Yoshi; First of all, what in Z scale is not expensive, and what good quality product also is not expensive, so you need to get over the cost.... nothing is cheep in Z scale. Definatly #6 and #8 are the way to go for several reasons. anything larger than #8 will result in points that are so fine of a filed angle, that the center of the rail will become paper thin, thus making it dificult to work with. smaller than #6 is very rare in prototypical opperations, and would requier very slow yard speads to opperate properly. #6 matches MTL and Marklin switch size, so they act as a replacement. ZZtop and i are using #8's as fast mainline switches, and #6 as yard and branch line. Tony B... Wasatch Z Club
Tony, et. al. Cost is a perception. You pay ~$40 for a Marklin turnout (yes, I know they can be had cheaper), $30 for a Peter Wright, Aspen Model, $20+ for MTL< etc. so $400 for a jig is 10-20 turnouts. And you can make a true #6 or better and 8 (Marklin's are 4.5 at the frog), closer to a 5.5 over all. And you can choose between Euro or US tie spacing. They're not that complicated to make, once you make the 1st one. You truly can whip them out after that. BTW: Torsja: that Wye turnout is truly a masterpiece. (see below, middle turnout)
Thanks for all the info. I had a couple more questions. Robert mentioned keeping handlaid track out of temperature changes. My layout would be in the basement where it is cool in the winter and warmer in the summer. Would this be a problem? Also, robert made a template for handlaying track. Is this something that can easily be made? What are the alternatives to handlaying track if I do not have this template? Thanks again.
If you cut expansion gaps every couple feet, then you should have no problems indoors, even in the basement. The problems come from direct sunlight, which will heat the rails, and the rails conduct heat all the way into shaded areas, so the heat keeps building up. It was only 80 degrees maximum outside when we had the BBQ, and the rails kept getting hotter and hotter, until they were so hot that you could not hold your finger on the rails. The metal was way hotter than the air, maybe 120 degrees! So direct sunlight is the problem. I make the templates and I also make laser cut ties. I like to trade for stuff instead of sell, and I am always looking for Z Scale people, Etched Brass kits, MTL trucks and couplers, etc. The PC Board ties can be ordered from Fast Tracks.
The case contains some test steam locomotive parts. Resin parts and a laser cut tender. Here is the Fast Track #6 installed on my module. Don't have any motor or switch system yet thoe.
