Realistic DIY N Scale Turnout with basic tools

[Simon D.]

Interesting?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13qelLiGjoU

Result might seem a little crude for some perhaps...

Simon

[ednadolski]

Pretty standard construction technique.  My only real advice would be to use a little less solder on some of the joints.  If the copper & rail are cleaned and fluxed and the joint is properly heated, then the solder will flow into the joint instead of blobbing.   Like anything, it improves with practice.

The only other thing I noticed is that the wing rails probably should have a flare or chamfer.   Also he did the very smart step to test the PCB gaps with the ohmmeter before going further in the construction.

Ed

[wcfn100]

Result might seem a little crude for some perhaps...

I wouldn't call it crude, but it is missing some easy steps to a much better turnout.  First, there's no reason not to make proper points for the switch rails and the frog.  I've illustrated it here many times.  You can see in the video where he files through the web of the rail.       Likewise, there's no reason not to have a proper diverting rail which should not be constant radius but rather a slight bend at the points matching the opposite switch rail angle, and straight section that matches the length of the switch rails, then into the radius.  Manufactures do this too and it makes no sense.

Jason

[Cajonpassfan]

Did I miss the gauge, or did he rely on a set of trucks from some car?

[wazzou]

Did I miss the gauge, or did he rely on a set of trucks from some car?

Sure looked like N to me.

[wcfn100]

Did I miss the gauge, or did he rely on a set of trucks from some car?

Just the paper template for the gauge and checked it with the truck.

Jason

[wazzou]

Just the paper template for the gauge and checked it with the truck.

Jason

I wondered about that. 
Has anyone else had experience that's printed those templates with how close they are, given some variables in printers of course?

[ednadolski]

Did I miss the gauge, or did he rely on a set of trucks from some car?

I recall hearing that John Allen did not use a gauge, just a truck.

Ed

[Cajonpassfan]

Sure looked like N to me.

Well yeah, it says so inthe title...
I meant he seems to not bother with a "gauge" tool of any sort. In N scale, that's just asking for trouble, John Allen notwithstanding.
Otto

[wazzou]

Sorry, it was sarcasm.

[garethashenden]

Well yeah, it says so inthe title...
I meant he seems to not bother with a "gauge" tool of any sort. In N scale, that's just asking for trouble, John Allen notwithstanding.
Otto

If you always use the same truck, and adjust all other trucks to match it, it will work fine. But that truck is now your gauge...

[peteski]

If you always use the same truck, and adjust all other trucks to match it, it will work fine. But that truck is now your gauge...

Trucks like MTL (with single-piece molded wheelsets) will be gauged correctly, so they can be used as gauge. But I don't think that is a good idea because the flanges aren't a good measuring template of the gauge. If you look at the NMRA gauge, the track will be a bit wider than the distance between the outside surfaces of the flange.  Plus the outside surface of the flange is not perfectly -  there is a radiused surface between the tread and flange. I know, one can make the track slightly wider, enough to leave a bit of a sideways play between flanges, but why fudge it by feel when a proper gauge is cheap and easily obtainable.  Do it right the first time and the track will be problem-free.

[robert3985]

Wellllll....I could not watch the entire video.  It was giving me a hemorrhoid from watching the bad practices being given glorification, such as the bend in the diverging stock rail not being there, and not using a vice, but an Oklahoma end-wrench...and no NMRA "gage".  Hell, he had a dial caliper, so why not a vice??  It's not like an NMRA gage is expensive or difficult to find.

The only "good" thing is that it illustrates that making a turnout isn't rocket science. 

Making a reliable, fairly prototypical looking one will take a bit more effort...like using the paper template you've built it on to know the tie lengths...and cutting them straight at the ends rather than at extreme angles, knowing how a turnout works, and the proper tools.

Yeah, I fast forwarded it to the end to see the finished product...and I'd say it's more than crude...it's careless.  Cutting tie-ends straight doesn't take but a minuscule more amount of effort than cutting them so ridiculously angled....which it looks like was purposely done to irritate me. 

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore