Fast Tracks “diamond line”

[pedro]

Fast Tracks is coming out with detailed, cast metal frog crossing kits in HO and N:
https://youtu.be/2kDOtQEB8Sw
No details on price , but they look nice.
Comments on the YouTubes indicate a strong desire for cast metal frogs for switches, which I agree would be a nice improvement.

[RBrodzinsky]

Cool!

[C855B]

We'll see re. N scale. The only crossing on my layout is a quad 90° hacked from Atlas C55. It's been a minor headache with stalls, mostly due to the design with too much non-conductive rail at the frogs. So it's certainly a candidate for replacement if the Fast Tracks version pans out.

[sd45elect2000]

These guys at fast tracks are the Jedi of the track universe !! I need to do a 90 degree quad embedded in a street, these came along at a perfect time. The only other thing I can use would be embedded switches.

[wazzou]

Game changing.  It would be terrific if they move into turnout frogs as well.

[Mark5]

Game changing.  It would be terrific if they move into turnout frogs as well.

Agreed. I curious about the durabilty (press fit pieces) but I will look at Fast Tracks seriously on my next layout.

[wazzou]

Agreed. I curious about the durabilty (press fit pieces) but I will look at Fast Tracks seriously on my next layout.

I'm sure if one wanted to, they could squeeze in a little CA in the slot in the bottom and sand after cured but they seemed like a pretty snug fit.

[C855B]

Agreed. I curious about the durabilty (press fit pieces) but I will look at Fast Tracks seriously on my next layout.

Tim did say "Pliobond".

[davefoxx]

Agreed. I curious about the durabilty (press fit pieces) but I will look at Fast Tracks seriously on my next layout.

I'd just use Pliobond, which does a great job of holding the rails to the ties on turnouts that I've built.  In fact, I also used it recently to secure guardrails on a curved bridge where CA did not do so well to adhere rail to engineering plastic.  Works great and easy to apply. Use a soldering iron on the rail to immediately set the Pliobond.  You'll hear a slight sizzle and move the iron down the rail.

DFF

[CRL]

This looks very promising.

Using Pliobond is a proven method of securing land laid track. Since it’s a contact adhesive, you allow it to set before joining, then activate it using heat from soldering iron. It’s permanent when done correctly. Only drawback is it can be very messy.

[wcfn100]

Using Pliobond is a proven method of securing land laid track. Since it’s a contact adhesive, you allow it to set before joining, then activate it using heat from soldering iron. It’s permanent when done correctly. Only drawback is it can be very messy.

I'm a fan of using Pliobond for track, but it can still fail.  In my case it was from a layout being stored in an Arizona garage. 

Jason

[CRL]

It didn’t fail, the heat just reactivated the glue. 

[Mark5]

Tim did say "Pliobond".

Ok, I was referring to at 6:20 into the video. I didn't watch the whole video (trying to work lol), so I guess he later removed it and applied Pliobond and reinstalled it.

I am very familiar with Pliobond - I used it when I last handlaid code 40 track (1970s).

Mark

[wcfn100]

It didn’t fail, the heat just reactivated the glue. 

Right.  Just like damn don't fail, it's just the water pressure. 

Jason

[peteski]

It is mentioned in the video that those castings are nickel-silver.  So, unlike the plated white-metal castings Atlas uses on c55 track, these will not only match the coloring and sheen of the adjacent nickel-silver rail, they will retain that color for the life of the turnout.  Excellent!