Input on a "Temporary" Shelf Track Plan

[tetters]

This is really neat. I am looking forward to see this develop.

How are you liking the Fast Tracks jig?

[shortliner]

I hope that when you have it "up and running" that you get as much fun out of it as I did! Looking good so far!

[Fluesheet]

This is really neat. I am looking forward to see this develop.

How are you liking the Fast Tracks jig?

Thanks. The Fast Tracks jig is all it's cracked up to be as far as easy of assembly. I made some learning mistakes on my point filing and in filing the base of the rail back where the points it the stock rail. They stil work though. I'm still amazed at how quiet the frogs are.

I've got some other turnout products on the side burner - the winning concept gets to reproduce in mass on the big layout!

I hope that when you have it "up and running" that you get as much fun out of it as I did! Looking good so far!

As do I. I wouldn't have had anything as nice as this without your and Stein's input. Thanks for letting me use your ideas!

Matt

[Fluesheet]

Quick Update. This layout requires two 20degree diamonds, which I chose to handlay using a 19 degree template from the Fast Tracks Library (<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.handlaidtrack.com/HO-14-Crossing-Printable-Track-Template-p/tt-ho-x-19.htm">http://www.handlaidtrack.com/HO-14-Cros ... o-x-19.htm</a><!-- m -->). This turned out better than my first two turnouts that were built using a Fast Tracks fixture.

This took six calendar days - probably two solid days of real work. The second will go faster because I filed and soldered all the points for both diamonds before beginning construction of the first diamond, and of course the experience gained from the first. The most valuable lesson was to lean heavily on the NMRA gauge before soldering.

Gallery: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://goodman312.zenfolio.com/p1058566081">http://goodman312.zenfolio.com/p1058566081</a><!-- m -->

Completed crossing #1

[steinjr]

That is one good looking crossing!

Smile,
Stein

[Fluesheet]

Quick note:

I've been building this since February, and have started a new thread with a more appropriate title for that purpose: "Fluesheet Shelf Layout"

<!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://www.the-gauge.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=2965">viewtopic.php?f=46&t=2965</a><!-- l -->

Thanks to everyone for the input that got me to this point! The build itself is proving to be a fantastic learning tool - I'm making mistakes quicker (this is a good thing - albeit frustrating when they occur!) and at a more manageable scale than I would have been on the eventual basement layout. It was also intended to be a test bed for techniques and products (which turnout? which turnout machine? what trackage system? etc.), which it's also, so far, been perfect for.

Matt