04-11-2009, 12:02 AM
As a word of warning, I second nachoman: If you already have (or plan to buy) a brass mikado engine (-27, K-28...), avoid #4 turnouts!
I learned the hard way, when I I finished laying a yard throat with Shinohara #4s. My two Westside C-16s worked ok, because they have two blind (flangeless) driver axles. But my brass K-28 (Precision Scale) kept derailing on these turnouts. So I had to redesign and rip out the whole yard throat.
Since at the time I didn't find any Shinohara turnouts in any shop I started handlaying turnouts, using the free (#6 minimum) turnout templates and the copper plated PC board ties from Fast Tracks. Now my K-28 (and also the Blackstone K-27) no longer have any problems.
Ron
I learned the hard way, when I I finished laying a yard throat with Shinohara #4s. My two Westside C-16s worked ok, because they have two blind (flangeless) driver axles. But my brass K-28 (Precision Scale) kept derailing on these turnouts. So I had to redesign and rip out the whole yard throat.
Since at the time I didn't find any Shinohara turnouts in any shop I started handlaying turnouts, using the free (#6 minimum) turnout templates and the copper plated PC board ties from Fast Tracks. Now my K-28 (and also the Blackstone K-27) no longer have any problems.
Ron
Boss of the Trim Creek & Western RR (H0 & H0n3)
Running through the hard-shell mountains, not around them!
Running through the hard-shell mountains, not around them!