Hope nobody minds my going off topic for a moment, but
@richard carr ‘s recent posting about Tim Warren’s Fastracks(?) jigs etc for representing N.American trackwork in a number of gauges, brought to mind a short series of videos I made and posted on YouTube several years ago. Funnily enough, they appeared out of the blue only recently whilst I was surfing, and I had forgotten all about them.
Representing a typical street running type short line through the streets of Downtown LA that sadly didn’t get any further than what can be seen in the vids, the reason richard’s post prompted this brief diversion is that the point work (turnouts) were handbuilt over ‘free to print off’ templates that this company made available on line. As ordering from Canada for only three or four points didn’t really warrant the cost of jigs, materials and postage costs, I decided to devise my own check rail gauge settings etc via trial and error using feeler gauges used for spark plug settings, and was very pleased with the smooth running obtained (I wish I could remember what they were…). However, this may be hard to believe due to the shaky images and poor quality film (trying to operate, film and hold the switch blades across proved a task too far for somebody who can only perform one at a time).
It also highlights the superb slow running of the Bachmann HO models (a GP38-2 bought brand new from Hattons for a measly sum of twenty quid or so, brand new!), which are seen by our American cousins as the poor relation of the railroad world. Hard to believe too, that it’s a basic DC controller I was using. Amazing.
Anyway, apologies in advance for the lack of editing and painfully slow content, however, I know that at one or two friends on the forum are quite partial to American HO, so at least it may yet spark some interest.
After this,I promise no more diversions.
jonte
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! You did serve to remind me of my "Frenchman's Creek" project which is something with which I have not troubled the forum - yet, 
