my only one! </font>[/QUOTE]Well, if you're worried about that... you do have 4 small layouts, how about one of those?
Hello Everyone! My name is Ron Warris. I am Tim Warris' brother and part owner of Fast Tracks. I am not a model railroader myself, but am deeply involved in the day-to-day operations of Fast Tracks. I happen to run across this particular conversation while searching for something else on Google and am very concerned about the comments posted about our products. Specifically that some people seem to be having problems getting the results that we promised, and the concerns expressed over the changes we have made to our Z scale assembly fixtures to make them easier to solder. First of all, if anyone ever has any trouble with our products, I would encourage them to contact us directly so that we can try and help you out. We do offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so if anyone is not satisfied with the results they are getting, they should contact Tim or myself by email or phone and we will try and resolve the problem. If we are unable to solve the problem to your satisfaction, we will refund your money. No one should ever feel that they have 'lost' their money buying Fast Tracks products. Admittedly Z scale is not our forte, and when we introduced our line of track building tools we relied on published standards for Z scale as our guide. This approach has worked well for all other scales with very little 'tweaking' required. Tim did build some test Z scale turnouts and was able to get good results. Now admittedly Tim is an expert at soldering and did not have too much difficulty with soldering, despite the very tight geometry. We sold several Z scale fixtures and did not receive any feedback from anyone about soldering problems until we heard from Pray59. Tim's first reaction was that Pray59 was probably having difficulties with soldering, but eventually realized that soldering Z scale turnouts was indeed proving to be very challenging for many people. Pray59's pocket solution was a good one and after receiving emails from other people requesting this modification, we modified out design to include this change on all of our Z scale fixtures. We have never claimed credit for the soldering pocket idea, but rather implemented the change based on feedback from our customers, which is something we rely on very heavily to ensure that we are producing a product that meets your needs. So please, if anyone is having a problem, contact us before you post complaints to public forums so that we can try and find a solution. Without your feedback we will never know that there is a problem, and it will never get fixed! While we do monitor many of the online discussion forums, it is easy for us to miss important postings. To date we have sold quite a few Z scale fixtures, and other than initial problems reported about tight soldering, we have not had any other issues reported by customers. So we of course assume that people are having success. We need to hear from you if you are having problems. I cannot promise that we will solve every problem, but we will certainly try. Cheers! Ron Warris, Fast Tracks service@fast-tracks.net 1-888-252-3895
Ron, What I had read mostly said that Fast Tracks was pretty responsive about getting the modification made after the inital problems were discovered. Not sure I'm reading the same posts as you, though. You should post a new thread here about the new curved turnouts survey that was posted at Z_Scale the other day. Some folks here aren't on that list. Randy Smidt
Ron, First I was looking to buy the turnouts already built, so any problem for me had to do with E&D disappearing from earth. I wanted code 40 and tried to use it on a code 55 jig that was routed out by Fast Tracks. It didn't work because I was using the wrong rail. (smaller rail was loose in the jig) Once I tried it with code 55 rail I didn't have any problems. I have since then built code 40 turnouts using Roberts jig and my very first one came out fine and I went on to build 4 more. Robert's jig was only milled out on the outsides of the stock rails. So while it got the job done I would say the full length router job you guys now do is much better. Either way it worked for me. My main problem is that when I used a pointed tip on my iron it doesn't seem to get hot enough, even when turned up to 800 degrees! My next smallest tip was a "screwdriver tip" which is just a hair wider than the tie slot. That was really my only problem, but would have been solved with your newer routed jigs. Honestly now that I have used these jigs and made turnouts, they are the smoothest I've seen in any scale. My main scale is N and I just might get a N scale jig and quit buying Atlas turnouts. Bottom line is that I was very happy with the jigs. Code 40 Z scale track made with a Fast Tracks jig: [ April 05, 2006, 08:10 PM: Message edited by: Chris333 ]
Hi Ron, Welcome to Trainboard! I emailed Ron about the problems my jigs have, and also asked about the point filing jigs I had purchased at the same time. I don't know if it is too much to ask, but asked to exchange my early adopter turnout templates for the completely milled tie pocket style Don Avila has, and also if they would replace my points filing jigs with the newer style that clamps the rails, as my old style ones are milled too wide to properly hold the rails in alignment. I hope to be able to make great turnouts like you guys who have the latest tooling, rather than totally give up on making turnouts. -Robert
Thank you very much for the responses! I have posted our curved turnout survey message to the TrainBoard forums this afternoon. So far the response to our survey has been phenomenal! There certainly seems to be a lot of interest in curved turnouts. Chris333, the image that you posted of the Z scale turnouts you have built are quite incredible! Both Tim and I were most impressed with the caliber of the work. Thanks for sharing the picture. I think we have come up with a solution that I think pray59 is happy with and I am sure you will be seeing some examples of fixture built trackwork from him very soon! Cheers! Ron Warris, Fast Tracks www.fast-tracks.net
Yes, Ron and Tim are upgrading me to the new style turnout jigs, and point filing jigs. Free of charge! It looks like they are sending the complete turnout starter package that includes PC ties, some solder, and theit laser cut turnout underlays! I am so jazzed! Now that's customer service! I can wait to get started with the new gear, as the product looks to have really evolved since I originally purchased my jigs. Thanks Ron and Tim! -Robert
Ron and Tim, I think Robert may have been the first person to try the turnout jig in Z, or at least the first one to write about using it. He makes a good beta tester. Randy
You mean, these: . . . oh, crap. I can't find the picture of his #20 turnout. Or the turnout. Because I NEVER SAW IT ! Yeah, vapor-ware. Great idea, just needed to make them (not one or two) and of course, actually sell more than that one or two. Konig of Germany makes the milled tie work (you insert the rail): http://www.weichenlaterne.de/index.html
Let me rephrase my question! Does anyone have current contact with either of the brothers who ran the E&D Models?
