The plastic packaging can go as spare plastic to make windows for buildings if you’re scratch building or building kits that you print yourself, I’m sure there are other possible uses for it too, you don’t need to throw it away.
Hi Jen, I have used extensively the Peco bullhead track with their large radius points on my layout. These have run faultlessly from the get go. Highly recommended from both a functionality & visual perspective.
These are great points to use a big step forward in terms of realism and reliability. I have laid over 20 of these on a new layout I began in 2021. The only thing I would say is if your considering the bullhead range and have older rolling stock with thicker wheel flanges for example a Lima class 47 they will derail but all modern locomotives and rolling stock I have no problem especially the larger turnouts allow for more reliable higher speed running as well if you have a main line layout.
Thank you for your comprehensive and well structured review. From my point of view, expansion of this range by Peco has been a long time coming. The flexible track and large radius points were introduced almost a decade ago and there were a number of false starts on the release dates for the slips, crossings and smaller radius points. In terms of pricing, having bought quite a lot of the fine scale bullhead track and points, I know there is a cost premium of about 25% on the flexible track, increasing to about 33% on the newly released slips and almost 90% on the large radius points. I've accepted the higher prices on the basis of the vastly improved, prototypical aesthetic and better operational reliability. As an interesting aside, the Tri-ang Super 4 track introduced in the 1960s had sleeper spacing very similar to this newer Peco range (though with ghastly very coarse rail).
I use this track and highly recommend it. I was confused by the Unifrog points at first, but figured them out quickly enough. Older stock with large flanges may not work well on them. I have re-wheeled some of my 45 year old Mainline and Hornby coaches and they have no trouble with the points.
Hi Jenny, I have been installing these new points on my layout recently. I fully concur with your findings as they make track laying so much easier. I haven’t however worked out which fixing to put the frog wire into on Cobalt digital IP Point motor. Is it as easy as using the same slot as you would if you were wiring a electrofrog point. I currently wire my pointwork on a separate accessory bus.
It looks very realistic and now there's several sources of bullhead rail track but nobody improving flat bottom, other than having to join Scalefour or em gauge society for exactoscale flexi track bases. Is there nobody working on making a decent more realistic modern image concrete sleeper track and turnouts in 00 scale? (and I understand the usual 00 is a compromise and not realistic argument). Anyway, another great video by yourself and a pleasure to watch as usual.
Hi Jenny Great video my model railway is going to be in N not got a lit of room it may end up in my shed I have been making lots of buildings over the last 2 years ( in covid time ) I now need to decide how I want it to look that's me next step this video and all the others you have done are very useful I still haven't decided on what controller to have when it's all finished I have the basic gaugemaster £45.00 dc that works well but I like the idea of DCC but don't know what one to go for. That it far now.
Informative review Jen. Would be good to see how easily this bullhead track joins and looks against other code 75 and 100 flat bottomed track. Maybe an idea for a review? It's very disappointing IMHO, that Peco have decided to produce and promote TT:120 scale track before they've got the full range of bullhead unifrog points and crossover in Code 75 on sale and currently, there's no 100 bullhead at all from them! It's for this reason I'll go with DCC Concepts Legacy track and Peco electro frog points.
Hi, I been using the code 75 to 100 conversion to convert from code 100 to the bullhead rail, it works... but I use the code 75 rail joiners between the code75 flat bottom piece on conversion track to the bullhead code 75, not the bullhead rail joiners.
The only complaint I have is peco is a bit slow getting them out but that's me nit piking this is a fabulous product and I have been waiting and collecting bits and pieces for the last 3 or so years as I only whant to ues peco bull head and medium radius points so at long last I may be able to start my own RUclips channel so keep an eye out for a layout biuld series
Interesting and informative. I'm currently researching information and requirements to model part of a GWR Branch Line and the bullhead track components look ideal. Would this option integrate easily with my existing Hornby trackmat and its standard rail format and when can we expect to see a comprehensive selection of Unifrog Bullhead Points, etc.?
Jennifer...Just to be technically correct...this is not 00 gauge which is 18.83mm this is closer to HO which is 16.45mm. One of the things that has amazed me over the years....why us Brits have not changed over to HO in the size of the trains. The HO scale looks much better and has detail that is much more realistic. 4mm society is there because of this anomaly. p.s. how is Hornby going these days...?
I think the check rails look more realistic in plastic. Simply because they are much much shorter and never shiny in real life. Yes they can be painted, but the first track clean and they look unrealistic again. Now for track in 60ft lengths with sleepers getting closer near the ends as per prototype, or better still flexible track with the above elements built in :-)
Each to their own personal taste. But I disagree strongly regarding the chocolate check rail colour. First of all, the plastic is the same chocolate colour as the sleepers/ties, which is totally unrealistic and renders the check rail almost invisible. Secondly, the shiny plastic chocolate looks nothing like realistic for either rail OR sleepers! That has always been a negative eyesore until now. The new metal check rails are one of the most effective improvements over the unrealistic old ones, imo.
60’ lengths can be easily modelled. Turn a length of flexi track over, mark out with a Sharpie 24cm lengths, open out the bullhead rail joiners so that they can be fitted over the rail, then use flat faced pliers to clamp them over the rail at those scale 60’ spacing marks, cut the ties between sleepers and move them to the spacing you want. Turn back over and cut the rail with a cutting disc or razor saw directly above the rail joiners. You don’t need to go more than .5mm down, just enough to make it look like a join. Fill the gap with sharpie ink to make it stand out. If you are going to put a bend into the flexitrack wait until you have fixed it to the baseboard before cutting the top of the rail, so you don’t have a weak point which will bend more.
Yes. Very useful. It also made me wonder if it could be used for On30 which rides on HO/OO gauge track. I'll email Peco and ask their thoughts on this. Sleeper spacing on U.S. narrow Guage was wider than on standard Guage track.
Overall, a nice product and a nice review. Very informative and very useful, thank you. :-) However, it isn't at all clear how or IF the invaluable automatic isolation provided by Insul-frogs is reproducible. From the narrative, it would seem that both spurs remain fully live regardless of the direction selected. I suspect this is not necessarily the case, but this aspect was not touched upon. Also, I see the absence of inbuilt PL10 mounting points as posing significant extra difficulty in accurately mounting those solenoids to the point. Would you have any comment to make on that?
Disappointed to see it doesn't support the PL10. The PL10 is automatically in the right place What use will the PL10 be for. Not everyone can get under the track, to install. Everything else about it is excellent. On the normal points I have always put varnish on the frog, which makes it unifrog.
Yeah, I absolutely detest the "frog dip" that my wagon wheels fall into and cause wobbles :( I'm not about to go out and buy £180 worth of points to fix it, lot of work..😥😬 I couldn't tell but, do they have any 'modern era' style track?
The plastic packaging can go as spare plastic to make windows for buildings if you’re scratch building or building kits that you print yourself, I’m sure there are other possible uses for it too, you don’t need to throw it away.
True but how much of it are you going to use really?
A very good review. It has taken decades to get Peco to produce bullhead track with UK sleeper spacing in 00 but its here at last.
I agree with all your comments on packaging. Cardboard boxes are fine!
Hi Jen, I have used extensively the Peco bullhead track with their large radius points on my layout. These have run faultlessly from the get go. Highly recommended from both a functionality & visual perspective.
I approve of Bullhead - and thorough reviews.
Very informative, thank you. I'm just about to start a new layout so this video has been essential.
These are great points to use a big step forward in terms of realism and reliability. I have laid over 20 of these on a new layout I began in 2021. The only thing I would say is if your considering the bullhead range and have older rolling stock with thicker wheel flanges for example a Lima class 47 they will derail but all modern locomotives and rolling stock I have no problem especially the larger turnouts allow for more reliable higher speed running as well if you have a main line layout.
Thanks for a great info review.
Now we just need them to give 00 flat bottom rail the same treatment. 👍
Thanks for sharing Jenny. Thanks to peco for the sharing they look awesome great switches.
That’s great new Jenny hope you get picked you deserve it 🇨🇦🚂🥓
Hope they bring these out in TT and N, they look so much better.
Thank you for another brilliant video Jenny
great review jenny the unifrog is a simple but brilliant idea for points...............tony
Very informative video Jenny so thanks very much for it.
Thank you for your comprehensive and well structured review. From my point of view, expansion of this range by Peco has been a long time coming. The flexible track and large radius points were introduced almost a decade ago and there were a number of false starts on the release dates for the slips, crossings and smaller radius points. In terms of pricing, having bought quite a lot of the fine scale bullhead track and points, I know there is a cost premium of about 25% on the flexible track, increasing to about 33% on the newly released slips and almost 90% on the large radius points. I've accepted the higher prices on the basis of the vastly improved, prototypical aesthetic and better operational reliability.
As an interesting aside, the Tri-ang Super 4 track introduced in the 1960s had sleeper spacing very similar to this newer Peco range (though with ghastly very coarse rail).
Great video Jen and very informative
I use this track and highly recommend it. I was confused by the Unifrog points at first, but figured them out quickly enough. Older stock with large flanges may not work well on them. I have re-wheeled some of my 45 year old Mainline and Hornby coaches and they have no trouble with the points.
Hi Jenny, I have been installing these new points on my layout recently. I fully concur with your findings as they make track laying so much easier. I haven’t however worked out which fixing to put the frog wire into on Cobalt digital IP Point motor. Is it as easy as using the same slot as you would if you were wiring a electrofrog point. I currently wire my pointwork on a separate accessory bus.
It looks very realistic and now there's several sources of bullhead rail track but nobody improving flat bottom, other than having to join Scalefour or em gauge society for exactoscale flexi track bases. Is there nobody working on making a decent more realistic modern image concrete sleeper track and turnouts in 00 scale? (and I understand the usual 00 is a compromise and not realistic argument). Anyway, another great video by yourself and a pleasure to watch as usual.
Hi Jenny
Great video my model railway is going to be in N not got a lit of room it may end up in my shed I have been making lots of buildings over the last 2 years ( in covid time ) I now need to decide how I want it to look that's me next step this video and all the others you have done are very useful I still haven't decided on what controller to have when it's all finished I have the basic gaugemaster £45.00 dc that works well but I like the idea of DCC but don't know what one to go for.
That it far now.
Informative review Jen. Would be good to see how easily this bullhead track joins and looks against other code 75 and 100 flat bottomed track. Maybe an idea for a review?
It's very disappointing IMHO, that Peco have decided to produce and promote TT:120 scale track before they've got the full range of bullhead unifrog points and crossover in Code 75 on sale and currently, there's no 100 bullhead at all from them!
It's for this reason I'll go with DCC Concepts Legacy track and Peco electro frog points.
Hi,
I been using the code 75 to 100 conversion to convert from code 100 to the bullhead rail, it works... but I use the code 75 rail joiners between the code75 flat bottom piece on conversion track to the bullhead code 75, not the bullhead rail joiners.
This track will be very useful for us modellers.
The only complaint I have is peco is a bit slow getting them out but that's me nit piking this is a fabulous product and I have been waiting and collecting bits and pieces for the last 3 or so years as I only whant to ues peco bull head and medium radius points so at long last I may be able to start my own RUclips channel so keep an eye out for a layout biuld series
For crossovers with electrofrog you have to feed from the toe of each point and have a break between. Is this the case with unifrog?
Interesting and informative. I'm currently researching information and requirements to model part of a GWR Branch Line and the bullhead track components look ideal. Would this option integrate easily with my existing Hornby trackmat and its standard rail format and when can we expect to see a comprehensive selection of Unifrog Bullhead Points, etc.?
awesome video
Jennifer...Just to be technically correct...this is not 00 gauge which is 18.83mm this is closer to HO which is 16.45mm.
One of the things that has amazed me over the years....why us Brits have not changed over to HO in the size of the trains.
The HO scale looks much better and has detail that is much more realistic. 4mm society is there because of this anomaly.
p.s. how is Hornby going these days...?
It’s great track,delicate but strong,but we’ve had to wait far to long IMO for a good British style track system!
I think the check rails look more realistic in plastic. Simply because they are much much shorter and never shiny in real life. Yes they can be painted, but the first track clean and they look unrealistic again.
Now for track in 60ft lengths with sleepers getting closer near the ends as per prototype, or better still flexible track with the above elements built in :-)
Each to their own personal taste. But I disagree strongly regarding the chocolate check rail colour. First of all, the plastic is the same chocolate colour as the sleepers/ties, which is totally unrealistic and renders the check rail almost invisible. Secondly, the shiny plastic chocolate looks nothing like realistic for either rail OR sleepers! That has always been a negative eyesore until now. The new metal check rails are one of the most effective improvements over the unrealistic old ones, imo.
@@John-Tropi I agree...if they are kept dark. Careful use of track cleaners required eh.
60’ lengths can be easily modelled. Turn a length of flexi track over, mark out with a Sharpie 24cm lengths, open out the bullhead rail joiners so that they can be fitted over the rail, then use flat faced pliers to clamp them over the rail at those scale 60’ spacing marks, cut the ties between sleepers and move them to the spacing you want. Turn back over and cut the rail with a cutting disc or razor saw directly above the rail joiners. You don’t need to go more than .5mm down, just enough to make it look like a join. Fill the gap with sharpie ink to make it stand out. If you are going to put a bend into the flexitrack wait until you have fixed it to the baseboard before cutting the top of the rail, so you don’t have a weak point which will bend more.
is it me or are the sleepers on the point chunkier than on the straight track?
Yes. Very useful. It also made me wonder if it could be used for On30 which rides on HO/OO gauge track. I'll email Peco and ask their thoughts on this. Sleeper spacing on U.S. narrow Guage was wider than on standard Guage track.
Overall, a nice product and a nice review. Very informative and very useful, thank you. :-)
However, it isn't at all clear how or IF the invaluable automatic isolation provided by Insul-frogs is reproducible. From the narrative, it would seem that both spurs remain fully live regardless of the direction selected. I suspect this is not necessarily the case, but this aspect was not touched upon.
Also, I see the absence of inbuilt PL10 mounting points as posing significant extra difficulty in accurately mounting those solenoids to the point. Would you have any comment to make on that?
Disappointed to see it doesn't support the PL10.
The PL10 is automatically in the right place
What use will the PL10 be for.
Not everyone can get under the track, to install.
Everything else about it is excellent.
On the normal points I have always put varnish on the frog, which makes it unifrog.
Yeah, I absolutely detest the "frog dip" that my wagon wheels fall into and cause wobbles :(
I'm not about to go out and buy £180 worth of points to fix it, lot of work..😥😬
I couldn't tell but, do they have any 'modern era' style track?
Why can't Hornby do 00 unitrack don't tell me they can't they can
You can recycle plastic too.
Most local authorities will not accept this type of plastic to recycle, so it will just go to landfill.
They are a lot more expencive.