I just got my new Fast Tracks kit for code 83 #6 turnouts and it really has me pumped. Made a couple in the first few hours after I opened the package, and the results were a lot more than I dared hope for. I was always sorta terrified of trying to build anything like a turnout, that requires accuracy and precision.
After I did my first two and found myself happy with the results (who am I kidding? I was elated!) I hauled out a bunch of other turnouts and turnout kits I’ve been gathering to build my new monster layout, and started comparing. Other than obvious quality differences one think I was intrigued by was the apparent possibility of overhauling and upgrading some of my older turnouts before installing them onto the new railroad. I’m loath to mention manufacturers in a way that might be taken as unnecessary criticism, but I could not help but notice the huge difference between frog points, especially.
I also looked in detail over another turnout kit which comes with pre-made frog points and decided I was just going to install new ones I will make with the equipment I just bought. I’m not trying to pump up any manufacturer either, but the ease with which I could substitute Fast Tracks frog points for Central Valley onto the rest of a CV kit really struck me.
It would be really interesting to hear of others’ attempts and results upgrading or overhauling specific types of older trackwork such as turnouts. Any takers?
Almost all of my turnouts are Atlas. I read a posting a while back about gluing a thin (about .010" thick) shim between the points and the tie about 2 ties back from the throwbar. What this does is take the vertical movement out of the points. Some cars are super sensitive and there would be an occasional picking of the points and derailment. Since I’ve started doing this - - NO derailments.
At the club we had several Shinohara curved turnouts that were damaged during a track re-laying project. Of course you then get a couple jokers who say “there’s money in the treasury just buy new ones”. At $36 or so each for new ones, I said we should be able to fix them.
So I bought some circuit board switch tie and throw bar material, replaced some of the plastic ties to strengthen the structure, cut gaps to isolate the frogs, replaced the throw bar bridle, and replaced the point pivot bridle with rail joiners to electrically separate the two point rails
They now work fine and we saved at least $30 each.
I use the CV turnout kits but make my own frog on a home made jig. I thought about the Fast tracks jigs but got turned away with the up front cost and only one size and track code of turnout. With the CV kits I am not limited to one size and code of rail. I also like the detailed points of the CV kits. For just a few bucks more I bought the frog details and etched joint bars from P-87 stores. I recently built a code 55 turnout using a CV code 70 kit and filed the cast points to match the rail. I tried the P-87 throw bars but was not satisfied with how they came out. I made some from micro plywood and soldered brass pins to the points. The pins are bent 90 degrees under the throw bar and work great.
Would it be possible for someone to post a picture of the shim on the Atlas turnout that Medina 1128 and others have discussed? I am getting ready to lay Atlas and PECO turnouts and since I am not very mechanically inclined I am not sure where this shim should be attached.