I have an old Atlas Layout book, "Blueprints for Snap-Track HO Layouts" In it it has the layout for the Junior Pretzel with what track is needed, now this is before Code 83 Track became avaible and what not. I've have enough track at home now I think the Turnouts have changed. I don't have what exact ones I have since I'm not at home, it's a manual Code 83 Turnouts. The Problem I have is my track doesn't line up when I start to temporarily tack it down on the foamboard to test to make sure everything works The Book calls for #50 and #51 Turnouts. I downloaded the RTS 5.0 software and layed it out on that, one part does line up tho I thik the software fudges a lil and the other part is off by 1/2" The basic design of the junior pretzel is on Atlas web site.
The rail "code" does not matter - it refers to the height of the rail. Code 100 is 100/1000" or 1/10" high, Code 83 is 83/1000". The geometry of the turnouts is what matters, as you have found out. #50 and #51 switches now appear to be part numbers 0850 and 0851 - left and right "snap switches". These are designed to work with 18" radius curves. If you have substituted any "numbered" turnouts (e.g. #4, #6, etc), the track plan will not line up. I laid out my layout with sectional track and snap switches, as I was simply building on a track pack I bought. I now wish I had returned it, and bought numbered turnouts and flex track. However, you can still work with sectional, as I did. The Right Track software sometimes makes things look a little funny, and you may have to adjust the length of some of your sections, but in the end you will be able to get something that is fairly close. Good luck. Andrew
Depending on how brave you feel, you can deveate from the trackplan some and still have it come out ok (of course this is easier if you are using flex track). The difference in turnouts is the angle of divergence, or how sharply it turns away from the straight line. There is a formula that is reflected by the turnout number (#4, #6,ect). The smaller the number, the sharper the angle.
I think I figured out What was wrong last night. I put ply wood down instead of the Foam to make the Table a bit Sturdier. well as I was sorting the Track I think I had 15" Curve in the mix of 18" so that would be the cause since I relaid the track last night and it matched out. Pher
