ok...I know about downloading paper templates and all the commercial products related to constructing one's own turnouts. what I am wondering, simply as a short cut measure, is if one would be able to take two pieces of sectional track, cutting rails and replacing ties with PC type where needed, to make a turnout? what I have in mind: 1 piece of Atlas N Scale c55 ~71" radius and 1 piece of Atlas N Scale c55 ~30.591" radius track. lining up the two at one end and then marking where frog, points, etc. would be as to how the two pieces of track flow in different arcs of radii. [or, perhaps a straight piece and a curved piece--thinking of how the Atlas c80 standard turnouts seem to follow the exact curve and geometry of their 19" radius curved on the diverging track?!?!] of course one would have to place an insulating substance (thinking styrene glued with CA) where rails meet and short circuits would be created. it would also, I am thinking, require a hinged point rails. there would seem to be sufficient rail to provide wing and guard rails. is this just making it more difficult? reinventing the wheel? or, is it possibly a workable shortcut or easier way to construct turnouts? just thinking out loud as I hold these two pieces of track together and can picture where each part would be. any thoughts? respectfully Gary
In my experience, the hardest part of making my own turnouts is fabricating the frog area and the point rail junction where the points merge with the main rails. I have used sections of commercial ties with molded in spike heads that I have slid over the rails at the ends of the diverging rails and the common end of the turnout. All that which is in between needs longer ties so you don't really save much by trying to use anything from the sectional track in that location.
Not a good idea in my book. Too much work for the outcome. Remember the turnout frog is NOT curved. This is on railroads, TRACTION uses a lot of curved frog turnouts. Turnouts are VERY easy to build from scratch. You don't have to get any FAST TRACKS items. All you need is rail, ties, a pattern, rail nippers, solder, glue and PATIENCE. And by building them yourself, you can build ANY SIZE and TYPE you want
