Fast Track Turnouts, Track, etc

yoshi98bc Feb 22, 2007

  1. yoshi98bc

    yoshi98bc TrainBoard Member

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    I am interested in using the fast track system for my turnouts. Do any of the current motive power and rolling stock have difficulty with these turnouts once built? Also, what code is MTL flex track? Can I used code 55 fast track turnouts with MTL flex? Also, what methods have people used for handlaying z scale track?

    Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks
     
  2. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    MTL flex is either c55 or 60, IIRC. My layout is laid with Peco Z flex, and Wright turnouts. I'm not sure of even that track's code. C55 or 60, methinks.
     
  3. loco1999

    loco1999 TrainBoard Supporter

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    MTL Z track is code 55.

    What is a Wright turnout?
     
  4. zztop

    zztop TrainBoard Member

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  5. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    I got the Code 40 stuff:
    [​IMG]

    I also devised a way to handlay flextrack:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  6. Joe D'Amato

    Joe D'Amato TrainBoard Member

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    Fast Track

    Hi,

    I have a couple of their switches and love them. I even ordered a #8 so I can start banging them out. Peter Wright Switches are really nice but there is quite a delay in getting them. I asked about 4 #10's a few years ago at an NMRA Show but never heard back. As I understand it he is very busy, but the wait time is much, much less than that. Considering they are hand made you can't be upset. We had a number of them on the CZM Modular layout and they were smooth and flawless. But, if you want the option of building them, Fast Track is the way to go. I believe the starting set is $150.00 and you can do 5 or 6 switches with what they send. That comes out to about $25.00 each...after that the cost goes way down.

    Cheers

    Joe

     
  7. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    A little superelevation:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Splice and continue with the handlaid flextrack method:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  8. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    Slide in your tie strips to ease the tie laying process:
    [​IMG]

    Gauge blocks courtesy of MTL help with aligning the second rail after the first is down:
    [​IMG]

    Ready for painting and ballast!
    [​IMG]

    I handlaid this trestle track last weekend the same way:
    [​IMG]
     
  9. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    So that brings us to turnouts. I built a few of the #6 so far, and assembly is pretty straight forward, but takes about an hour and a half for the first one.

    [​IMG]

    I don't have any other pictures of the turnouts, but they can be made DCC friendly very easy with a couple extra PC ties soldered in and a couple cuts with a dremel cutoff disc.

    The turnouts made with the jigs available now are very good, however you must gauge AZL loco wheels for them to go through the turnouts smooth. MTL loco wheels have been perfect so far, and Marklin are iffy. When in doubt, re-gauge the loco drivers and you will be OK.

    Here's the warning... Don't leave yout handlaid track in a room where sunlight can beat down on the layout. And don't take your handlaid track modules outside to run in the back yard. I ruined 3 modules of handlaid track due to expansion from the sun at the BAZ BBQ 2 years ago.
     
  10. yoshi98bc

    yoshi98bc TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for all of the replies. So let me get this straight. AZL locos need reguaging for the fast track turnouts. How do I do that?

    Robert,
    How did you make that template for handlaying track.? And where did you get the ties to fill in the gaps between pc ties?

    Also, if you had to use flex track with the fast track turnouts, what would be your choice. I'm thinking MTL flex for tie spacing?

    Third, how would I make the fast track turnouts ready for DCC?



    Thanks
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 22, 2007
  11. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    Yes the AZL need to be regauged. I used 2 screwdrivers to pry the wheels out a bit:
    [​IMG]

    I laser cut the template, and the tie strips myself, but the ties are made to match MTL Flextrack. I have also used MTL flextrack, but it is code 55, and since you are doing code 55, it's a good choice to use MTL flextrack with Fast Tracks turnouts. They look good together.

    I have to take pictures, but I used the method from Allan Gartners DCC webpage for DCC Friendly Turnouts. http://www.wiringfordcc.com/switches.htm
     
  12. zztop

    zztop TrainBoard Member

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  13. zmon

    zmon TrainBoard Member

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    Yoshi;

    I'll try and help here a little bit as "zztop" and i are currently building a series of club modules with all fast tracks switchs and MTL flex track. I built one last night in about an hour, and have built seven so far.

    First; MTL flex is code 55, and fast tracks switch jigs are designed to build with either code 55 or 40 track. So using the two together produces seamless results. The track and tie spacing are identical, and when weathered and painted, are a dead match. If you build code 40 like Robert, then you will want to hand lay track to match.

    You will need to control the switches either manualy or electrically, and under-board designs are very clean. Hare or tortise units should work fine for electric control, i'm using the blue point units which are manule.

    As for DCC opperation, well its very simple. In the fast tracks DVD, they go over the need to isolate the frog points regardless of DC or DCC opperation. I have DCC tested and run locos through the ones i'v build, and have had no problems. I like them very much.

    Now for the question of cost... well thats tricky becauce you need to factor in how you plan to control the switch. The blue point manul units run between $8-10 bucks, and i'm not sure about the electric types.. The cost of materials to build a switch is really cheap at about $5-6 bucks in rail, pc ties, and quick sticks tie kit (the quick sticks is the most exspensive part @ $3+ bucks each, but a must). So if you go manule control, then your looking at about $13-16 bucks each.....

    Pro's and Con's of fast tracks;
    Pro's;
    1. very prototypical look, the best i'v seen
    2. full length switch points (MTL and Marklin switchs are both hinge points....hinge points suck, and railroads rarely ever used such a thing!!!!!)
    3. Very smooth running once setup well.
    4. relatively cheep cost to build (once you buy the $150 kit!!)
    5. clean under board control (no ugly Marklin bulkiness)
    6. easily fixed if needed (you built it, so fix it....if the points aren't right, well replace them, it your own work, you know what i mean)
    Con's;
    1. time consuming to build (about an hour+)
    2. further time needed to mount under board control unit
    3. tools needed to do the work well (I had to upgrade both my soldering station and my dremil tool, plus buy rail cutters, jewlers saw and new files)
    4. a little frustrating to learn, patients are needed
    I hope this helps...... send me a private email if you have any more questions, as i don't check this site daily.

    Tony B.....
    Wasatch Z Club


    PS: I don't know how to post pictures on this site, but i'll post one on www.zcentralstation.com so you can see what they look like finished.
     
  14. SJ Z-man

    SJ Z-man TrainBoard Member

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    As in an earlier post, you can also buy Peter Wright off-the-shelf turnouts ready for under table control. He has primarily made the Euro versions as Marklin drop-in replacements. He has recently began delivering US tie spacing comaptible with MTL flex. I think you'll be happy. They are ~<$40, more than the past Marklin Euro tie version due to the cost of new molds and that he has not raised his price in ten years and also that he was paying the bank's US$ conversion fees, basically operating at a loss.

    The advantage of the Fast Tracks jig is that you can make #6, 8 or whatever, essentially. Also, with the re-invention of E&B, they had been planning make all turnout numbers and even had crazies like #16!

    Example of Marklin Vs Peter Wright US tie spacing: (click thumbnail for larger image)
    [​IMG] And a Peter Wright Euro Vs US: [​IMG]

    See more at:http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=1398
    Example of past E&D Models turnouts: http://www.ericmenzel.com/images/zscale/DSC01003s.jpg
    and a # 20 (yep, 2 0 ) : http://www.ericmenzel.com/images/zscale/no20-1.jpg
    And the Trainboard thread (read down to the 6th thread):
    http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/archive/index.php/t-62171.html
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 23, 2007
  15. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    The Wright turnouts are great! They are Marklin drop-in replacement sized, and are very reliable, look great, and have nice tie spacing (something not said for my Peco flex that is laid on the rest of my 2x4' layout):

    [​IMG]
     
  16. yoshi98bc

    yoshi98bc TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for all of the info. I am in the planning stages right now for a new layout. The first one was a bust. The fast track jigs are quite expensive. I was wondering what people's opinions are on the following: If you could buy only 1 jig, what number turnout would it be? 4, 4.5, 6, 8, etc. Thanks
     
  17. zztop

    zztop TrainBoard Member

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    My personal preference would be in order of what I deem a priority for my layout needs would be #8 followed by #6. I have the #8 jig and my friend Tony (AKA ZMON) has a # 6 and we plan on trading jigs back and forth as needed for our layout demands.
     
  18. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    I got the #6 and the #8, but if I could choose only 1, then a #6 would be it because it is still small enough to use for yards, yet take resonable speed turnouts with long trains.
     
  19. Chris333

    Chris333 TrainBoard Supporter

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    I would pick the 6 as well.

    The Fast Tracks turnouts are very smooth. The locomotives don't even wiggle going through them.
     
  20. Torsja

    Torsja TrainBoard Member

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    It used to be a Marklin turnout here but I will release it with this #6 turnout that I build a little time ago. The building off it was quite straight forward. It took be about a hour for the first one. But I would guess that after a few more it will go much faster to build them.
    It took about one length off MTL's flex track for the rails.


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

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