I'm sure this has been covered more than once, but again does code 83 ME turnouts (Fast track) mate to code 83 atlas flex ? ..
having problems finding atlas turnouts thinking of gointy to a roll my own...thanks Jerry
Big Jerr,
First, M-E turnouts are not 'Fast Tracks' turnouts. I suspect you are talking about the M-E code 83 turnouts. The tie material is thinner(similar to the Walthers-Shinohara turnouts. So, you Atlas flex track will be about .015 to .017 higher than the M-E turnouts. I have used Walthers-Shinohara turnouts with my Atlas trackage and I bought some black sheets of .015" styrene. I cut a piece about the size of the turnout to use a a 'shim' so that everything is lines up. Be aware that M-E only has #6 turnouts in their line. Also, you have to cut a slot under the throw bar so that the points move.
If you are talking about Fast Tracks - These are hand laid. I have not tried them, and I do not know what the tie thickness is of them. Their web site mentions that Mt Albert Scale Lumber ties are what they use.
BTW, the Atlas shortage is due to Atlas moving production to a new plant in China. Before the Atlas Forum shut down, the president of Atlas mentioned that they had just completed moving engines/freight car production to the new plant and that the track/accessories would be next. Full product would resume in the Sept-Nov time frame. I know Atlas code 83 flex-track has been in short supply for at least a month.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
thanks Jim ; I should of said fast tracks turnouts made with ME code 83 rail mate to atlas code 83 rail ? more concerned about the rail jointer's
I forgot ME made turnouts...Jerry
Jerr,
The last time I looked at M-E rail, the 'profile' was a little different than Atlas code 83. I have been using Walthers-Shinohara code 83 rail joiners , even on my Atlas to Atlas trackage . Sometimes the fit is tight, but I always take a Dremel wheel to the rail to remove burrs anyway. The Atlas 'universal' rail joiner just looks too large to me.
BIG JERR ... fast tracks turnouts made with ME code 83 rail mate to atlas code 83 rail ? more concerned about the rail jointer's
... fast tracks turnouts made with ME code 83 rail mate to atlas code 83 rail ? more concerned about the rail jointer's
You can make this work, but it does add some unnecessary difficulty. Not only do you have the different tie thickness to deal with, but the variation in rail profile that makes it challenging to achieve truly smooth joints. If you're going with Fast Tracks turnouts and ME rail, I'd suggest using ME flextrack or handlaid for everything else.
If you want to go with Atlas flex, you can try using Fast Tracks jigs with Atlas rail. There are people who have successfully done so, although it's a bit tougher than using ME rail, and you still have the tie thickness issue.
Rob Spangler
thanks Rob ,that is something to think about as I have a crossover coming with ME rail . I will find out soon ...mean while I shall hold off ordering anything ealse, thanks again Jerry
I have 3 Fast Tracks turnouts made with M-E code 83 rail and I am mating it with Atlas Code 83 flex track. I found that the Atlas code 83/100 rail joiners are a little loose on the M-E rail so when I solder them together I put a small flat blade screwdrive on the top of the rail and push it down to line up the tops of the two rails. When it cools they line up quite well and just a slight stroke of a fine file makes a smooth joint.
I had tried to put a .015" brass shim under the M-E rail and it works as well but is more trouble to keep everything in place while soldering.
I bought my Fast Tracks turnouts on Ebay and the seller does a fantastic job with them. I would higly recommend using them where ever you MUST have trouble free operation. Mine are (2) curved turnouts and one #8 that is going into a hidden area. I just replaced the Walther's turnout that was there.
-Bob
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
thanks Bob ; I was just playing with a curved turnout I bought from a guy on ebay BUT he made mine with atlas rail and though the rail lines up well the tie issue is a bit off ,but I think shimming turnout would fix...
I'm thinking of ordering the code 83 #5 package from fast tracks W/ ME rail (easier to work with) cause I'm in need of more yard turnouts and finding atlas #4 CL (41/2 frog) is tuff ,even worse reasonably priced.So rather than wait till march or latter ,thinking of jumping in the roll my own gig. Mite even just do the area of yard where turnouts would be in ME flex so the only fudgeing would be where the ME meets the Atlas .
we shall see ,Jerry
Can you make Assembly Fixtures for rail other than Micro Engineering? While we encourage our customers to use Micro Engineering rail to build switches in our assembly fixtures, we can cut any fixture to fit rail produced by other manufacturers. Please contact
Fast Tracks has options available for their fixtures. Order a fixture designed for Atlas 83 rail. Are there PCBs (ties) that match the Atlas tie height? The groves on the fixture can be modified to accept these PCB ties. These options will make the installation almost trouble free without issue of tie height or rail differences.
Fast Tracks prefers ME 83 rail because of thier high quality control and percise tolerances.
yes I seen that Wazzzy ,but then we are back to the supply problem of atlas track products . not to say I couldnt find some ,its just why if there is a nother product avalible . I do know that ME is a bit pricy but now that supplys are low of Atlas there prices are sky rocketing. I just hate waiting for things . the funny thing is I can find a ton of atlas #4 Cl right hand but left hand are scarce !
Ive not herd to many negatives of fast track turnouts or ME flex so why Not ! Jerry
You cna joint he two no problem, it just takes a bit of finagling and soldering of the joints. The key is that the inside and top of the rail align - if the outsides are off, it won;t matter. ME raila dn Atlas rail are not identical, so just butting them together like two pieces of Atlas or two peices of ME won;t work. Well, it will work - just not well. Your locos and cars will bounce and potentially derail, so the joints need to be worked to provide a smooth transition.
Atlas track will be back. I much prefer Atlas flex for ease of working, as it forms natural curveswith hardly any work, like using a bent stick to draw the curves. I have a Fast Tracks fixture for #5 turnouts, I had it made for Atlas rail, to avoid the compkication of joining multiple brands of track.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
So is Atlas code 83 and Walthers/Shinahara code 83 the same profile? Or is there some fitting that needs to be done, like shimming or whatever? I think Jim said it needs to be shimmed.
Paul
Living in Fernley Nevada, about 30 miles east of Reno, also lived in Oregon and California, but born In Brooklyn NY and raised on Long Island NY
The rail is the same height - It's the ties that are taller(Atlas). The Atlas rail appears to be a little wider on the base, but I can still get Walthers-Shinohara code 83 rail joiners on the Atlas code 83 rail.
Like Randy mentioned, Atlas track will be back in stock later this year....
jrbernier Like Randy mentioned, Atlas track will be back in stock later this year
I herd or read march 2013 for turnouts ,I just assumed same for track hope its sooner..Jerry
BIG JERR thanks Jim ; I should of said fast tracks turnouts made with ME code 83 rail mate to atlas code 83 rail ? more concerned about the rail jointer's
Just use a ME code 83 rail joiner; you will need to file the Atlas side of the track down so it will slip onto the Atlas side without having to put it in a vise.
What I do to make it easier to fit the ME joiner onto Atlas is to push the joiner down a short length of ME track, which will open it up slightly, and that makes it easier to put onto the Atlas track.
At this point in construction for me, all my turnouts are Fast Tracks with ME rail, but my flex is still Atlas, as the ME flex is more expensive that I am willing to pay.
HTH
thanks Rock; thats sounds like the ticket ,I think I well go that direction. I did get some ME jointers and have played a bit and it Isnt as bad as I thought ....Jerry
I'm useing Atlass code 83 flex in both concrete tie and brown tie versions with my Proto 87 switch kits that use ME rail. I discovered rather quickly that I had 3 different tie thicknesses to deal with. The concrete tie Atlas flex track has pretty thick ties. I shim up my thinner tie track and switches with 1/4" wide nylon reinforced striping tape. This stuff looks like standard masking tape but has extra thickness due to the reinforcing strings enbeded in the tape. I get my tape for free since they use cases of it to mark the floors for trade show conventions and they leave full rolls all over the place when finished. 2 layers of this tape under the switches will match them up to the concrete tie flex track and 1 layer works just fine under the brown tie track. This tape also works great for super elevation on curves. Just stager the layers at each end to blend the rise around the curve. I solder all my joints so the different rail types (ME and Atlas) are lined up during that process. I've tried useing atlas rail on my Proto 87 swith bases but it's a tight fit. It will work if you lightly file each side of the base of the rail for a snug fit to the tie base though. This works great for locations where back to back switches would look better with longer rail sections.