Building a double crossover one half at a time was the key to building this complex bit of trackwork.
First I built a right hand turnout and slip switch. Building them together as a single crossover keeps everything in alignment.
Notice the two jigs, positioned for the rails to line up.
The first turnout and slip switch together.
The right side of the slip switch. Note the ties left out and length of rails. This end will be in the crossover.
Resting on the paper plan to show location. The two slips in the center have already been made into the left half of a double slipover. Thanks to TimWarris labeling the combination.
Two more slip switches.
Now I build the left hand turnout and slip switch. Place the ties - - -
line the two jigs up - - -
Normal procedure is to place the stock rails first. Since I am building the switches together I have to deviate a bit, The first Frog/stock rail in place here. The top rail is just for alignment purposes.
Turnout Stock rails soldered in place. Don't forget to remove the flange for the points. I put in the guard rails too, out of suggested order, but it works for me.
Move this out of the way and make the other Frog and stock rail for the slip switch.
I made the length of the stock rail long enough to overlap into the other half of the double slip.
Keeping paper templates around. Remember to cut gaps in pc ties, I'll cut gaps in rail later.
Stock rails and frogs complete and soldered in place.
Fill in the points and center rails as usual. The right side of the slip switch will be done in the crossover jig.
I pop the turnout and slip switch out and reverse 180 degrees. This shows the problem with using the slip switch jig for a single, or double crossover. Now I have to remove the two ties on the slip switch, drop some more pc ties in the crossover jig and fix the slip switch.
flip the two 180 again, see the change in the slip switch?
I only replace the first four PC crossties. but I would like to go back 7 ties.
Now the single crossover with slip switch is complete. ( I'll go into putting on the throw bars later)
Now to add this to the other slip switch as half a crossover.
The top slip switch, finished in the crossover jig, with the new lower slip laid in place.
Close up of the pinch point. This is crucial! When building the slip switch and leaving this half unfinished, it is vital that the point at which the rails are bent be marked and bent. I use this to align the switch in the crossover jig.
Not ready to solder it in yet, first get the alignment fairly straight and cut and shape the center Toad. The other rail is a frog. I use the Point,Frog and Toad tool that came with the Slip switch kit. The slip switch angles are close enough to the crossover for me.
Align the pinch point and solder that first. Make sure the main line aligns with the turnout and solder the center point and the stock rail.
Fill in the rest of the crossover bits as usual.
Here is the first half, most of the throw bars are in place and have started on the ties.
I tried using the Quick Sticks but could only use half, or a third of a stick because of the alignment of the pc ties on the slip switches not being square with the main lines. I've ordered a bunch of Quick Sticks for single crossover but I'm afraid I'll be doing most of the wood ties by hand.
And then I remembered the left half of the two slip switches hanging off the board both have to go into another single crossover, two double slip switches together, so the wood ties, and several of the PC ties will have to come off that end as well. Still a work in progress.
Next I'll show what I came up with for the throw bars.
Sorry for the excess length, thanks for viewing, thanks for all the comments!
Full size of the last photo attached.
