Never mind ... I found some N scale FT turnouts on ebay at this link.
Looks like regular turnouts are $25, curved turnouts are $35-$40 and crossovers are $65-$90.
At those prices, it wouldn't take many curved or crossover turnouts to pay for a jig.
Life is considerably easier in HO. I can build a great looking turnout using the Central Valley turnout ties as a "poor man's jig" for about $8 per turnout, and and extra set of ties with rail slots to use as a jig costs me about $4. I cover the steps (with photos) here. And the turnouts look great:
(Click to enlarge)
It probably takes 6 or more turnouts per jig to make the FT jig price worth it.
Joe Fugate Modeling the 1980s SP Siskiyou Line in southern Oregon
tstage wrote: markpierce wrote:I wish there was a "rent-a-jig" service for when someone only wants to make one to several turnouts of a particular type. A $100 jig for one turnout is $100 each!MarkMark,If only one or two of a particular size is what you need, you can always buy the FT turnouts already fabricated and painted for you off of eBay for $25 ea. Crossovers and double-crossovers are usually more. Tom
markpierce wrote:I wish there was a "rent-a-jig" service for when someone only wants to make one to several turnouts of a particular type. A $100 jig for one turnout is $100 each!Mark
I wish there was a "rent-a-jig" service for when someone only wants to make one to several turnouts of a particular type. A $100 jig for one turnout is $100 each!
Mark
Mark,
If only one or two of a particular size is what you need, you can always buy the FT turnouts already fabricated and painted for you off of eBay for $25 ea. Crossovers and double-crossovers are usually more.
Tom
I didn't know there are people selling FT-built turnouts on eBay but it looks like there are. One problem though, looks like they're all HO, the the OP needs N scale turnouts.
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I suppose I could get by with 2 or 3 jigs and have someone custom build the less common turnouts.
Let's see...The current track design for my bedroom-sized layout would need 7 jigs:
1. no. 8 code 83 for 13 turnouts
2. no. 6 code 83 for 4 turnouts
3. no. 6 3-way code 83 for 1 turnout
4. no. 8 curved code 83 for 1 turnout
5. no. 6 code 70 for 11 turnouts
6. no. 8 curved code 70 for 1 turnout
7. no. 4.5 code 55 for 4 turnouts
Ouch!
I can endorse the Fast Tracks jigs as well. I had not soldered much before I bought a jig from them. The very first turnout turned out better then any of my bought ones and looked better as well.
100$ dollars is nothing in this hobby in comparison to other expenses with in it. It's the best investment so far for me. I'm going to use my jig to make 50 to start with. The jig price is then 2$ a piece. That is not much for such high quality.
Magnus
jrbernier wrote: The 'Fast Tracks' jigs are expensive, but they are very nice. If you are planning on building lots of turnouts, the cost is very reasonable. I have seen nothing else in HO or N scale similar. Central Valley has HO turnout 'ties' that you can drop the rails into, but nothing for N scale.Jim
The 'Fast Tracks' jigs are expensive, but they are very nice. If you are planning on building lots of turnouts, the cost is very reasonable. I have seen nothing else in HO or N scale similar. Central Valley has HO turnout 'ties' that you can drop the rails into, but nothing for N scale.
Jim
Jim is right ... FastTracks is the only game in town for turnout jigs in N scale. In HO there are more choices, with the Central Valley turnout ties being an excellent way to do a "poor man's" jig for making turnouts.
You could also make your own jigs out of wood ... my friend Charlie Comstock has done that and he's in HO. It's certainly cheaper than the Fast Tracks jigs ... but then consider this:
Is it worth the price of one really nice locomotive to get a tool for cranking out turnouts that will be super ultra-reliable? I think it's a bargain. You have to think in terms of the amount of headaches you want to put up with around turnouts -- and from one who has a larger home layout, I can tell you the biggest maintenance and operational headache you'll have is turnouts.
Take it from someone who's been in the hobby over 40 years now: I'd easily buy one less locomotive and spend the money on a FastTracks jig in N scale. In a heartbeat.
Commercial turnouts all take some work to make them more reliable, and even then no commercial turnout will perform as well or look as nice as a Fast Tracks turnout (once you've had a little practice).
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
I was looking for some "N" scale turnout jigs, wondering if someone could shed of light on this subject. I have checked out fast tracks but their prices seem alittle high. Is this about what these things cost or is there somewhere else that I can get a better priced, realiable jig.
thanks norman.....