Rail Smaller than Code 40

[Jesse6669]

Does anyone make rail smaller than Code 40?  If not, would anyone be interested in it? 
For my T-scale stuff I'd like a rail with a cross-section thinner than 0.5mm because in T that railhead thickness really looks... thick;
Code 30 would scale out to 0.75mm high and (I believe) would be 0.375mm.  I thought it might be of interest to some Z or N-scale modelers as well, if I can find someone who can make it on a custom/batch basis.
Jesse

[dem34]

Paging @DKS if he still lurks.

[Missaberoad]

Sub code 40 rail doesn't really exist.
There's two examples I'm aware of, the 2mm society sells code 30 rail and as mentioned previously Dave Smith made some amazing code 25 based projects.
In both cases they use flat wire with no rail profile. At that height it actually looks pretty good even without the profile, but requires that the rail be soldered to pc board ties.

Here's some of Dave's work on it.

http://davidksmith.com/modeling/resources/james-river-modeling/part_9.htm

http://davidksmith.com/modeling/resources/james-river-modeling/part_10.htm

http://davidksmith.com/modeling/projects/project-5.htm

Here is the Zn3 track and switch he made, I recall he also made some T gauge track but it may be lost to time.

http://davidksmith.com/modeling/layouts/PineCreek/pcrr-2.htm

http://davidksmith.com/modeling/layouts/PineCreek/pcrr-3.htm

Dave is an inspiration and a wizard. I hope he is doing well.

[garethashenden]

The 2mm Association Code 30 rail has been discontinued. There wasn't a lot of demand for it.

It really depends on how much you want. There's a company in the UK that makes a lot of model rail. They could make it for you, but you'd have to pay for a custom die and then buy thousands of feet of rail. I don't remember what their minimum order is, but I think its by weight, so smaller section rail results in substantially more pieces.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I think DKS just used flat wire.

[Dave V]

I think DKS just used flat wire.

He did, yes.

[Missaberoad]

I think DKS just used flat wire.

In both cases they use flat wire with no rail profile.

 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

 

What, you think I actually READ anything beyond the subject? lol

[Jesse6669]

Yep I remember DKS efforts!  I have a couple samples of flat wire forthcoming (something from a fly-tying site, another from a jewelry site), we will see how they check out.  For T scale, the rail profile isn't really needed.  My plan is to 3D print the tie web, and sink the wire into it and glue it in place.   

[C855B]

I've felt for years that N scale could use a Code 32, 20% smaller than C40, which itself is 27% smaller than C55. I use C40 in yards, sidings and industrial trackage, especially now that I have a reliable C40-to-C55 joiner to use with off-the-shelf turnouts. A C32 would be awesome for extra-light trackage.

C32 would conceivably work with current NMRA wheel specs, although attention to spike, etc., detail would be more stringent. But as @garethashenden noted above, there are cost and demand issues to address.

[robert3985]

My good friend Gregg Cuddworth is hand-laying Nn3 trackage using Code30 "Ribbon-Rail" for his basement-filling double-decked entire RGS.

Although the "ribbon-rail" is flat, it has rounded corners, so Gregg solders a fillet on either side of the rail when attaching to his PCB ties, every 7th tie if I remember correctly, to strengthen its vertical positioning.

Truth is, although a somewhat rail-like profile would be very nice, the small height of the Code30 "rail" makes the lack of a profile virtually unnoticeable, just as in most cases, lack of tie plates and spikehead details on hand-laid turnouts and track in N-scale are politely ignored.

Photo (1) - One of Gregg's not-yet-finished Nn3 custom engines on a scenicked portion of his layout...Note the Code30 ribbon-rail...


Photo (2) - In-Progress Code30 trackwork at Rico:


Photo (3) - One more view of one of Gregg's trains near Muldoon Siding on his Nn3 layout:


Even though in these photos Gregg has not yet painted his rails, their flatness and lack of a "rail" profile really isn't evident.

Does that mean that "real" Code30 rail is needed??  I'd say definitely yes, if for no other reason that it would be easier to lay and keep upright than ribbon rail with a rounded foot and head, with no solder fillets needed.

I would definitely buy some if it became available.

Of even more interest to me would be Code46 rail, proportioned to represent 136 lb A.R.E.A. rail, which is what the rails were replaced by in the early 1940's on the UP to accommodate the weight of the Big Boys which were scheduled to arrive in September of 1941.  Also, much mainline rail today is that height, if not that weight.

Photo (4) - A.R.E.A. 136 lb rail cross-section with N-scale equivalent measurements for height, railhead width and railfoot width:


Make sure that on any new rails being created that the railhead is rounded properly.

Code46 for mainline heavily trafficked track, Code40 for medium trafficked track and Code30 for lightly trafficked track....THAT would be GREAT for N-scale hand-laid trackage! 

And, Code30 for Z-scale and smaller...

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[nkalanaga]

Code 40 for Z scale is equivalent to code 55 in N, or 100 in HO.  Oversized, but not that bad on a layout.  There are probably a lot of Z modelers who'd love to have a line of C40 track.

[eja]

All of you must have young eyes   

[robert3985]

All of you must have young eyes   

Lol.. I'm hitting 75 this year and have one eye that works...with Optivisors.  Luckily I have pretty good peripheral vision in my bad eye.

It could be a lot worse. 

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[nkalanaga]

Just turned 67.  Right eye has never been much use, "lazy-eye", so basically one-eyed for close work.  Like Bob, good peripheral vision from right eye.  It can see motion very well, but doesn't focus well.  Due to this, have reading and driving glasses.  Bifocal prescription was too complicated!  Fairly good vision without glasses beyond three feet, but need glasses to keep both eyes looking the same direction!

No Optivisor, but I do have a 2X clip-on magnifier for my reading glasses.

Oddly, doctor says I'm nearsighted, even though that's where I need the glasses most!