hand laid turnouts

[jim currie]

have any of you who build your own turnouts ever tackled a lap turnout ? one would work out for a industral siding of mine , but don't know it would be feasable in HO. any thoughts ?

jim

[nkp_174]

I think you could do it. In my experience with building a 3-way stub switch, soldering would be an absolute must. I think that Fast Tracks might even have a jig for it. Based on what Tetters did with his double slip, and my experience with in On3 (the trackwork of which is very close to HO in all aspect, but 0.1" wider), it ought not be too much of a problem. But, for each frog, the time and effort does double!

[jim currie]

Michael it it is not the building i was wondering about but the electrical end as the loco that will be switching there is a Grandt line 23 ton box cab and there will be a lot of dead spots to go over i would think.
jim

[TinGoat]

Hi Jim,

Wiring a Lap Turnout is fairly easy.

The only dead spots are the frogs, and you can power and polarize them with a couple of switch machines and two SPDT switches.

You can find information here...

For a Three Way Stub Switch, the wiring is a little more complicated but Here's one of ways:

Wiring a Threeway Stub.

[e-paw]

I have a related question to this thread. I want to give hand laying turnouts a try and was wondering where I could find templates for them. Also are PC board ties available or do I have to cut them my self? I have never tried this before so I'm new at it.

[nkp_174]

You can get them from a variety of places, or make your own. (templates)

Here's Fast track's templates: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.handlaidtrack.com/track-templates-c-11.php">http://www.handlaidtrack.com/track-templates-c-11.php</a><!-- m -->

Similarly Fast Tracks and Clover House offer PC ties: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.handlaidtrack.com/pc-board-wood-ties-pc-board-ties-c-7_38.php">http://www.handlaidtrack.com/pc-board-w ... c-7_38.php</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.cloverhouse.com/">http://www.cloverhouse.com/</a><!-- m -->

Michael

[nachoman]

I have a related question to this thread. I want to give hand laying turnouts a try and was wondering where I could find templates for them. Also are PC board ties available or do I have to cut them my self? I have never tried this before so I'm new at it.

I haven't used a commercial jig, but I did download paper diagrams from the fast tracks site. I used instructions from Stephen Hatch as a guide: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.railwayeng.com/handlay6/hndly-h3.htm">http://www.railwayeng.com/handlay6/hndly-h3.htm</a><!-- m -->

I make my own PC ties - I bought a piece of copper clad PC board from my local electronics supply, and cut it into ties using a mini table saw I bought at harbor freight for about 40 bucks. It came with a diamond blade and works pretty well for cutting the ties.

[e-paw]

Thanks guys. Hope I didn't steal your thread Jim.

[MasonJar]

Great stuff guys - and if you don't mind, I am going to copy some over to the Supplies & Equipment forum...

Thanks.

Andrew

[jim currie]

this is a pic of almost the exact lap i will need, i still build my special turnouts the old way in place as they don't conform to a set plan .
I do use jigs for mainline turnouts that i made my self , as for pc ties i don't use them i just hot glue the rail to the ties in the jig.

jim

[nkp_174]

Now that is a fancy lap!

[BR60103]

I suspect most of us were thinking of an asymmetric 3-way switch when you said lap turnout.

[nkp_174]

I suspect most of us were thinking of an asymmetric 3-way switch when you said lap turnout.

[TinGoat]

I suspect most of us were thinking of an asymmetric 3-way switch when you said lap turnout.

Me too...

[jim currie]

sorry guys should have posted the photo first building one on the bench to see if it will work, think it will add some interesting moves to switching that siding if it will work.
jim