Turnout Template for Hand Laid 3-way?

I am presuming you want a paper one.

 

Plan A:

1.  Go to "Fast Tracks" and print out their #6 3-way in HO

2.  Use a copier to scale up to 0 gauge.

 

Plan B:

 2.  Use the plans or 'kits' for a pair [ RH, LH ] of #6's in echelon, and make your own.

 

Plan C:

  Old Pullman -- now apparently dormant -- made a #6 three way, and there was a template with the kit.  He [ Beat ] would also furnish the template upon request, preferably if you were buying other stuff;  I thought I had one, but since I never 'needed' a three way I apparently disposed of it, as I can't find it.  Perhaps somebody else has one.

    Did you see Tom T.'s ad ?

 

Best rgds, SZ

Steinzeit

 

I will search the Tom Tee add!

 

I didn't even think of using a copier....doh!

 

Giving thought to 2 rail RC trains.....no electrical issue with track.

 

Many Thanks...

 

Rick.

If you are going to hand lay a 3 way I would recomend not to use a # 5 or # 6 standard 3 way pre printed paper template.  If you go that route you will have a very rigid foot print.

 

Consider SZ's comment and  after drawing what ever converging right of way centerlines your RR needs then choose the particular individual single turnout templates overlayed with one another configured in the way which will serve you best.

 

Now if you have the time, go for it.  If you are still working simply Call Brad Strong. He makes some of the most unique 0 scale turnouts ever.

 

He makes three ways all to the left or all to the right, three ways on a curve, three ways left hand first, three way right hand first. 

 

Your choice of RC battery will save you countless hours displacing wiring!!

 

OP made #5 & #6 three ways.

 

BK industries/Truscale makes three way kit but the workmanshiop as of late has been very disappointing.  Very, very poorly fabricated.   They were professional enough to eventually send a refund.

 

Come to the Strasburg show and see if there are any three ways on the trading tables.  They do show up occasionlly.

 

Also, I almost forgot.  Brad will print you a full sized template of absolutly any configuration or combination of any switch(s) or crossing(s) no matter how wierd or custom it is. 801.884.6354.

 

In Fact if you just tack converging tracks coming together to a right of way and rub a crayon over a large sheet of paper he can take that and print out a foot print using proper radius/ frog angle and make whatever is needed to connect those tracks.  tt

Thanks Tom,

 

So much to consider...I once made a #6 HO turnout by hand using only an old Atlas turnout as a guide. It worked!

 

Have you worked with RC Trains in the past?

 

Thanks again for the info.

 

Rick.

Rick,

I built this one including frogs because it had to fit a tight place going to my engine house. It was a little time consuming but it works great with my locos.

Malcolm

 

Malcom

Great looking turnout.  Are you back?

Mike

Hey Rick,

I have some templates and have scratchbuilt a few turnouts.  Come on over!

Thank you for posting this. I had considered a pair of #8 3-ways as part of an interlocking for my "as yet to be built" layout. I have been looking around in a desultory way for templates. I have some really big steamers (2-10-4) (4-6-6-4) so #8's are probably the way to go.

John

Many articulated engines can handle the Atlas #5 turnouts.  The "engines" are actually short due to the comparatively smaller drive wheels.   I routinely ran Big Boys and Challangeres thru them.  The problems occure with the ?-10-?.  The long fixed wheel base engines work much better on the Atlas 7.5 and #8s.

Three ways are a tad different to gap, wire & power the frogs.  Fast Tracks has a schematic for them.  Also just google "wiring a three way track switch".

I second Tom T's comments about Brad Strong's switches.. check out his website here. <cite>www.signatureswitchco.com</cite>   He already builds these switches and will be the next Old Pullman but better and more reliable.  He has a #6 left or right leading 3-way switch.   Check it out!!

 

Jim A.