I am trying to find out whether to use a #6 or # 8 wye. What I mean by "#6" is that it matches a # 6 turnout. The only downloadable and printable templates that I can find for wye switches are from fast tracks. Their turnouts are much longer than the Walthers (Shinohara) turnouts. For instance the fast tracks #8 template is about 13" long but the walthers item 948-8807 is listed at only 9 23/32 inches. Does the differences in length matter?
Jim CubieThe only downloadable and printable templates that I can find for wye switches are from fast tracks.
PECO also has downloadable and printable turnout templates here. There are HO wyes in their Code 83, Code 75, and Code 100 lines. These are pretty compact.
Jim CubieTheir turnouts are much longer than the Walthers (Shinohara) turnouts. For instance the fast tracks #8 template is about 13" long but the walthers item 948-8807 is listed at only 9 23/32 inches. Does the differences in length matter?
It depends on what you are trying to do. Generally, more compact components for the same frog number allow more flexibility in layout designs.
Note that if you are actually going to use Fast Tracks, it is possible to build the turnouts much shorter than the full template. The minimum length for the #8 wye is 10.9", for example. These dimensions are right on the template.
Jim CubieI am trying to find out whether to use a #6 or # 8 wye.
That decision is probably driven by what the rest of the layout looks like and what straight (regular) turnouts you will be using elsewhere. There's not much point in having a wye with a #8 frog if the rest of your turnouts are #6, for example.
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Jim CubieI am trying to find out whether to use a #6 or # 8 wye. What I mean by "#6" is that it matches a # 6 turnout.
Unless I am mistaken, does not a #3 wye correspond to a #6 turnout? I don't know how FastTrack designates their items, but if it a "real" #6 wye, I think that would correspond to a #12 turnout.
A #6 wye is equivalant angle of a # 12 turnout as far as frog angle is concerned.
Therefore, if you want the frog angle of a #6 you should be looking at a #3 wye turnout. Below is a link to the Walthers Template.
https://www.walthers.com/page/code83trackTemplate_grid.pdf
Ed
maxmanUnless I am mistaken, does not a #3 wye correspond to a #6 turnout? I don't know how FastTrack designates their items,
Unfortunately, there is confusion in terms between manufacturers.
Based on the frog angles listed on their website, the frogs in Fast Tracks #6 wyes are the same as the straight turnouts (9.46°). So their "#6" wye could be called a "#3" by some others.
Hello all,
You didn't mention what scale you are working in. I'm thinking you are referring to HO scale.
Atlas makes Wyes in both code-83 and -100.
PECO, as has been mentioned, also makes Wyes.
Your best bet is to use flex track or make your own flex track (http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/256138.aspx) to connect the legs of the Wye to the turnouts.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
I'm pretty sure that a Shinohara #3 wye has the same angle from tangent as a Shinohara #6 turnout, and a 4 an 8, and a 2 a 4, if that's what OP is asking.
- Douglas
Maybe This will help.
Ah yes, and Shonohara makes a 2.5 wye, which would be the same as their #5 turnout.