Rule of thumb on handlaid turnouts: It takes about three tries before you get your first useable one, and that one probably won't look very good (solder blobs, etc.). And the first couple of tries will take forever - you are learning new skills and will need to hone those over a few builds. Don't give up. By the time you get to your fourth try, things ought to be going pretty well, and from there on, it's gravy. While you don't need a FastTracks jig to make turnouts, I've found that their Point Form tool (which costs about $50 and helps file frog and point rails) is VERY handy even if you are building turnouts on a paper template. Really makes the process a lot easier since you don't need a bench grinder - just insert the bare rail as instructed, use a big flat mill file to file the rail, and you're done. John C.
Hey John: Sounds reasonable -- The good news is I do have a bench grinder and a disk/belt sander combo available, so, I'll probably make up jigs to hold them right and see what happens --- thanks for the input TIM
Ah . . . yeah if you already have a grinder and sander, and are comfortable making your own holding jigs, no need for the point form tool. Once you get the process down, you should be able to whip up a turnout in about an hour. And you will be flabbergasted at how much better they are than anything offered commercially . . . John C.
