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Don't fret. Without a diagram this might be hard to explain, but there was a neat article in MR years ago about simply using music wire to control and hold your turnouts. It was called an RS2, for "ridiculously simple" , 2nd version. My whole layout is controlled this way, an 11X32 with a 2 foot shelf around the room with about 50 turnouts. They have been in place for about 5 years!! <br /> <br />cut a 1.5 inch section, bend one end about 1/8 inch at 90 degrees. This will fit into the tie at the points on the turnout . Now depending if you have mounting holes in your track or not , you may have to drill your own, at about 3/4 inches bend the wire again at 90 degrees, this portion will be inserted into the roadbed along the centre line of your track. So you now have a wire that is shaped like a small letter "r", sort of. More like the greek letter gamma I believe. The key is to ensure that the horizontal section of the wire that is on top of the track between the points tie and the insertion hole is ever so slightly longer. This gives it the springing and locking action. There should be a slight bend in the wire at all times. Hobby shops sell this wire at less than a buck a piece for a three foot section. Enough wire for about 24 turnouts. Hey I did my whole empire for 2 bucks! Good luck.
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