_GOTOBOTTOM
Dioramas
Do you love dioramas & vignettes? We sure do.
REVIEW
Russian Railroad Switch
JPTRR
Staff MemberManaging Editor
RAILROAD MODELING
#051
Visit this Community
Tennessee, United States
Joined: December 21, 2002
KitMaker: 7,772 posts
Armorama: 2,447 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 08, 2015 - 09:59 AM UTC
TURNOUT WITH CAST FROG, TYPE IIIA 1/9, USSR (RUSSIAN GAUGE 1524 MM by ARMOR35, item ARM35031, is a multi-media 806 mm (31 11/16 inches) model of a Soviet railway switch.

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
165thspc
#521
Visit this Community
Kentucky, United States
Joined: April 13, 2011
KitMaker: 9,465 posts
Armorama: 8,695 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 08, 2015 - 06:13 PM UTC
As a model railroader for the past 50 odd years I must say this appears to be an excellent product!
KoSprueOne
Visit this Community
Myanmar
Joined: March 05, 2004
KitMaker: 4,011 posts
Armorama: 1,498 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 08, 2015 - 08:55 PM UTC
Wow, this is some kit!




165thspc
#521
Visit this Community
Kentucky, United States
Joined: April 13, 2011
KitMaker: 9,465 posts
Armorama: 8,695 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 08, 2015 - 09:12 PM UTC
If I might ask; perhaps a stupid question - what makes this specifically a Russian turn out? It looks non-denominal to me! Is it that you have actually scaled it out to 5 foot gauge rather than use the model industry standard #1 Gauge???
JPTRR
Staff MemberManaging Editor
RAILROAD MODELING
#051
Visit this Community
Tennessee, United States
Joined: December 21, 2002
KitMaker: 7,772 posts
Armorama: 2,447 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 08, 2015 - 11:20 PM UTC

Quoted Text

...what makes this specifically a Russian turn out? ...actually scaled it out to 5 foot gauge rather than use the model industry standard #1 Gauge???



Hi Michael,

Armor35 produces their models in 1/35 for the military model community. They predominately produce Soviet 5 ft gauge prototypes. They also make some Reichsbahn standard gauge track, plus some 'occupied territory' track that is re-gauged to 4' 8.5", with indentions in the ties showing the former 5-ft tie plate position.

The models are made with subtle equipment specific to the Russian railway practices. Of course, much of the track and designs were fairly standard world-wide by then. A frog was a frog, switches needed points, etc., whether in Russia, USA, France, of S. America. Soviets used spike to hold the track whereas some European countries bolted it down; as such, Soviet track looks at home in the USA.

I do not know if Armor35 knew about the model industry standard #1 Gauge.

Hope this helped.
justsendit
Visit this Community
Colorado, United States
Joined: February 24, 2014
KitMaker: 3,033 posts
Armorama: 2,492 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 08, 2015 - 11:58 PM UTC
Is the gauge useful for the Trumpeter line of 1/35 german railway engines and rolling stock?
165thspc
#521
Visit this Community
Kentucky, United States
Joined: April 13, 2011
KitMaker: 9,465 posts
Armorama: 8,695 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 08, 2015 - 11:59 PM UTC
Got it, thanks.

Very impressed that they would also make track that appears to have been regauged. I have thought about doing something along those lines from scratch!
JPTRR
Staff MemberManaging Editor
RAILROAD MODELING
#051
Visit this Community
Tennessee, United States
Joined: December 21, 2002
KitMaker: 7,772 posts
Armorama: 2,447 posts
Posted: Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 05:15 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Is the gauge useful for the Trumpeter line of 1/35 german railway engines and rolling stock?



Hi Mike,

Sort of. Let me explain.

Germany used "standard gauge" 4 ft. 8 1⁄2 in. (1435 mm) spacing between rails. Russian used "broad gauge" of 5 ft. (1524 mm).

In 1/35 those gauges are 41 mm and 44 mm, respectively.

In real life, the Germans re-gauged Soviet track by sliding the rails closer together by 3.5 in., or 3 mm in 1/35. ( http://kitmaker.net/review/8111 )

( http://kitmaker.net/review/8114 )
You can do so with this model - simply offset the tie plates 3 mm on one side of the ties. The only difficulty would be the resin ties with the plates cast on. Those you could,

1. Cut 3mm out of the middle of the 12 ties, or
2. Set new plates on the ties, or
3. Carve the plates off the ties on one side and attach new ones.

Otherwise, nothing would change.

So, as this kit is issued, your German rolling stock would be derailed because the gauge is too wide. Yet you could re-gauge it with little effort and run your DRB trains on it.

justsendit
Visit this Community
Colorado, United States
Joined: February 24, 2014
KitMaker: 3,033 posts
Armorama: 2,492 posts
Posted: Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 05:45 AM UTC
Frederick, Nice review and thanks for the explanation.

We wouldn't want to derail the Germans now ... or would we?...

—mike
165thspc
#521
Visit this Community
Kentucky, United States
Joined: April 13, 2011
KitMaker: 9,465 posts
Armorama: 8,695 posts
Posted: Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 07:32 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Frederick, Nice review and thanks for the explanation.

We wouldn't want to derail the Germans now ... or would we?...

—mike



Of course that was the general idea behind the Russians picking 5' as their gauge.
bill_c
Staff MemberCampaigns Administrator
MODEL SHIPWRIGHTS
Visit this Community
New Jersey, United States
Joined: January 09, 2008
KitMaker: 10,553 posts
Armorama: 8,109 posts
Posted: Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 09:25 PM UTC
Fred, thanks for reviewing this, it looks super. A very expert review by a train nut, haha!

And also for discussing the gauge differences.

I remember years ago play-testing the "Strategy & Tactics" war game "Drive on Stalingrad," and part of the problem for the German player was the glacial pace it took to extend rail heads east for re-supply. The Russians adopted wider rail gauges deliberately to thwart invaders, and it proved a problem for Germany during WW2. Re-gauging isn't easy.

It's important that model companies produce both gauges (I believe Mirror Models has several Russian freight cars in its line). Part of me wishes the manufacturer allowed for an easier switch of gauges, however, than asking us to adapt resin ties. At least part of the kit can be re-gauged easily, so that's good.
 _GOTOTOP