Searched hi & low for someone who sells these turnouts already made. No luck, I have looked all over e bay and all they have is Hon3. There used to be a guy John Wickham who fellow forumn members said did nice work but no one knows his e mail address. I have tried 6 times in a month to get hold of a guy who advertises on another forumn and has a first name of Clint who does nice work but have not received a reply to date. Does anyone know of anyone else who does nice work and could make me some 3 ways and double crossovers? I have no interest in making them myself and should mention that I use C100 so no CVT who does not do C100
Yes. Ken Jaglinski, the new Director of Milwaukee’s Trainfest, set out to include more “basement manufacturers” at this year’s show, and one of them was Oak Hill Model Railroad Track Supply. I had a chance to chat with Jeff Otto who owns Oak Hill during Trainfest and saw samples of his work.
He does not have a website that I can find, but can be reached at jeff@ohrtracksupply.com, or at 414-915-4671.
His sales flyer specifically says he does Code 100 (also 55, 70, 83) and in N, HOn3, HO and On30. He also makes templates for HO Code 70 #6s. He can add fish plates, rail braces, bolt detail, guardrail clamps, and prototypical frogs (and tie spacing and arrangement). I saw examples of this and the level of detail is pretty jaw dropping.
The samples he showed were little works of art. Yet his price list seems very reasonable to me. For example a #6 in HO: $60.
His address should you prefer to write is N36W23431 Oak Hill Lane, Pewaukee WI 53072.
I have no financial tie or personal stake whatever with Jeff and his firm - but I found what he had to show at his booth quite compelling. And another good reason to come to Trainfest in November!
I have recently ordered some turnouts from Cream City Turnouts. They are reasonably priced, top notch and neatly done. They can do most any type of complicated trackwork. Their motto being “If you can draw it, we can build it”
I have no affiliation with them other than being a very satisfied customer.
Mark although Cream City prices are reasonable I have no interest in hinged points. If I did I would keep my Pecos. I can see the 3 ways having hinged points though.Aside from the hinged points their work looks good.
Dave without seeing their work I think $65 for a regular #6 L or R turnout is out of my league. Thanks Dave & Mark for your replies though. I am hopiing to get a reply to my e mails from the modeler on the other forumn, Clint, whose work is nice & reasonable & who uses solid rail points.
Purchasing a single turnout in order to evaluate a prospective maker/vendor’s quality of work is a good idea.
If you’re looking at a large order a small turnout building operation can become overwhelmed with orders, illness or other misfortune and that can result in delivery delay.
A solid point rail notched too deeply at the base so that it acts as a hinge can be susceptible to breakage. Solid point rails do require more HP to throw, but not anything a Tortoise or many other switch machines can’t handle. Might want to avoid any device that puts a lot of pressure on points soldered to throw bars.
If you prefer the turnouts to have ties already attached the Fastracks TwistTies are nice. Having the frog prewired is a plus if planning to run short wheelbase equip. Prepainted is good too, if the color fits with your desired track color.
I like my Fastracks turnouts, even if they don’t have spike and tie plate detail.