What frog size for Fast Tracks turnouts for FreemoN?

[PiperguyUMD]

Ok hive TRW hive mind - I'm about to pull the trigger on a turnout fixture from Fast Tracks, but wanted to seek input on frog size. The intent is to use these turnouts for my WM FreemoN modules. I know the FreemoN minimum is #6, but I want to strike a balance between appearance and size. To boot, when at home, I plan to run large steam (which hopefully will include a few 2-10-0s at some point), so I think that erring on the larger side would be best. All that said, I don't think it makes sense to buy a fixture for a turnout size that is commercially available, like a #10. Or is it? Would using #9s or #11s create geometry issues in yards, etc. because of their unusual sizes?

Anyways, about to drop a big chunk of change, so I'm curious to see what everyone thinks.

Thanks for the feedback!

[jpwisc]

A FastTracks #8 is a nice turnout that will easily flow your big power. I think you would be very happy with it.

[sd45elect2000]

A FastTracks #8 is a nice turnout that will easily flow your big power. I think you would be very happy with it.

Agree !

[Angus Shops]

Agree !

I went with #7’s as my standard on my layout. They are a lot longer than a #6 so they look good visually, but not as long as #8 (or #9, which I used on mainline-to-siding situations) (and a #6’s in limited locations). I suggest you print off a bunch of templates from Fastracks and mess around with full scale layouts to what works for you.

[wcfn100]

Have you tried making one without the fixtures?  You may find you don't need them.

Jason

[PiperguyUMD]

Have you tried making one without the fixtures?  You may find you don't need them.

I tried a few in HO, this is not my skill set lol!

Thanks for the feedback everyone, I was leaning towards an 8, but have had some 10s on a previous layout that I thought looked really nice, so 9s are also tempting. Would it be strange to have 9s? I don't think I've seen many of them, does stuff like that even matter?

[wmcbride]

I have their #10 fixture for mainline turnouts. As you said, it's a skill set and was for me even with the jigs. My first two were iffy but by number 3, they were ok.

[Bill H]

I went with #7’s as my standard on my layout. They are a lot longer than a #6 so they look good visually, but not as long as #8 (or #9, which I used on mainline-to-siding situations) (and a #6’s in limited locations). I suggest you print off a bunch of templates from Fastracks and mess around with full scale layouts to what works for you.

Completely agree, don't make an arbitrary decision, make an informed decision, print off some templates and see what works for you.

[Angus Shops]

I purchased the jig for the #7’s, but I built about 50 of them so the cost per switch was reasonable. The #6’s and #9’s were built on a template, but much lower quantities for both and I didn’t see the value in paying for the jigs. They went together fine, but involved more fiddling around to get them right. I also bought the ‘point tool’ for filing point and frog rails, and the ‘stock-aid’ tool for filing the stack rails. I found these really helpful. The point tool is sized for the #7 components, but I found it worked just fine for both #6 and #9 components. All that filing would be hard on the fingers without these tools. All together not cheap, but a lot less than the retail cost of the 75 or so switches.
Geoff

[nkalanaga]

"Would using #9s or #11s create geometry issues in yards, etc. because of their unusual sizes?"

As far as the geometry, you can use any turnout size.  Just use the same size throughout, or be prepared to add short compensating curves.  All #9s would work just as well as all #6, or all #12.

[prr7161]

I think your only real worry here is down at the small sizes and the radius of the curved rail (this number is printed on the FastTracks paper templates),  I stuck to #5 as the smallest for my layout - the curved rail radius is 14", where the #4 is down at 8" and the #4.5 at 11".  Too tight for 65' mill gons.  By the time you get to a #6 the curved radius is 23" and anything should run through it fine.  So at the higher numbers it's all about subjective look and feel, and consistency.  Nothing concerning about performance whatever you choose.

[PiperguyUMD]

Thanks for the feedback everyone, just pulled the trigger on a #8 fixture!

[robert3985]

Thanks for the feedback everyone, just pulled the trigger on a #8 fixture!

Good choice... You'll be very happy with both the prototypical appearance and having an atypical turnout size on your modules.

The rewards, both obvious and personal, for being concerned about your trackwork is well worth the extra effort to research, buy and build your own turnouts.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[wazzou]

I honestly think some of those handlaid TO threads should be a "Best of" on TRW.
There was some really beneficial information in those threads.


@ @Ed Kapuscinski