Are these available commercially, or will I have to build my own? I only need 3 - 5 of them, so spending nearly $200 for the Fast Tracks tools means those turnouts would be pretty expensive.
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
After poking my head into a few hedgerows, I can't seem to find any. I didn't check the EU versions of turnouts, such as Roco, because........
Hand-laid it is.
An alternative to the FastTracks templates would be to make your own. A few years ago, I couldn't afford the jigs, so I built my turnouts using printouts from FastTracks' website, attaching basswood around the locations of the PCB ties to make my own jigs. At the time I made 12 turnouts, lots of different sizes, some curved and some straight-- the very first one I tried failed, and the first curved one I tried failed, and then the other 10 were fantastic. Might be worth a try if you're not wanting to commit to the official templates.
Phil
Check around, there may be someone who can build them for you (using the Fasttracks jigs). Use the term "skeleton" when searching, someone out there is probably able to supply them.
None from any of the track manufacturers you normally think about.
Micro Engineering suggested over ten years ago they were going to make code 55 #5 turnouts, but I have never seen one.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Pruitt Are these available commercially, or will I have to build my own? I only need 3 - 5 of them, so spending nearly $200 for the Fast Tracks tools means those turnouts would be pretty expensive.
IIRC, there was only one manufacturer (Micro Engineering and it's predecessors) of code 55 rail - at least until the advent of the Atlas N code 55 track. I don't know whether Atlas uses Micro Engineering or has some code 55 drawn in China. In any case, Micro Engineering would have been the only manufacturer of code 55 turnouts in HO. I don't think they made any in HO, but did/do in HOn3.
There are several custom turnout builders who will make code 55 turnouts per your order or sell you parts. BK Track (part of Trout Engineering) and Railway Engineering are 2 I know of still in business.
If you are going to roll your own or buy kits, how you fasten your rail matters with code 55 rail. If you spike the rail, you need small spike heads to provide adequate flange clearance - assuming RP25 or similar flanges. If you have deep flanged (IHC/AHM/Tyco or similar) locomotives, they will not work on spiked code 55 rail - the flanges hit the spike heads.
The Fast Tracks tools are not necessary to hand lay a turnout. The Fast Tracks tools and templates are one of many satisfactory methods. The upside of Fast Tracks is consistent results, even for first timers. The downside is the expense, and being limited to available templates.
The Railway Engineering website has a very different method for achieving hand laid turnouts in virtually any configuration. I use a combination of Jack Work's "Turnouts for the Better" in April 1963 Model Railroader and Railway Engineering techniques for free-flowing turnouts in HO and HOn3 (code 70 and code 55).
Joe Fugate has a different method using Central Valley tie strips. Proto87 has cast frogs and other parts for using CV tie strips.
hope this helps
Fred W
....modeling foggy Coastal Oregon in HO and HOn3, where it's always 1900....
Thanks for all the info, everyone!
Phil, your suggestion is so obvious in hindsight that I'm kicking myself for not having thought of it already.
All I need to do is get some code 55 rail and I'll be ready to give it a shot!
Hi Mark,
One small suggestion:
If you are going to make copies of the Fast Tracks templates, check the size of the copies to make sure they are correct. Some printers don't print at exactly 1:1. The copies may be a slightly different size than the original.
The templates have a scale on them. Check your copies against a real ruler.
Have fun!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!