Looking for your experience when “Trimming” #4 Atlas Customline code 83 turnouts
(products #561 & 562)…
Due to “important” space constraints I have…
the HO layout (being constructed) requires (2) LH Atlas #561 and (2) RH Atlas #562 turnouts (code 83)
to be trimmed (shortened) from the standard 9" to 7"
on the mainline (straight-thru) rails.
It appears to me that if the rails are cut (1) tie “outside” of the throw-bar and (2) ties “outside” of the frog, I can achieve the 7" length that I require…
Not wanting to destroy these new components;
If you have done trimming of these (specific) Atlas #4 Turnouts…
What is the MINIMUM straight rail length that will (still) provide reliable operations?
AFAIK, you can do that to just about all turnouts, handlaid or commercial. I have even hand-bent the through route on my turnouts to get the beginnings of a curve that otherwise would cause me problems closing things up. Just leave enough room for a joiner half.
You’ll also have to clear some space between the ties close to the end and the rails for a joiner, which kind of makes those last ties useless in terms of retention…you’ll have to rely on the joiners for that.
As you surmised, you can trim the non-functional ends of turnouts just as you would cut a piece of flex track to fit. And as Crandell states, you can even carefully “curve” the turnout itself by trimming the webbing between the ties under the outside rail(s). If you do “curve” an already fabricated turnout, keep in mind that the radius of the inside turnout leg has also been decreased. Ordinarily, that is not important because the closure radius of the turnout is usually significantly larger than our minimum radius - but not always!
Think of your turnout as another piece of track, not a piece of sacred model equipment. Trim it, modify it, make it work for you! The only downside is that turnouts are a little bit more expensive than other track if you butcher it. But it’s still less expensive than bashing a locomotive, and is worth its weight in gold if the modification makes your track arrangement better.
I trim turnouts when necessary to fit them into the track configuration I need. No big deal, just use rail nippers like Xuron or a Dremel with a cutoff disc.
Not trying to be politically correct here, but always wear eye protection when using the Dremel. Those little cutoff discs have a habit of breaking, and I’ve had a couple bounce off my glasses. And I was glad I was wearing glasses at the time.