Scratch Building #6 Turnouts (was Trout Creek/BK Enterprises Turnouts???

[Robert]

Well your correct...a #5 frog in code 148 is not showing in their catalog. Make one yourself perhaps. Try using this template.

http://www.handlaidtrack.com/assets/dow ... -o-t-5.pdf

Bob

[Tom Dempsey]

If you utilize YouTube, I suggest you view "Scratchbuilding a turnout for your model railroad" from Model Railroad Hobbyist online. It is a pretty good treatise on how to go about building your first, functional turnout from scratch. I have used a virtually identical shop built jig to build multiple No. 7 turnouts that were effective and functional. The video will explain how to build a basic jig for any size turnout. The resulting turnout won't be gorgeous the way it would be if you used right o' way castings, but it will be functional. Down the road you can take the spatula to the layout and replace the turnout with something fancier.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Here's a #5 frog for you:

[Seaboard Air Line Fan]

Here's a #5 frog for you:

What size spikes should I use, or do I use a "ribbit"gun???

[Seaboard Air Line Fan]

Robert/Tom,

I may have to go totally scratch on at least one.

I need to get some loose rail, all the stuff I have is ME on ties.

[Seaboard Air Line Fan]

I downloaded the #5 template and printed it out, but the gauge is approx. 1/32" too narrow. When I put the track gauge (I believe Martin had sent it to me a good while back, thanks again!) on the ME track, the track was 1/32" too wide. Combined that's 1/16" difference (thank you Captain Obvious ).

Do I build the turnout using the template as is, do I try to enlarge the template to NMRA standards, or do I enlarge it to match the ME track???

[Robert]

BobD...did you follows their printing instructions exactly?

Robert

[Seaboard Air Line Fan]

BobD...did you follows their printing instructions exactly?

Robert

Not exactly but I did manage to "fix" the problem. I use Adobe Photodeluxe HE 3.0 a lot. I found an online site https://www.freepdfconvert.com/pdf-jpg where I could convert the PDF to a JPEG file. I open the JPEG files in APD HE and when I printed them out they came out spot on.

Still, I'll give reading the instructions another go and see what happens

[Seaboard Air Line Fan]

It was originally set to "Shrink Oversized Pages", thanks Robert!

After correcting this the printed page actually came out crisper/sharper-looking than the ones from APD HE.

[E7]

Still, I'll give reading the instructions another go and see what happens

You know what they say: "If all else fails, follow the instructions!"

Laughing with you, NOT at you!

Rich

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Here's a #5 frog for you:

What size spikes should I use, or do I use a "ribbit"gun???

No, you use a #5 gig,

[Rufus T. Firefly]

.... reading the instructions.....

O scale - 1st thing you do is toss the instructions int eh trash and build it the right way,

.....another go and see what happens

It'll all end in tears.....

[Seaboard Air Line Fan]

Hey, I'm gonna blame it on the "blizzard" the weather reports say we're having. I'm looking at maybe 3" on the front porch of course it is still coming down.

[Robert]

I usually flip the instruction sheet over, and use the blank side to rewrite the instructions to allow for my own building style...which some say is "no style at all"...

Robert

[Seaboard Air Line Fan]

Question...will AtlasO NS rail joiners (151-7091) fit snug on ME code 148 rail? Also, are 3/8" spikes the ones to use?

I want to build my turnouts at the bench then place them on the layout, but all the articles I've looked at so far have them being built in place on the layout. Anything I need to watch for when moving them from the bench to the layout? They should be strong/rigid enough to withstand the movement i would think. Maybe I need 1/4" spikes if I build at the bench?

Any idea how much rail a typical #5 turnout takes to build? In other words, do I need 99' of rail (a typical bundle) to build 19-20 turnouts?