Just a couple of quickie questions. Who has hand layed N Scale Track? Who has purchased switch templetes from Fast Track out of Canada. Really interested in their concept. Started counting what I'm going to need in two yards and I'll need a loan from Washington to get her done.
You don't need to buy the jig. Just download the templates you need from FastTracks. Print the ones you need on cardstock. Cut PC board ties to fit. Spray template & ties with spray adhesive. Place PC board ties in the correct places on the template. Cut & file ME C55 rail for each piece, then solder to the PC board ties: That was for a two-turnout fixture (one curved & one straight), but you can do it for a single turnout (or I've done four): I recommend a BlackenIt bath to cut the shiny. When you're done & install them on the layout, just slip 1/32"x3/64" basswood strips under the rails to fill in the ties. By using the templates, it allows you to design your trackwork first, then build the turnouts to fit. No more slave to the Atlas / Peco turnout cartel! That said, it DOES take some practice. And much more time than throwing manufactured turnouts onto the layout. I probably made 10+ turnouts before I figured out how to make them well enough to really use on a layout. But once you do make them, you'll never go back to manufactured turnouts. Not only because of the freedom they give you, but there's little more satisfying on a model railroad than to see your trains roll through some fab turnouts that you handlaid. Evert has a great video tutorial on handlaying curved turnouts using this method. (Just replace the CAD drawing of the turnout with a FastTrack's template). Welcome to the N scale handlaying club! Hope this helps. Feel free to ask any questions!
Wow, Thanks for the info. Big Ed's U-tube lessons are super interesting. Really like your straight and curved. Awesome work. I assume you have hand layed all your track work or just the Switches? I will need a ton of switches as I'm modeling GTW Brush St Station to Just past Milw. Junction in Detroit MI. I'm going past The Junction so I can employ a staging and storage yard as well as a return mainline for passenger usage on the lower level with heavy and I mean heavy switching to about 45 facilities between level 1 & 2. Switches will break the bank if I don't make em myself. Thanks for the info again. Just a ?, what # turnout would you recommend for a yard with 14 freight sorting tracks and 7 passenger inbound and outbound?
