Turnouts for Nn3: Any templates out there for turnouts smaller that #4

[VonRyan]

Hi all, I have an Nn3 #4 turnout (someone else handlaid it, they sold it to me as excess) and i'm realizing that it is too large a size for a Welsh slate mining railway. I was wondering if there is any templates for something smaller, perhaps a #3 or even a #2-1/2.
My only locomotive (not yet complete due to a lack of two gears) is based on Dolgoch from the Talyllyn Railway.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolgoch_%28locomotive%29
The "Old Lady" is a tiny loco thus my version will be a bit larger (not by much) and will be all powered with the motor being the boiler. She probably won't be pulling many loads but we shall see.
The points used on the TR (at least in the yard at Tywyn Wharf) look quite small in terms of radius and thus i'd like to (attempt) to make similar turnouts.

Thanks All!

-Cody F.

[GaryHinshaw]

I'm not aware of any, but here are some leads:

* This page looks to be right up your alley:

http://www.zen98812.zen.co.uk/track.html

* FastTracks has Nn3 templates, but only #4 and larger:

http://www.handlaidtrack.com/Fast-Tracks-Nn3-Scale-Printable-Track-Templates-s/96.htm

* This old site that has a few templates, but also a link to a spreadsheet that lets you roll your own, in theory (but I haven't looked at it myself):

http://www.urbaneagle.com/data/RRturnouts.html#pat

HTH,
-gfh

[nkalanaga]

For a turnout that small I'd use a radius style, rather than a numbered frog, and draw the thing by hand, or lay it in place to match the curves.

[VonRyan]

For a turnout that small I'd use a radius style, rather than a numbered frog, and draw the thing by hand, or lay it in place to match the curves.

Much too far above my pay grade... plus i have no idea what that means to just use a radius style.

-Cody F.

[VonRyan]

I'm not aware of any, but here are some leads:

* This page looks to be right up your alley:

http://www.zen98812.zen.co.uk/track.html

* FastTracks has Nn3 templates, but only #4 and larger:

http://www.handlaidtrack.com/Fast-Tracks-Nn3-Scale-Printable-Track-Templates-s/96.htm

* This old site that has a few templates, but also a link to a spreadsheet that lets you roll your own, in theory (but I haven't looked at it myself):

http://www.urbaneagle.com/data/RRturnouts.html#pat

HTH,
-gfh

Funny you use the link to Mark Fielder's site, especially since he is the overall inspiration for my entrance to Nn3.
The page itself i've read 20+ times
Looking at the spreadsheet, it is apparent that i need some form of CAD program like 3dplanit in order to make a template. Plus the whole thing is quite confusing and some of the stuff is above my pay grade for sure.

-Cody F.

[GaryHinshaw]

Cody, a 'radius style' turnout just means one in which the diverging route follows a constant radius curve rather than straightening out through the frog like most prototype turnouts do.  You could make a template for a turnout like that with a straight-edge and a protractor. 

The only way you'll advance to a higher pay grade in this business is to practice.  Get some rail, ties and glue and give it a try!  Whether or not the first one works, the experience will give you a sense of how many steps you need to advance to get to the pay grade you seek.   All you have to lose are a few dollars and a few hours.

-Gary

[DKS]

After you build a few using templates, you might be inspired to just "wing it." My plan for the Nn3 White River is to build each switch to suit the location. Consequently, I doubt that any templates exist that would be suitable.

[nkalanaga]

A really cheap way to make a template for a radius-style turnout is with two pieces of track, one curved and one straight.  Lay a piece of paper over one, rub it with the side of a pencil to mark the tops of the rails, then lay it over the other, align the rails, and rub that.  Remove the paper and use an eraser to make the flangeways, then draw in the guard and wing rails.

If you already have one track laid, you can use the same method to design a turnout to be spliced in, although it might be easier to simply cut the existing rails, replace the sleepers, and build it in place.

[VonRyan]

I guess i should ask for turnout hand-laying lessons for Christmas.

-Cody F.