QUOTE: Originally posted by cjcrescent But to me there are still two great advatages to handlaying your own turnouts : 1. You're not limited to what you can obtain commercially. 2. Probably the best reason, they are cheap compared to commercial trackwork. A #6 doubleslip can be built for around 3-5 bucks in materials. Try to buy a new one at that price.
QUOTE: Originally posted by CARRfan Thanks for your insight Fred. Very interesting. I was thinking about painting a bunch of rail with a can of roof brown spray paint, because as you said, an airbrush would be a bit of a hassle. When do you paint your frogs / switch points, etc.? After soldering them together?
QUOTE: Originally posted by CARRfan QUOTE: Originally posted by fwright 4) I lay my ties, ballast, and paint the rail before laying any rail. Fred, I see you paint your rail before laying it. Then when do you solder feeder wires to it? Do you remove small amounts of paint with laquer thinner? I'd like to ballast and paint rails first also, so that I don't get any paint on the ties.
QUOTE: Originally posted by fwright 4) I lay my ties, ballast, and paint the rail before laying any rail.
QUOTE: Originally posted by CARRfan I'm considering handlaying mine on the bench, rather than on the layout. This way I could build several at once, essentially stock them for when they're needed on a future layout. I'm been experimenting with Lauan plywood (3/16" thick), and it's been perfect for spiking so far. Each turnout will be spiked to its own piece of wood roadbed, then installed somewhat like that easy track stuff. The idea would then be I could make a bunch of #6's, etc., but then make any custom one when needed. Has anyone built them on the bench this way with the spiking method? I know people are of course doing that with the PC ties method, especially, with the cool jigs now available. I visited the Pasadena Model Railroad Club years ago, and a guy was building a turnout in the club lounge area - I wasn't as interested in the subject at the time, so I didn't ask him what their technique was. I'm now thinking about handlaid turnouts, flextrack everywhere else. At my current pace, I'm getting nowhere fast, well, not even fast, actually!
Carey
Keep it between the Rails
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--David