toto
     
  2. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    Unfortunately it's under new ownership, as I have used them several years ago and the service was second to none.

    Now however ...........

    Paul
     
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  3. Chatty

    Chatty Full Member

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    Paul

    That was my experience with them although I haven't dealt with them recently. I think they may have had two or three people working there at that time but it appears to be a one man band now.

    Geoff
     
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  4. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    Oh dear Chris, Paul and I met the C&L chap... :headbanger: lets just say we were both of the same conclusion. As you know I don't support politics in discussion here on P1MRC... btw lovely sunset competition picture with colourful bird.:thumbup:
     
  5. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    When Peter Llewellyn had the business before his health started to deteriorate buying stuff would arrive in the post three or four days later. Paul after you and Toto had left to head off back home I went back and had a chat with the new chap because I wanted some of their cast signal wire posts as shewn on the C&L website, the chap hadn't a clue what I was talking about and suggested I send him the ref number for the product so he could find it for me. Now what am I to make of that when he said the nearest product item he had that matched my needs was a set of cosmetic signal flat wheels.:facepalm:. Anyway I am really happy you got your goods in the end.:thumbup:.
     
  6. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    Hi Geoff, I think towards the end Peter was struggling a bit, however now the current operation is definitely a one man band... just read the comments on RMWeb and I wonder how long this business will continue before being passed to someone else. I think blind ship captains, lighthouses and rocks spring to mind.
     
  7. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    Unfortunately I think the damage has been done, and will need a serious fix before it would even be sellable.
    Basics like his comment to me when I said I had emailed him several times via the sites contact us button - "I get that much spam I can't answer emails", well set up folser within your email client and forward all mails from the site address to that folder, remove the link, and set up his spam filter.

    If he doesn't want to sell via the t'internet take down the sales part of the site, and then just sell via exhibitions (seems to be his preferred option), and or supply shops societies that have an online presence.

    Just my tuppence worth

    Paul
     
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  8. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Or get someone to sell his goods on a commission basis online whilst he works the exhibitions.
     
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  9. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    Yes Toto that was one of the arguments being put up on RMWeb because as a one man band he really only has Tuesdays Wednesdays and Thursdays to service customer orders and that doesn't account for time off, the rest of the time and weekends is spent loading /unloading travelling and displaying at exhibitions. In effect the bloke is not working to any viable business plan because one cannot be in both markets at once.
     
  10. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    Yes his comment was hollow and as I say he gave me the impression he just wasn't organised properly... hence the daft reply I got to my own enquiry. I could argue that it wasn't really my place to provide him with his own produce reference numbers for something I wanted to buy. Incidentally I haven't emailed or rang him about a purchase and that doesn't account for any more point kits I was interested in.
     
  11. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Perhaps someone with a forum to act as an online shop front. :avatar: :scratchchin: Mmmmmm no ..... Maybe not. :avatar:
     
  12. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    :facepalm: oh boy don't know I like where this conversation could go :avatar:
     
  13. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    As promised

    The rusty brown chairs are C&L the dark brown chairs are Peco.


    Distance from base of chair to the bottom of the track C&L 1.04mm Peco 0.98mm

    Slide chairs


    Distance from base of chair to the bottom of the track C&L 1.03mm Peco 0.89mm

    Paul
     
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  14. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    One further difference to point out is the C&L rail is designed to fit the C&L chair, Peco bullhead rail by comparison is rolled to a slightly thinner section which means caution must be aired if using with the C&L chairs. I found this to my error when building a set of B8 points, I'd made the Vee and planed the switch rails using Peco rail and to save on cost I made the rest of the point up with Peco rail only to discover tight gauge syndrome through the switch rail on the turnout side and onto the closure rails. That was because the C&L roller track gauge is designed for the weightier C&L rail and the thinner Peco rail had allowed me to pull the rail towards the inside face of the groove on the C&L track gauge which in turn had given me a false gauge reading,the problem was down to that tiny bit of movement Peco rail had within the track gauge. Now a similar situation occurs but on a vertical plane when mating C&L rail with Peco plain rail connected with brass fishplate kits ... one sometimes gets a fractional step down in rail top height. Just something to watch for.
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2018
  15. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    I might add that the reason I made a crossing Vee using the Peco rail section was because I needed a 1 in 8 crossing angle and the Peco ready made Vee's are somewhat tighter... I forget now but more likely 1 in 4 or 1 in 6 to suit their in house point specs. The knock on effect of that is because Peco points are non prototypical (and I'm not dissing because space is the major issue for all of us here) in design or length therefore the check rails are shorter too by a few millimeter. A little tip to overcome this visual shortfall would be if using Peco track to ensure there are 24 sleepers per every scale 60 foot length of track... the flexitrack sleeper spacings are too tightly positioned.
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2018
  16. David

    David Full Member

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    I find the situation with C&L difficult and sad.
    The bloke has taken too much on I believe, and I was hoping that once Exactoscale removed their products from his listings, it might give him a better stab at getting his head around the business he has taken on.

    I did give him an order a while back for a load of chairs (1000 2-bolt and a couple of packs of 2 bolt slide chairs), which I paid for by card. To my amazement the order arrived correctly within 2 weeks. Now whilst this is certainly not as good as the way Pete Llewelyn did business, it was at least a reasonable amount of time as I noted that he had a show in between my placing the order and receiving it.

    I sincerely hope that he does get rid of the 'Monkey on his back' and take help or advice, otherwise we are likely to lose a great product.

    I am an avid supporter for the C&L products as I've used them since moving to 7mm. Prior to 7mm I'd built a few turnouts in OO using copperclad and soldered construction, i then moved to 7mm and the double junction on my Talyllyn layout required handbuilt track as it was a double junction with a threeway and a single slip built into it. Hand built was the only option, I duly purchased some O-MF gauges and printed my first turnout off Templot. I made my own crossing vee using the Brian Harrap method of construction. and then set about constructing the turnout. Success after two evenings and everything ran through it superbly. I was like the cat that had got the cream!!!

    I then printed off the double junction plan from Templot and set about that methodically, always starting from the crossing vees and working out and I ended up with this after two weeks of evenings. This was my second turnout built in 7mm. Daunting at first, but logically simple in its undertaking.





    The complex was very nice to build in 7mm, the single slip was the hardest with two opposing curves running through it, but just taking my time and attacking it logically, it just fell together. I also found that the building of trackwork is quite relaxing. The turnouts are 1:10 and are around 32" long from nose to end of the frog unit.

    The only thing that isn't from C&L is the sleepering, which is from Phil at Intentio http://intentio.co.uk/
    I stained them with Rustins Dark Oak, which is a little lighter than most use, but I'm looking for a more sun bleached finish as my layout is going to be set in the summer months.

    Again, I hope that C&L can get things on track (Pardon the pun), otherwise we will lose a wonderful set of products.

    David ;)
     
  17. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Beautiful trackwork there. A real skill. :thumbs:
     
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  18. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    As Toto has said, beautiful, and just to rub salt in it's only your second go - I'm so jealous :avatar:

    Must admit the Templot software is superb, a steep learning curve, but then that's the case of in depth software. My main issue is I don't use it often enough, by the time I've worked out how to use it again, it could be a few years before I use it again :whatever: then have to start a fresh.

    Next project (after building some 90 / 180 degree curved boards) is an O gauge inglenook type layout, so I suppose I should start practicing now

    Paul
     
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  19. David

    David Full Member

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    I usually have a play around with Templot every couple of months or so, whenever an idea pops into my head, I have to log on!!! I suppose it's a bit like getting out a sheet of paper and a pencil which I did years ago as a youngster with aspirations of London Euston on a 6' x 4' in OO!!!!:facepalm:

    I'm about to start an alternative photo plank with a retaining wall and a more urba setting, and I'm going to be building a trailing crossover on double track that is on a shallow curve after coming out of a tunnel opening. It will be 5' x 1'6", and I'm hoping I can get everything I want into it.

    David ;)
     
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  20. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    Look forward to seeing the progress
     

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