Hi Folks,
I’m in the process of adding an additional turnout to my layout. The last turnout I installed was several years ago because essentially, my track was completed back then. Fortunately, I documented each step for installing a turnout, including things like the proper length red and black wires to solder to the circuit board on the bottom of the Tortoise switch machines and what size holes to drill for the toggles and LED’s in my control panel. And, I write down little “tips” to myself like using the toggle’s washer as a template for cutting out the chart tape on my control panel.
What I’d like to suggest, especially to the newbies, is that you document the steps used for everything. Believe me, it’s very easy to forget what you did last year or for us older folks, what we did yesterday. By writing everything down, the next time you need to perform a function, it becomes “routine”.
Getting back to my new turnout. All I had to do was open my notebook and follow my own directions. It would have taken me a very long time to figure out hole sizes, lengths of wire and other little steps all over again. When you make a project routine, it’s a lot less stressful. I like to save my “stress tolerance” for brand new projects.
Hope this helps.
Mondo