The Lehigh and Hudson River coming to life!

[asciibaron]

There have been regular adverts for Fast Tracks turnouts on ebay the last month or so.  I have a permanent search dialed in for n scale code 55 track, and they pop up periodically.  The guy selling them appears to have decided to sell a bunch of tunrouts to pay off the kit purchase price.

seems reasonable to me, i just don't want to get the first several he "learned" with, wait... $32+ for one.  ouch.

[Philip H]

That $32 is nothing - look up the code 55 three-way I have my eyes on.  at $87, I could alsmot get the  kit myself.

[asciibaron]

That $32 is nothing - look up the code 55 three-way I have my eyes on.  at $87, I could alsmot get the  kit myself.

why do you need the Fast Tracks template?  i remember building turnouts myself, nothing as complex as a 3 way, but i'm sure if you break it down into smaller units, you could knock it out.  of course, i've only ever hand laid in HO scale - code 70 is much easier to deal with than code 55.

in fact, i'm considering building the curved turnouts i need using the pdf template from the Fast Tracks site.  glue the template to a piece of homasote, glue down the ties and away i go.

[Dave V]

There have been regular adverts for Fast Tracks turnouts on ebay the last month or so.  I have a permanent search dialed in for n scale code 55 track, and they pop up periodically.  The guy selling them appears to have decided to sell a bunch of tunrouts to pay off the kit purchase price.

seems reasonable to me, i just don't want to get the first several he "learned" with, wait... $32+ for one.  ouch.

I bought two from him.  They're well made.  I didn't think it would be worth buying the templates and materials for just two.

[asciibaron]

I bought two from him.  They're well made.  I didn't think it would be worth buying the templates and materials for just two.

plus i'm not a big fan of the RT system - it's basically hand laid snap track.  *ducks*

[Dave V]

Taxonomy is merely an academic exercise...  The right track is the best balance of appearance and reliability, whether Fast Tracks or otherwise.  Tracklaying is one of my weaker skills, so to the extent I can take advantage of what's out there, I'm setting myself up for maximum success.  So I feel no shame in buying someone else's FT switches, any more than I would if it came in a package marked Atlas.  Were I to need more than two, I'd probably have bought the rig.

[asciibaron]

Tracklaying is one of my weaker skills, so to the extent I can take advantage of what's out there, I'm setting myself up for maximum success.  

so, you're a big fan of outcome based model railroading.  cool.  ;D

my comment was more aimed at buying all the templates and laser cut stuff to assemble the turnouts.  you can roll your own without all that fancy stuff.  i picture it like that scene in Tin Cup where Russo's character comes in for golf lessons with all this crap strapped on to help her with her swing.

[Philip H]

That $32 is nothing - look up the code 55 three-way I have my eyes on.  at $87, I could alsmot get the  kit myself.

why do you need the Fast Tracks template?  i remember building turnouts myself, nothing as complex as a 3 way, but i'm sure if you break it down into smaller units, you could knock it out.  of course, i've only ever hand laid in HO scale - code 70 is much easier to deal with than code 55.

in fact, i'm considering building the curved turnouts i need using the pdf template from the Fast Tracks site.  glue the template to a piece of homasote, glue down the ties and away i go.

Well, you sort of answered your own question about code 55 vs. code 80.  And if I want to get into handlaying - which I think gives you the most options - then some of the tools that come in the kits are also useful.  I agree that, ,iwth the patterns, some PC ties and some rail I coul dPROBABLY lay it all myself.

Oh, and I only need one threeway turnout.  Scratch that - I want one three way tunout.  It solves a yardladder/space conflict that I have.

[asciibaron]

i still have no clue about my trackplan or if what i want to do will actually work.  who needs a piece of paper with measured drawings - the plan is in my head.  well, it was until i had some beer this weekend, those cells are long gone now, dude.

[Chris333]

The guy selling the FT turnouts on e-bay models the Erie RR so he can't be that bad    He is buddies with Scott Lupia and is making all the turnouts for his layout.


BTW the bike is a "GT pro freestyle tour" It wasn't mine, but my buddy was stuck in JJC and let me ride it while he was "away". Must be about 1988-89. I posted it because I was running the clodbuster that very same day.

[asciibaron]

the layout work is on hiatus until tomorrow night - i'm busy getting ready for bug guy to walk around and tp on the walls with a screwdriver and then pay him.

[Dave V]

Tracklaying is one of my weaker skills, so to the extent I can take advantage of what's out there, I'm setting myself up for maximum success.  

so, you're a big fan of outcome based model railroading.  cool.  ;D

Yes, that does come across as a bit hypocritical on my end...!  I do, from time to time, partake in outcome-based model train purchasing when it suits me.  As I suspect do many.  Perhaps what redeems me (if I may be redeemed) is that it is generally the exception to my modeling philosophy rather than the rule.

But back to Steve...  Plenty of thought and planning is good, but don't think yourself into paralysis.  Building, finding problems, and rebuilding to fix them is actually not as bad as you think...  I've done it plenty of times.  In the meantime you've gotten something built.

[sizemore]

The guy selling the FT turnouts on e-bay models the Erie RR so he can't be that bad    He is buddies with Scott Lupia and is making all the turnouts for his layout.


BTW the bike is a "GT pro freestyle tour" It wasn't mine, but my buddy was stuck in JJC and let me ride it while he was "away". Must be about 1988-89. I posted it because I was running the clodbuster that very same day.

GT = Dyna. The same family to that was the Dyna AIR with the GT 3 spokes, which I had. That frame appears very light and looks like the Supergoose from the same time. My Dad has a Clod Buster which is added a 4 channel too, and added a model hemi engine too. The hood open's, and the blower, and belts all work. Pretty neat.

The S.

[davefoxx]

I apologize in advance for going off-topic.  Although chromoly, the frame and forks were light.  I received the frame and forks of a GT Pro Performer in a chrome finish for Christmas in 1985, which is still hanging in my parents' garage.  This is exactly the same frame and forks as pictured in the previous posts.

DFF

[asciibaron]

I apologize in advance for going off-topic.  Although chromoly, the frame and forks were light.  I received the frame and forks of a GT Pro Performer in a chrome finish for Christmas in 1985, which is still hanging in my parents' garage.  This is exactly the same frame and forks as pictured in the previous posts.

and both were made in Taiwan by Giant.