Just ordered my fast track starter kit. After finishing the layout design I need about 85 turnouts on the new upper deck. After looking at Atlas prices for code 55 and hearing about the lack of availability I decided that hand laid was the way to go. Lower level is pretty much done and will remain Atlas code 55. Room is coming along. Should have the decking up for the second level by next month and then can start laying track.
Tony, You're gonna find that the Fast Track jigs and fixtures helps in the speed and uniformity of building your turnouts, and it'll teach you the construction and configuration basics so for other size turnouts, you'll be able to easily build those on the bench using only paper templates. You're also going to discover that your turnouts look better, work better, are more durable, easier to fix if you need to and are waaaay cheaper, saving you a LOT of money over the years. My congratulations to you! After you gain the skills to "roll your own" turnouts, you'll be free to make whatever track plan you want and not be tied to what turnouts are commercially available or not being manufactured in China! Post photos. I am sure there are quite a few modelers who are interested in your experience. Cheerio! Bob Gilmore
I wish you success, Tony. With your modeling skills detailing locomotives, builing your own turnouts will be a snap for you. I thought about trying it, but I only needed 2 turnouts for my current layout. Wasn't cost effective at the time.
Excellent choice. I've built over 100 turnouts with the jigs. They are definitely the way to go. Have fun! Daryl http://https://www.youtube.com/user/Rochsub?src_vid=_PyTdfyx4hM&feature=iv&annotation_id=channel%3Aa90403fe-454f-28fa-94a7-bcaec54ee0e0
I also look forward to hearing how your efforts go. I am seriously contemplating hand-made turnouts on my layout extension.
Awesome, you'll have to keep us updated on your experiences because I plan to handlay my own track as well in the future. Any tips and techniques you learn along the way would be greatly appreciated. Oh, and pictures or it never happened.... Cheers, Brian
Here is a sample of what levels pf customizability you can get with the Hand Laid Track These were built for an NTrack triple track wye setup; overall radius of curvature through the wye and crossing was 90 inches Uses #10 wyes and #8 crossings Being a hand laid turnout guy Tip number one - Realize the first 2 or 3 are learning devices not for the layout. Tip number two - When you get the knack of making the turnouts, re-supply often, you may be to a point where you can use up your stock in a matter of days. Side note - Jig or no Jig it is the modelers preference. I use the Jigs because my work area is multi use by multi members of the family, if I had a dedicated single use area, I would probably use the paper templates. Next up is the #20 turntouts
I like the jig too, but a guy in our group only uses the filing aids with good results. If I went that route I might get the frog helper as it comes with three sizes. Might be an option to save a bit of money.
I should also say I got the frog helpers too, on my retirement layout I had to make far too many not to embrace the tools to get higher productivity. As I have said here before, it also helps if a few friends are also going the Hand Laid route, we share all of the Jigs and other tooling amongst us, so we have a pretty good assortment of tools and Jigs to use. And since we share the tooling we don't have as much expense getting it.
