Fast Tracks

I want to make turnouts but crossover assembly fixture says that it can also make turnouts. I am wondering how much more difficult it is to make turnouts with a crossover fixture. Would it be better to simply buy a turnout fixture instead? I'm sure I will want to make crossovers eventually so if it is not too complicated, using the crossover assembly would be nicer. Some of the sections comming from the curved part of the crossover assembly's turnouts (I don't know much turnout lingo...) seem a bit short and end in angles (frogs?) so I don't know if it can fit a full turnout.

Building a turnout in the crossover fixture is not any more difficult than with the standard fixture, and if you plan on making a crossover in the future this is a more economical approach.

The only difference is there are additional pockets in the fixture for the crossover version, and you will have to identify which pockets are to be used for the turnout. This can be simply done by comparing it to a printed tie template which are included on the CD that accompanies the fixture.

_________________
Cheers!

Tim Warris
Fast Tracks
http://www.fast-tracks.net
service@fast-tracks.net

Thank you. I can't wait to start making turnouts/crossovers!

I have built several turnouts with the #6 crossover jig and find it very easy to use. I used a Sharpie marker to mark the tie slots to be used for the turnouts. Perhaps a helpful addition to the crossover jig would be to mark the slots during the machining process with a small "T" or something. Just a thought.

Rick

I use both the #6 & #8 crossover fixtures for standard turnouts. I have made about 30 of each size so far, both RH & LH. It is just as easy as making a TO on a regular TO fixture. I keep printouts handy of all the TO sizes I make for reference, especially for PCB tie placement in the TO's. I use crossover PCB ties to make standard TO's with. It only takes 5 of them (plus one regular TO PCB tie for the throw bar) for a std. #8 TO and hardly any waste!

Good luck!

Where you get it???

I have found that the Fast Tracks fixtures are the easiest to use and are very precision. I use them only, except for non-standard items. All my fixtures and supplies were ordered direct from Fast Tracks.

I have just purchased the #8 double crossover and I need a bit of advice. Since I bought the kit, a point-form tool was included but the frogs on the crossing appear to be different than the #8 frog on the jig, What do I use for the crossing frogs?

Regards,
Nick Kulp

Hi Nick,

Included with the kit should be a #8 Crossover Pointform tool. These tools have an additional set of grooves for forming the additional sized frog in the centre of a crossover. It should look like the image below.

Is this the one that was included with your kit? ($6 shown in image, yours should be a #8)

_________________
Cheers!

Tim Warris
Fast Tracks
http://www.fast-tracks.net
service@fast-tracks.net

Hi Tim,
One was definitely in the kit, very nice graphic, by the way. The mystery is that the documentation for the crossover or the #8 switch do not show how to use the tool. I'm may just be dense <VBG> I watched the video and downloaded every User Guide I thought of but the crossing part is just not really covered. I wanted to ask before I ruined some of the precious rail I have. I understand that you are redoing some of the User Guides and IMOHO the double crossover is one that seems to require a bit more than the current 8 pages. What is there is excellent but forming the crossing frogs is not covered at all.

One other small question. The AN for forming and placing the stock rails is not current. The link goes to the Zen of Spiking.

These are just nit-picks. The overall documentation and the tools are top-drawer. I expect to be making a lot more purchases as my layout rebuild progresses.

Regards,
Nick Kulp

Hi Nick,

Included with the kit should be a #8 Crossover Pointform tool. These tools have an additional set of grooves for forming the additional sized frog in the centre of a crossover. It should look like the image below.

Is this the one that was included with your kit? ($6 shown in image, yours should be a #8

I hope you're not still waiting... The end marked frog AND crossing has 4 holes. Use the inner ones for everything but the frogs (which correspond to the frogs on a normal turnout). It's easier to see if you compare it to a normal turnout track template. Call the other ones Toads.

Jim

I appreciate the help. Excuse me, my village just called and they saw their idiot was missing..... Once I actually started looking more closely at the tool, I did see the extra holes. I gave it a try and it worked, imagine that. Thanks for the great tools.
Regards,
Nick Kulp