N Gauge Forum

General Category => N Gauge Discussion => Topic started by: kirky on February 07, 2016, 05:31:55 PM

Title: Level crossing inserts?
Post by: kirky on February 07, 2016, 05:31:55 PM
Does anyone do road inserts for level crossings? Thats the bit that sits between the rails that cars and lorries drive over.
I'm looking for something that looks modern, so not the wooden type. I believe they are rubber in 12 inches to the foot scale.
Any ideas anyone?

Thanks
Kirky
Title: Re: Level crossing inserts?
Post by: austinbob on February 07, 2016, 05:34:30 PM
Quote from: kirky on February 07, 2016, 05:31:55 PM
Does anyone do road inserts for level crossings? Thats the bit that sits between the rails that cars and lorries drive over.
I'm looking for something that looks modern, so not the wooden type. I believe they are rubber in 12 inches to the foot scale.
Any ideas anyone?

Thanks
Kirky
I'm interested in the answer to this one also.  :thankyousign:
Title: Re: Level crossing inserts?
Post by: Oldman on February 07, 2016, 06:08:23 PM
Have seen them somewhere, think they were a usa product BLMR or something similar was the dealer.
Title: Re: Level crossing inserts?
Post by: jrb on February 07, 2016, 06:10:01 PM
How about just cutting a piece of plasticard to the right size & painting it?
Title: Re: Level crossing inserts?
Post by: bazzanel on February 07, 2016, 06:13:03 PM
Quote from: kirky on February 07, 2016, 05:31:55 PM
Does anyone do road inserts for level crossings? Thats the bit that sits between the rails that cars and lorries drive over.
I'm looking for something that looks modern, so not the wooden type. I believe they are rubber in 12 inches to the foot scale.
Any ideas anyone?

Thanks
Kirky

:hellosign:

FIO this company make the real thing 1:1 http://www.levelcrossinginstallations.co.uk/ (http://www.levelcrossinginstallations.co.uk/)

After seeing this I found this company which make what look like chequer plate panels in N scale 1:160. http://mftrain.com/en/grade-crossing-p104 (http://mftrain.com/en/grade-crossing-p104)
Its a Spanish firm someone else mentioned on here for rigid couplers.
May be OK for what your after.  Hope it helps

Baz
Title: Re: Level crossing inserts?
Post by: kirky on February 07, 2016, 08:40:07 PM
Quote from: jrb on February 07, 2016, 06:10:01 PM
How about just cutting a piece of plasticard to the right size & painting it?
Well funnily enough I'd thought of that. In fact what we have already done is to plaster the crossing, using filler. This looks ok, but doesnt quite give the rubberised effect I'm after. I think I need something that shows the texture of the rubber and smooth lines to differentiate the separate panels.
Thanks tho.
Kirky
Title: Re: Level crossing inserts?
Post by: Zogbert Splod on February 07, 2016, 09:52:29 PM
If you can get hold of a small piece of frame makers matt card you can use that. A local photo framing place gave me loads for free. It can be tricky to cut so work slowly, multiple passes is the technique to go for. The card will accept impressions in its surface made with anything suitable. I have tried a quick spray with mat varnish/sealer before using water based colour and found that to work well.
The material comes various thicknesses and in a large range of colours.
Title: Re: Level crossing inserts?
Post by: GeeBee on February 07, 2016, 09:56:11 PM
Hi, KATO Unitrak make a level crossing panel

http://www.traintrax.co.uk/20021-124mm-single-road-xing-track-p-279.html (http://www.traintrax.co.uk/20021-124mm-single-road-xing-track-p-279.html)

hope this helps
Graham
Title: Re: Level crossing inserts?
Post by: railsquid on February 07, 2016, 10:13:40 PM
That's a monolithic section of track, to get just the insert you'd have to dismantle it and cut out the insert from the grey plastic section. FWIW the insert is moulded as what looks like a planking strips effect.

The most realistic (or least unrealistic) modern (i.e. non-wood effect) rendering I've seen in Japan is this set (http://www.yodobashi.com/ec/product/100000001002588559/index.html) from Tomytec which looks like this:

(http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/12/thumb_32173.jpg) (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=32173)
Title: Re: Level crossing inserts?
Post by: kirky on February 07, 2016, 11:33:50 PM
Quote from: Zogbert Splod on February 07, 2016, 09:52:29 PM
If you can get hold of a small piece of frame makers matt card you can use that. A local photo framing place gave me loads for free. It can be tricky to cut so work slowly, multiple passes is the technique to go for. The card will accept impressions in its surface made with anything suitable. I have tried a quick spray with mat varnish/sealer before using water based colour and found that to work well.
The material comes various thicknesses and in a large range of colours.

Ahh.
I hadn't thouhht of using Matt board. I have loads. My dad used to picture framing and gave me his kit when he'd had enough.
I'll give it a go next week i think.
Thanks
Kirky
Title: Re: Level crossing inserts?
Post by: Webbo on February 08, 2016, 07:05:06 AM
Quote from: Oldman on February 07, 2016, 06:08:23 PM
Have seen them somewhere, think they were a usa product BLMR or something similar was the dealer.

The company is BLMA. They make concrete and rubber 'grade crossings'. Here is some stuff on them:

http://www.blmamodels.com/cgi-bin/webstore/shop.cgi?ud=CQkGBgANDgwDBxQUEBEcHAYACQcACAQECQkTEQAA&storeid=1&searchtext=79&cols=1&&c=detail.red.htm&t=main.red.htm&itemid=80 (http://www.blmamodels.com/cgi-bin/webstore/shop.cgi?ud=CQkGBgANDgwDBxQUEBEcHAYACQcACAQECQkTEQAA&storeid=1&searchtext=79&cols=1&&c=detail.red.htm&t=main.red.htm&itemid=80)

I've just installed the concrete ones on my layout and once painted up they look pretty good. Don't know how close they would be to British prototype though.

Webbo
Title: Re: Level crossing inserts?
Post by: portland-docks on February 09, 2016, 08:42:17 PM
Quote from: Webbo on February 08, 2016, 07:05:06 AM
Quote from: Oldman on February 07, 2016, 06:08:23 PM
Have seen them somewhere, think they were a usa product BLMR or something similar was the dealer.

The company is BLMA. They make concrete and rubber 'grade crossings'. Here is some stuff on them:

http://www.blmamodels.com/cgi-bin/webstore/shop.cgi?ud=CQkGBgANDgwDBxQUEBEcHAYACQcACAQECQkTEQAA&storeid=1&searchtext=79&cols=1&&c=detail.red.htm&t=main.red.htm&itemid=80 (http://www.blmamodels.com/cgi-bin/webstore/shop.cgi?ud=CQkGBgANDgwDBxQUEBEcHAYACQcACAQECQkTEQAA&storeid=1&searchtext=79&cols=1&&c=detail.red.htm&t=main.red.htm&itemid=80)

I've just installed the concrete ones on my layout and once painted up they look pretty good. Don't know how close they would be to British prototype though.

Webbo

2 questions:-

1/how long did it take to arrive in the UK?
2/....wheres the add to cart button? i cant see it anywhere?

paul
Title: Re: Level crossing inserts?
Post by: JasonBz on February 09, 2016, 08:46:57 PM
I am pretty sure Unit Models do them.......
Title: Re: Level crossing inserts?
Post by: FourWheelCoach on February 09, 2016, 10:24:43 PM
Rather than worrying about replicating the real world materials, consider what the real world one looks like from 100yards away..I think the road markings will stand out most.  Matt card sounds a good idea..
Title: Re: Level crossing inserts?
Post by: Webbo on February 09, 2016, 10:27:11 PM
Quote from: portland-docks on February 09, 2016, 08:42:17 PM

2 questions:-

1/how long did it take to arrive in the UK?
2/....wheres the add to cart button? i cant see it anywhere?

paul

Paul

I had them sent to Australia. Typically, from the US/Canada things take about 1 week to 10 days for us.

Rather than ordering direct from BLMA, I ordered from an outfit called PWRS. Alternatively, other suppliers to consider would be Fifer or N Scale Supply. Perhaps there are UK suppliers of BLMA products?

Just had a look and Unit Models does do grade crossings. From appearances, the Unit Models crossings are more rural than the BLMA crossings. Here is a photo of mine installed.

[smg id=35301 type=preview align=center caption="BLMA grade crossing"]

Webbo

Title: Re: Level crossing inserts?
Post by: kirky on February 10, 2016, 07:47:11 AM
Quote from: JasonBz on February 09, 2016, 08:46:57 PM
I am pretty sure Unit Models do them.......

Thanks for that, but the only ones I can see on the website look like the older wooden type crossings.
Thanks tho.
Kirky
Title: Re: Level crossing inserts?
Post by: kirky on February 10, 2016, 07:52:14 AM
Quote from: FourWheelCoach on February 09, 2016, 10:24:43 PM
Rather than worrying about replicating the real world materials, consider what the real world one looks like from 100yards away..I think the road markings will stand out most.  Matt card sounds a good idea..
That's a good question. The simple answer is that we have two level crossings on Northallerton and they are both at the very front of the layout. Like three inches from the board edge! Very very easily seen in detail. And for that reason I want them to look as good as possible.
Cheers
Kirky
Title: Re: Level crossing inserts?
Post by: kirky on February 10, 2016, 07:57:10 AM
Quote from: Webbo on February 09, 2016, 10:27:11 PM
Quote from: portland-docks on February 09, 2016, 08:42:17 PM

2 questions:-

1/how long did it take to arrive in the UK?
2/....wheres the add to cart button? i cant see it anywhere?

paul

Paul

I had them sent to Australia. Typically, from the US/Canada things take about 1 week to 10 days for us.

Rather than ordering direct from BLMA, I ordered from an outfit called PWRS. Alternatively, other suppliers to consider would be Fifer or N Scale Supply. Perhaps there are UK suppliers of BLMA products?

Just had a look and Unit Models does do grade crossings. From appearances, the Unit Models crossings are more rural than the BLMA crossings. Here is a photo of mine installed.

[smg id=35301 type=preview align=center caption="BLMA grade crossing"]

Webbo


That looks really really good, but unfortunately not very prototypic ally British, at least not where I'm modelling.
Thanks again for sharing though.
Cheers
Kirky