12-20-2010, 10:12 AM
Steamtrains Wrote:You know...I might just consider that....One question...How do you shape the frog and point rails..??
I have a crossover in the yard that might lend itself to a "custom" turnout...
Fast Tracks makes a point form tool that can be used to shape the frog and the point rails. However, I've had success in shaping the frog points using a protractor and the disc sander on my benchtop belt sander tool. I basically clamped the protractor as close and as parallel to the sanding disc as I could. To get the degree of angle I looked at the chart on the template for the secondary angle for the points where the diamond points are located. The frog where the turnouts first enter the x-over is the lesser degree. I think they are 9 degrees on a # 6 x-over for example. I just divided that number in half and used the protractor as more or less a guide to get the 4 1/2 degrees required for each rail to make the points when soldered together. If you can find a metal protractor great as after sanding several pieces of rail to make these points the plastic ones will start to melt from the heated rail. I've never tried to file the point rails by hand. For those I was glad to have the Point Form tool to shape them accurately.
It's a bit of trail and error when doing it free hand. Sand a bit off check your angle on the drawing, go back and take a little more off until you get the rail and the lines on the template all lined up. If I recall my # 6 double x-over took me four to five solid nights about 4 hours each night to complete and its anything but perfect. But it works and its in gauge and that's really all that matters. If I decide to do it over again I'll make every effort to make the points as sharp as possible. On the current one they are a little blunt and that causes the wheels to drop ever so slightly into the frog area, however the metal wheels make that satisfactory clickity clack sound as a train rolls through the crossing and the cars still roll through nice and smooth with the occasional "jostle".
If I haven't completely bored everyone to tears by now, you can always revisit the thread I created here regarding my double x-over build that I originally posted on "that-board-which-shall-not-be-named...
http://www.the-gauge.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=659