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full size turnout templates

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  • Member since
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  • From: Louisville
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full size turnout templates
Posted by dbduck on Saturday, February 11, 2017 10:46 AM

This has probably been asked before, is there anywhere I can get  full size printable templates for Atlas, Walthers, etc  turnouts? I have Peco but would like  the others

a website or maybe something to share?

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Posted by carl425 on Saturday, February 11, 2017 11:44 AM

You could print them from XtrackCAD.

I have the right to remain silent.  By posting here I have given up that right and accept that anything I say can and will be used as evidence to critique me.

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Posted by dbduck on Saturday, February 11, 2017 11:50 AM

carl425

You could print them from XtrackCAD.

 

I dont have that program

  • Member since
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Posted by RR_Mel on Saturday, February 11, 2017 11:54 AM

I made a full size CAD drawing of an Atlas #6 turnout. You can download it from my Google drive,it's accurate to about 1/64”.
 
 
 
I built a #6 double crossover using my drawing, the crossover works great!
 
 
 
A single Tortoise operates all four turnouts easily.
 
Mel
 
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 
 
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Posted by dbduck on Saturday, February 11, 2017 12:00 PM

RR_Mel   thanks

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Posted by carl425 on Saturday, February 11, 2017 12:10 PM

dbduck
I dont have that program

It's a free download at xtrackcad.org

It has templates for every brand of commercial track I can think of.

I have the right to remain silent.  By posting here I have given up that right and accept that anything I say can and will be used as evidence to critique me.

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  • From: Hilliard, Ohio
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Posted by chatanuga on Saturday, February 11, 2017 12:17 PM

When I was building my layout, I knew what turnouts I was going to be using and just got one of each, placed them side by side on a photo copier and made a bunch of prints of the turnouts that I could cut out and move around to try out different configurations.  Even the one curved turnout I used came in handy for laying out the curves on my interchange tracks since there's a drain pipe to the inside of the curve, which complicated trying to draw the track lines on the layout.

Kevin

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  • From: North Dakota
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Posted by BroadwayLion on Saturday, February 11, 2017 2:56 PM

Ahem... Full size templates.

Are you kidding me!

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

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Posted by MisterBeasley on Saturday, February 11, 2017 7:39 PM

I've photographed existing turnouts on my layout, and scanned in turnouts before they were installed.  Digital images can be rotated so you only need a left or right copy, not both.

I suspect you could go to your LHS and ask to photograph a turnout, or maybe they'll even scan or Xerox one for you.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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Posted by rrinker on Sunday, February 12, 2017 12:12 PM

 Pretty much any of the model railroad CAD programs has at least a free trial if the program isn't totally free like XTrackCAD. They will have a full library of all the major manufacturers in all the scales, and can print out 1:1 So that's probably the easiest way to go if you don't own any of the turnouts in question or don't have a scanner.

                              --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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Posted by maxman on Sunday, February 12, 2017 2:54 PM

rrinker
if you don't own any of the turnouts in question or don't have a scanner.

I don't think you need a scanner.  A copy machine will do.

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Posted by tomikawaTT on Sunday, February 12, 2017 3:16 PM

My Lexmark home printer has a lift-top scan document feature, fax machine style.  Just for grins I ran a piece of N scale flex and a couple of pieces of Atlas HO sectional track.  Perfect vertical silhouette copies.  I'm sure it would also reproduce commercial turnouts.

Since I hand-lay all of my specialwork I develop templates full size with bent flex track.  I doubt that any of them would be an exact match for anyone's commercial product.  (The three way switch with all three routes curving left sure isn't.)

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

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Posted by rrinker on Sunday, February 12, 2017 4:04 PM

maxman
 
rrinker
if you don't own any of the turnouts in question or don't have a scanner.

 

I don't think you need a scanner.  A copy machine will do.

 

 Well sure, as long as you know how many copies you need Big Smile  Most people have a printer at home, the scanner can be sometiomes more rare - if you scan it, you can then take a file home and print out as many copies as you need.

                      --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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  • From: Clinton, MO, US
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Posted by Medina1128 on Monday, February 13, 2017 12:08 PM

As far as the Atlas track goes, I think you can still download their Right Track System program. when I wanted to print some templates, I set the zoom to 1 and printed them out. In the case of no. 6 and 8 turnouts, they used a couple of sheets of paper. I just cut them out and taped them together. You can print Peco track from their website.

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Posted by maxman on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 3:58 PM

Medina1128
As far as the Atlas track goes, I think you can still download their Right Track System program.

Maybe.  Searching for "right track software" on the Atlas website takes you to: http://www.atlasrr.com/software.htm

which eventually takes you to something called SCARM, http://www.scarm.info/blog/

I think it still works, but my understanding is that it is no longer actually supported by Atlas.

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Posted by dbduck on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 12:23 PM

Thanks to everyone for your replies. I have gathered the information all I think I need for now, Paul

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Posted by glenng6 on Tuesday, January 25, 2022 5:21 PM

Thank you, Mr. Perry, for the templates. They are about to be put to good use. Glenn

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Posted by RR_Mel on Tuesday, January 25, 2022 5:36 PM

glenng6

Thank you, Mr. Perry, for the templates. They are about to be put to good use. Glenn

 

You’re very welcome, glad to be of some help.

Mel


 
My Model Railroad   
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
 
Bakersfield, California
 
Turned 84 in July, aging is definitely not for wimps.

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