Does anyone out there know why there are no ready made HOn3 switches (all #s) available from any of the hobby stores or manufacturers? Track in various codes and good quality locos and rolling stock are readily available. Advice on availability will be appreciated including contact details of supplier.
Micro Engineering makes H0n3 #6 switches http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/255-15206 or try to build turnouts by yourself from Fast Tracks. http://www.handlaidtrack.com/
Have you done any research?
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BK Enterprises makes code 70/55/40 switch kits that you need to spike to wood ties
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M-E makes HOn3 switches(only #6) in at least code 70/55
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Shinohara has a pretty complete line of HOn3 switches(including dual gauge)
All of the above was found on the Walthers web site. As far as a LHS ‘stocking’ the above products; remember this is a ‘specialized’ area and is not ‘main stream’ model railroading. You might have to mail order or maybe your LHS can special order the track for you.
Jim Bernier
Suppliers are pretty well covered by the previous comments. I’ll add another, Railway Engineering:
Something to keep in mind is that the last couple of years, the availability of track components has been affected by the market demand created by the RTR offerings in HOn3. It used to be a scale/gauge combination that kit- and sctratch-builders dominated.
Many people handlaid their own track and the suppliers mentioned took care of the rest of the demand, yet shipments of turnouts would sell out, followed by long waits before more became available. Now that the RTR locos and rolling stock is on the market, this has aggaravted the supply problems for track components. Eventually, the supply will catch up with demand, but patience will be needed. HOn3 is lots of fun, though, whether you do it RTR or from scratch.
You really ought to learn how to search the 'Net.
http://www.google.com/search?ned=us&hl=en&q=hon3+turnouts&btnmeta%3Dsearch%3Dsearch=Search+the+Web
Rich
Maybe the ultimate answer is to learn how to roll your own specialwork. There are just too many possibilities for different kinds of HOn3 and dual gauge turnouts/crossings/transition tracks - no manufacturer is likely to produce even a significant percentage of them.
John Armstrong’s classic layout, the Hardscrabble and Golconda (article titled To Hardscrabble the Hard Way) included eight different kinds of narrow/dual gauge specialwork, including a three rail to four rail transition so narrow and standard gauge locomotives would both be properly balanced on a common-use turntable. I doubt that half of them have ever been available commercially.
I will admit that many people are hesitant about building turnouts and such from raw materials. There is a learning curve involved, and early efforts are unlikely to be wonderful. However, practice (and not a lot of it) makes, if not perfect, at least as good as the average commercial product - and usually a lot better. The very best part is that you escape the straitjacket of having to adapt your desired track geometry to what some manufacturer has made. I won’t say that smooth, flowing trackwork can’t be achieved with commercial products. I WILL say that, when you build your own, smooth, flowing trackwork is almost guaranteed.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - on hand-laid specialwork)
Caboose Hobbies in Denver is a large dealer of HOn3 products. They list #6 switches at $15.93. the website is www.caboosehobbies.com I am also getting into HOn3,might try building switches. There have been articles on building switches in old issues of MR and RMC. joe
Thanks guys for the information. Living in South Africa it is difficult to find certain items. Yes, I do search the web and get most of my items from Caboose Hobbies but it is stock that is the problem - all over. I will try my hand at kits. Any idea when ready made will be available/
One other option that’s not been mentioned are the LITCo turnouts:
http://www.maine2footquarterly.com/turnout.htm
These are made using the Fast Tracks jigs. This is a good way to go if you want to try it before you buy it for the Fast Tracks jigs. I think Caboose Hobbies stocks these, but with the stampede into HOn3, these may also be periodically out of stock.
For any of these, rely on your reliable dealer to get these in once they are ordered. About 15 years ago when I ordered the trackwork for my layout, both narrow and dual gauge, it was over a year before Shinohara got around to making a batch, as they are also a supplier to Walthers. Not all the options available now were available back then, but this problem doesn’t seem to go away.
As for Google being your friend, yes, sometimes. But you can often get good advice here, which is why people ask questions, as well as a way to enjoy the camaraderie of the hobby. If it’s really too much of a hassle to answer a question, then why chastise someone? Just skip over the thread. [8)]