I have built 41 turnouts for the layout at this point and I'm getting ready to start laying track. I wanted to have a way to test the turnouts I'd built prior to installing them on the layout so came up with the following fixture to do that. It only took a couple hours to build and didn't cost much as I had the materials left over from other projects. I built this for N scale turnouts but no reason one couldn't be built for any scale turnouts. I'll pretty much let the pictures do the talking. I found that 1/16” (.060) aluminum or sheet metal was thin enough that it wouldn't contact the engine or car wheels on the outside of the rails. I had scrap from both but like working in aluminum so went with that but you could also make the brackets (tabs) with sheet metal and cut either with tin snips. I have a metal band-saw so used it. Slide some track sections onto the turnout ends, install the throwbar control wire and clamp the turnout down and you are ready to test it. http://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/Trackwork/page-14.html As usual more pictures and info on this build can be found on my web site here ..... http://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/Trackwork/page-17.html Sumner
