If I have a half circle of O-72-Can I replace one of the sections with an O-72 switch Turn out position and keep the half circle in tact? Hope this makes sense.Nick
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The switch is the same as a section of O72 . I don't have a full curve, but it measures out that way with a half curve that I used.
Nick,
If you have a FasTrack layout you definitely need to purchase a Rockwell X2 portable Table Saw for cutting custom FasTrack close out sections. Makes them any size any angle that you need.
The 072 FT CC Switch should fit right into your FasTrack layout with the use of the small FT Track sections, that come with the Command Control FasTrack 072 switch.
PCRR/Dave
They all replace a curve except O60.
Thank you everybody!Nick
My experience is that only the O36 and O48 switches can be substituted for a section of curve without making some modification. For example, although the curved section of the O72 switch matches an O72 full curve piece, the switch requires the special 1 3/8" straight pieces in order for the next section of track to be attached without the roadbed hitting. That destroys the O72 curve symmetry if you are placing the switch in a loop. You could probably take a piece of O72 curve and cut away the track bed where the track would join the curved part of the switch. I think the O60 switches are the same way. Also, unlike the O36 and O48 switches, the straight portion of the O72 switch is a strange length which makes fitting it into a layout awkward unless you have switches on opposing sides of the layout. The straight length of the O36 and the O48 are drop ins for the 10" and 10"+5" track sections respectively which makes fitting easy. The O72 is about 15 11/16 in length with the fitter attached. Not sure why Lionel decided on the those non-5"-multiple dimensions for the O72.
JFC454, I stand corrected - the fitter piece does put it out of whack in O72 - in this example I had to end the semi circle with a 1 3/8" to return to square. Then, I overlayed a semi-circle of just O72 in red. You can see the 1 3/8" underneath of the red.
The O60 is different in another way - the arc of the divergence is less than 22.5° plus the 1 3/8" fitter - it's not even close like the O72
The O72 wyes have the same small issue as the switches.
I suppose that I became accustomed to fitting the finishing end and forgot that it's off -combined with working with Atlas and Ross and lot more.
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I usually place the second fitter shown on the right side of your diagram in between the first and second O72 curves on the right side. That preserves the symmetry of the curve. Usually I would have another O72 switch on that right side and the fitter would be part of that switch. If the two straight sections of the switches are joined with an O72 arc, that arc will need fitters as well to close. It's too bad they didn't make the those switches drop in fits like the O36 and O48.
