Hi all!
Been away for a while but now it’s winter and train time!
Went web searching for some older sites for realistic looking track products. (not looking for full hand laid)
Seems there’s a newer site site called Proto 87 Stores that seems to have combined a bunch of companies products into one site. Some of the plastic turnout and main/transition/siding tie strips look like Central Valley, but some look newer and more detailed? Any one know if these are a different Mfg?
They look GREAT!
Wondering if anyone has dealt with this site or has info. [:)]
PS. I got sticker shock at how much things had gone up in price in 2-3 years.[:O]
Modeltrainstuff still seems to have realistic pricing though.
Yes, their main method is to take the CV stuff and then add their etched detail parts to make superdetailed track. They also have various products to hand lay track and turnouts, with or without the extra superdetaisl like tie plates and splice bars. They also have all the extra switch parts - various cast frogs to simulate different types you’d see on the prototype, as well as the various tie bars often used to hold things together.
If you’re building a basement empire - hope you’re young, to apply that level of detail to ALL the track. Building a small switching layout - it can look fantastic, even nose right to the rail, if you use all those detail parts they have available. All a matter of preference.
Thanks Randy,
No EMPIRE in my future plans. (read my Diner post)
Gonna do a 4x6 or 4x8 with a switching yard. I only have a 10x 12 bedroom to work with.
I want to go small and manageable and very detailed on this one.
I don’t want to ever have to throw away another layout like I did when I moved from Tenn back to Ohio.
Some of those tie strips look like they didn’t come from CVMW. They look more detailed than theirs with “peen-able” spikes and clamps bars.(??)
They’re not “new”. I’ve been getting my rail from them for several years. They are very easy to deal with. As the others have stated, they provide track details to up the look of the track as a model. The main idea of the site is to sell to the modeler the items they’ll need to convert their current HO models to the Proto 87 standards. These standards are much, much, finer than normal HO scale, and even finer than the semi scale wheels from Intermountain and others.
All very good points, It’s also important to note they don’t just do Proto:87, they also create parts for standard HO stuff but maintaining a higher detailed look. They have Manganese insert Frogs, Self Rerailing frogs, and a host of other components that not only duplicate the look of real track but also provide parts that functionally improve track.
I did a very small project using their “Electric Avenue” street running girder rail stuff.
The light tan color is as the “cobblestone brick” sheet comes from the box. I painted and weathered it to get the mottled gray part.
I love the way it looks when it’s done. Laying it down has a significant learning curve, though. This section is a single curve, 1/4 circle, through town down to the carfloat dock. I still have trouble with derailments on it. It’s not bad when pulling a string of cars off the float, but it can be frustrating when pushing them on. Really, though, it’s for trolleys, not freight traffic.
The P87 stores tie strips are Central Valley ties. The turnout basses for the $10 turnout kits are CV also. The P87 stuff is cool. I buy from Andy when I need stuff.
