Hey all, The last time I needed to buy some switches, the Peco Insulfrogs were still plentiful, and I've just been deconstructing and practicing/rebuilding a few things with what I had. Now I'm working on setting up a loop and switching on a 2x4 platform using sub-first-radius curves to provide more switching room, intended to work with smaller stock only (my GP-38 can navigate it, so that's a start). Anyway, I went out to a few sites today (including my local) looking for more of my old favorite switches, and they seem to be almost gone. There are older articles about Unifrog probably replacing both of the other models, that I'd managed to miss or ignore previously. So my angst: Are these new units the same dimensions and curvature as my older Insulfrogs? (It makes sense they would be...) 14 degrees, 4 7/8 inches etc. What about gauge? The only Unifrog items I've seen available are 55 vs the trusty 80 I've been using everywhere else. If they're not/will never be in 80, do I now need to learn how to successfully merge the two? And yes, feel free to tell me what that involves. My AnyRail doesn't even seem to have the part number for the Unifrog parts I looked around briefly for Unifrog posts and didn't see much posted. If there's anything else you'd like to toss out there about these, please educate me. Thanks.
Mark, I have used Peco Code 55 live frog turnouts for 30 years. The Unifrog change is just a recent very minor wiring change to the Code 55 turnouts. Last time I looked, the “Unifrog” wiring was only available on the Code 55, “Medium” turnout size. The Code 55 turnouts can be modified to work with Code 80 track. But, if you are already using Code 80 track, I would recommend keeping your track components the same, instead of mixing Code 80 and Code 55 components. Uniformity makes for better track work. The shape/geometry of the Code 80 and Code 55 turnouts is slightly different. I can help if you have more questions on Peco track details or modifications. - Tonkphilip
Mark, I am guessing that you are presently using Peco Code 80 small radius turnouts with a 14 degree angle? The Code 55 turnouts with small radius (12”), medium radius (18”) and large radius (36”), all use a 10 degree frog angle. If you need more details, see the Peco Catalog at https://Peco-uk.com.
Thanks, I said gauge, I meant code i.e. I'm running 80 everywhere but 55 is all I've seen so far for Unifrogs I can find. The Peco 14 degree turnouts are what I have, although I've often seen them described as medium. Actual part #s are SL-395 and SL-396. I really don't want to switch to using code 55 mashups, however the code 80 Insulfrogs seem to have disappeared. My local guy at M.B. woo woo woo said he has a perpetual purchase order with Peco for these items, but they haven't been shipping. I reached out to Peco directly this morning, hopefully they'll have something useful to say.
Mark, The Unifrog turnouts are presently only available for one type/size of turnout, Code 55 Medium radius. Peco is working on developing Unifrog for other Code 55 turnouts. If you want to use the Code 55 turnouts, it is possible to mate them to your existing code 80 flex track by using the standard Peco 55/80 rail joiners. Though of course you will need to account for the 10 degree frog angle on the Code 55 turnouts. - Tonkphilip
Mark, If you look at TrainWorld, they have your Code 80 Medium Turnouts in stock with 14 degree able in stock. They are listed as Code 80 #6 turnouts and are available as both Insulfrog (what you have with black plastic frogs), or as Electrofrog with a switched metal frog. The Electrofrog have some conductivity advantages but typically require using insulated joiners on the two frog rails. I am guessing that it will be easier to continue using the Insulfrog turnouts that you have already. - Tonkphilip
Mark, Fifer Hobby Supply also has your Code 80 (medium)#6 turnouts in Insulfrog or Electrofrog. They are also a Trainboard advertiser. - Tonkphilip
Hey thank you, I've visited Fifer before for rolling stock but didn't think to look there for track. I'll check out TrainWorld also.
I just took delivery last week on some Code 80 #6 turnouts, both left & right hand, in Insulfrog, from Trainworld.
Thanks, I just ordered several from them myself. I got a response from Andrew Beard at Peco. He confirmed that the code 80 Insulfrog and Electrofrog turnouts are still in production, but when it comes time to upgrade/replace the tooling (i.e. not near term), the next iteration for code 80 would be Unifrog also. So it looks like it's mainly a logistics/inventory thing. ___ I have a question based on this dialog. It's not a complaint or a flame of any kind, just looking to understand better. In an earlier message I mentioned that "woo woo woo" had been substituted for a train dealer name in my area that I mentioned in the post. However we can toss around TrainWorld in this discussion without any implications. Can someone clarify that for me? Thanks.
“Woo woo woo,” of course, is also the substitution you’ll get for profanity or vulgarity. There is also a certain type of file you can’t refer to by its accepted name without getting the “woo woo woo” treatment. (The name comes from the roughness of the file having been non-standard, between a #0 and a #1 in roughness, not because its parents were unmarried.) You can use the term to search for them on Lowes.com, and Homedepot.com, but you have to PM someone to tell them what grade of file to look for. I get it, but it can make for obtuse interventions. I daresay that if Scaletrains.com weren’t an advertiser here, that the discussion of the entire brand might be verboten here, as they sell direct, and would thus be considered “a dealer.” The recent thread on “Opinions of Scaletrains” might have been moderated away, or moderated to the point of ridiculousness, as “Opinions of woo woo woo.”
I just wish the filter could tell the difference between EmBee Kl'eye'n and Kl'eye'n Tools. I purposefully butchered both, but the latter is not a model railroad vendor, but a US* manufacturer of high quality trades tools, some of which are very useful/handy in model railroading. *Some of their tools are now made in China.
Maybe the company was founded by Alan “Klean”, the embattled manager of the Beatles hired to replace Brian Epstein. Rumors persist that McCartney’s dislike for “Klean” was because “Klean” was trying to get John, George and Ringo to invest in his upstart model train store, rather than make records. Rumor has it that home demo tapes he recorded and bootlegged with Yoko’s voice are still used to this day as source material for brake squeal and flange squeal sounds for DCC locos.
Hi all, revisiting after some down time, then I returned to the layout and completed the setup that I was describing earlier. I laid an inner loop of 8" radius with flex track and my smaller locos seem to navigate it just fine with 50' and smaller cars. I even struggled with track cleaning after having it sit there unused these many months, until I remembered my brake cleaner sitting on the workbench - I haven't personally seen this discussed before, but wow it works, and the track plastic seems fine also. During application with a rag it seems like not much is happening, not much residue being picked up, etc. but when running the locos they go everywhere at slow speed when they were struggling on the main loop just before. I don't understand it but I like it. Revisiting those Peco frog types again: I've been using the Code 80 insulfrogs exclusively up to this point, but occasionally seeing a short on some switches with some locos where the wheel manages to reach across and touch both sides of that insulated frog. I'm now looking to move to Electrofrog for my next project. I understand the use of the direct electrical feed to the frog for use with electrical switches and switch machines. But is that wiring absolutely necessary? Does the frog also have connectivity with the point rails, so that it would have _some_ connectivity without wiring up all that? If I'm playing around with setups I'd like to be able to run a train without necessarily wiring all those until I settled on my final layout. Thanks!
