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CVT Turnout's the Joe Fugate way Track and electrical/DCC
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Anonymous
Anonymous

Joe,

I am looking again at the list of tools and materials you used to build your turnouts with the the CVT tie kits.

The link to the bulk rail at CVT is a dead end and I can't find any bulk rail on the Central Valley site.  Is it just that I am near sighted and confused, or does CV not sell the bulk rail anymore?

Will any code 83 rail work with the ties and the fast track tools, or does it have to be ME rail?  For instance would rail pulled from Atlas Flex track do the trick?  I have read that there are differences in the rail profile between Atlas and ME.  Is that a factor?

Any suggestions as to a good source for the rail one would need for building the turnouts this way?

I know you are super busy with MRH and a dozen other things so don't think I am pressing you or anything...but I am curious if there is any sign of a Model-Trains-Video tutorial on building the turnouts coming down the track anytime soon?  Maybe an article in an upcoming issue of MRH?

If you ever have time to get back to my email... I know, I know...everybody wants a piece of the Fugate pie and there's not enough time in the day... :o)

Thanks for your time!

 
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Wolfgang Regular poster (deceased) 253 posts
Wolfgang

any rail

I've used code l83 and code 70 rail which I've got from a German dealer. No idea which manufacturer. And I've used even code 55 rail with CV tie strips. No problem.

Wolfgang

Logo.jpg 

 

http://www.westportterminal.de/
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jimk New member 29 posts
jimk

I am considering using these,

I am considering using these, but can't quite figure out what you need in addition to the kits.  I assume the rail, given the OP, but is there anything else?  How hard are they to build? Reliable?  Are there any tutorials on how to build them?

Thanks,

Jim

Modeling the Lowville and Beaver River Railroad in HO
Reply 0
BlueHillsCPR
BlueHillsCPR

Any Rail?

Thanks Wolfgang.  It's good to know any rail will work with the CV tie strips.

I thought I would probably buy the two tools from Fast Tracks that Joe recommends.  I see the frog helper tool actually specifys ME rail, so I assume that ME rail is what I will have to use for my turnouts.  Is that assumption correct or will the tools work with any rail as well?  If Tim is around maybe he can answer this for me?

Since Fast Tracks has the bulk rail I'll probably get it from them.  That makes the most sense for shipping too as they are located in Canada!
Reply 0
BlueHillsCPR
BlueHillsCPR

What else is needed...

Hey Jim,

There is a tutorial on Joe's Siskiyou Line Forum that details the process.

CV Turnouts - take 2

As for what else is needed, here is my list, based on original info I copied from Joe's forum.

 

Quote:
For those who want to duplicate what I did, the turnout I just built was a code 83 #6 left hand turnout. Here's all the materials and tools used collected in one place.

SPECIFIC MATERIALS
- CVT tie kit from Proto87 Stores ( FAST AND EASY CURVABLE Turnout Bases - $5.95)

- CVT detail kit from Proto87 Stores ( Plastic Molded Turnout Switch Stand and Detail set - $1.95)
- PC Ties from Fast Tracks ( 100 piece bundle - $12.00)
- Rail from Fast Tracks 36in Micro Engineering Code 83 Non-Weathered Rail - 11 pc bundle  $20.33

 

- Fine solder from Fast Tracks ( Small Diameter Solder - 15ft Roll - $3.99)
- Small MicroEngineering spikes from Fast Tracks ( Approx 1000 ME 1/4in Spikes - $9.40)
- Liquid Rosin Flux ( MG Chemicals Rosin Flux, 4 oz - $6.20)

(On the Proto87 Stores and CVT pages you will have to scroll down to find the products listed)

OTHER MATERIALS
- Superglue
- Floquil Rail Brown spray paint
- Scrap gray styrene for filling rail gaps

TOOLS
- Single edge razor blades
- 2 cross locking tweezers as heat sink ( MicroMark CROSS LOCKING TWEEZER - $6.65 ea.)
- Weller 35 watt soldering iron with .093" Screwdriver Tip
- Dremel motor tool with cutoff wheel and fine milling tip (lifetime supply of fine milling tips can be had from your dentist)
- Fine paint brush for applying flux
- Assorted needle files
- 10" Mill file for use with Fast Tracks filing jigs
- Fast Tracks point/frog filing jig ( #6 PointForm Filing Jig Code 70, 83 & 100 - $44.95)
- Point soldering jig from Fast Tracks ( Frog solder tool #5, #6, #8 code 83 - $34.95)
- NMRA Track Gauge from Dallas Model Works $10.78

FINAL NOTES
This technique takes some practice, with the most likely place you will have problems being you will melt the CVT ties when you are soldering to the PC ties. Using the tweezers as heat sinks on each side of the PC tie helps a lot. Another approach is to buy a CVT tie set and just use it as a jig. When you finish up the turnout, use a fresh set of ties. If you melt the jig ties a little, so what? Your "jig" only costs you $4. After the wear and tear from a dozen or so turnouts, then replace it with a fresh set of ties.

Always double check the turnout specs with an NMRA gauge as you go along. The rail slots work very well in getting things where they belong, but the critical guard rail position has no slots, so you will have to rely on the NMRA track gauge all the way here. Take your time and make sure it's right or you will be sorry.

My $8 per turnout approx cost does not include the cost of the tools. The Fast Tracks tools, naturally, will have to be amortized across the number of turnouts you intent to build. Do not discount the time savings these tools give you -- like me, you have to ask yourself, how much is it worth to get more reliable turnouts built in record time? One of the better commercial turnouts available today, the Peco code 83 line, cost $20 each.

For the above turnout, the extra Fast Tracks helper jigs cost me about $80. My break even point for these tools is about 7 turnouts. Not to mention, the turnouts built this way will be more reliable than the Peco code 83 turnouts (which have flimsy sheet metal points, by the way).

 
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joef MRH Founder 17,589 posts
joef

Great list, Blue!

Nice updates to my original list!

The supplementary Fast Track jigs really do help speed up the turnout construction process, and Fast Tracks also is a good source for supplies like rail, ties, solder, PC ties and the like.

For the turnout jig itself, I'm actually using the plastic CV ties since they have a slot for the rail so it drops right in place and is in perfect gauge - again making for quicker, yet still precise turnout construction. At $6 for a set of ties, they make a good "poor mans" jig ala Fast Tracks - and I love the nice tie plate and spikehead detail that you get.

As mentioned, you can find the full process described in detail on my Siskiyou web site - and I'll probably do a video and article for MRH one of these days.

Joe Fugate​
Publisher, Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine

[siskiyouBtn]

Read my blog
Reply 0
BlueHillsCPR
BlueHillsCPR

Great List...

Well thanks Joe, but it's really just your list with a couple of changes, updated links or additions, that might actually be "Blue specific".  Like the NMRA gauge, a must have, but I don't have one YET! [blush]

Thanks for chiming in!

 
Reply 0
aileron44 Active Member 61 posts
aileron44

$10 turnouts

What about Andy Reichert's $10 turnouts?  Anyone try these yet? 
Reply 0
BlueHillsCPR
BlueHillsCPR

Turnout Kits

Quote:

Developed from an idea by the well-known On-Line and Video Modeler, JOE FUGATE

 

I assume the kits from Proto87 are very similar to what Joe's tutorial describes based on the text above copied from the $10 turnout page.

 

I see there is a note that this is a limited time offer...?

 

I can't see these being much more affordable than the $8.00/turnout with Joes method and unless I am confused the points are hinged while Joe's are a one piece point rail are they not?

 

I also like the soldered PC ties that Joe uses in his design.

 

Also Joe's price per turnout includes the switchstand detail parts, I don't see that as part of the kit.

 

Of course Joe's method requires some tools that may not be required for the kit.

I am sure these are a great product but I'm not sure they are as good or as affordable as the method Joe used.

I would be interested in hearing/seeing something from someone who has tried one all the same!  How about it?
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