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Tony Koester continues with final preparations before he starts adding rails to the turnout on MRVP’s HO scale Winston-Salem Southbound layout. In this video you’ll see Tony’s techniques for spiking and gauging the rails, building a frog, plus a quick tip for testing the installation!
I love this episode on handlaying turnouts. I use more three-point track gauges when I am handlyaing laying rail – especially turnouts. I like the Precision Scale track gauges formerly made by Kemtron. I have a half-dozen. They nest against each other well when alternated on straight track. Because I use code 70 rail, I use the Micro Spikes by Micro Engineering. The tiny size (3/16") requires pilot holes to be drilled with a pin vise with bits in the high 70s. The bits will break, so have several size 76 bits on hand. Pre-drilling minimizes bent spikes – even with the micro size . I recommend that anybody who starts handlaying turnouts get at least one turnout kit from Trout Creek Engineering. There are several layers of difficulty in their BK Enterprises kits from "Blade and Frog" to "Assembled". The Assembled have straps soldered to the tops of the rails to hold the rails roughly in gauge. Beginners should get the Assembled. You still have some spiking and gauging to do, but it will break you into the process.
This is a great series. Tony makes it looks so easy and is inspiring me to try this at home! Of course it will probably turn out nothing like his and mine will wind up being a little used industrial siding or abandoned branch line…
Awesome to watch, there's just something about a layout with hand laid track that makes it top notch. Thanks for sharing this with us!! I'm always Looking for more tips like these.
Nice to see the method I devised way back in 1966 still works!!! Tony …you da man!
I really admire the ability of the Master's, just to have the skill, wow
Be interesting to see if Tony uses hinged points or flex points for this video series. I prefer hinged points, myself, since you can then pull points more easily for repair or maintenance. The other variable is if points are soldered to the tiebar or fastened with 00-90 bolts through a tab soldered to the points. Again, bolts allow simple point removal.
As always Tony has done a good job of explaining the process. While I don't PLAN to lay any of my own turnouts, the process has helped me understand what's going in in my commercial tirnouts. Thanks guys!
Sorry but this has bored me…I don't have the time or patience for this type of track laying.
It's great watching someone make a turnout without a jig! Quite a master. He makes it look easy!
This series on handlaying track has been one of my favorites! Tony does a great job of explaining things and he makes it FUN!
It truly is a pleasure to watch a master railroad modeler at work, great job Tony. Can't to see the next episode. My track is all down now, but I might spike in an abandoned piece just for the experience of hand laying. Thanks.
It's a real treat watching and listening to Tony. Thanks MRVP!
Excellent series. I think you learn something every time you see someone else show a skill.
Ken Biholar, it takes me about two hours to lay a turnout. However, I use a little different method but sure like Tony's method.
To gauge track, I really like using Rolly Holders from Railway Engineering. They come in a set of four cut to the size of rail and gauge being laid. I also have a pair of Micro Engineering track gauges but find them a little harder to use. Also have an ancient 5 inch HO bar gauge which I use on the distant end of a pair of tracks. I do check with the NMRA gauge, especially through the frog and along the guard rails. I use a set of metal wheels from an old Central Valley four wheel truck to do a rolling check as I lay rail.
While hand laying is slower than flex track, it is very satisfying to me and does save a few bucks.
Jim
Really enjoy this series on handlaying track – I have never tried it. I realize that Tony has been explaining what he is doing for each step of the way whick leads me to two questions:
1) How long does it take to handlay a turnout (if Tony wasn't explaining each step)?
2) I model in N scale – would handlaying N scale turnouts be recommended, and – if "YES" – are clearances/gauges even more critical since it's smaller?