Trackwork
rough crossing
Hello all I am currently building a new ho layout I am using micro engineering code 83 flex and building my turnouts with fast tracks jig and tools, they take a little time to build but I am happy with the results so far. I have a 60 degree crossing in the plan and I am using an atlas code 83 60 is there anyway to make a train run smoother through the crossing, my engines and cars both bounce up going through it and I am not sure what to do to fix it or if it is fixable. Also are walthers crossings any better.
Thanks for any info.
Progress and Practice
The weekend was spent building a concrete block wall along the front of the house to backfill with drain rock and divert some of the overwhelming amount of rain we had that turned everything into mud around here. Since the concrete takes a week to cure before I bust out the shovel and wheel barrow it seemed like an opportunity to get the layout room some benchwork.
SPECIAL INSTALL OF CABOOSE HOBBIES GROUND THROWS
hey guys just to let you know i posted a vid on how i installed my ground throws in hard to get at turnouts
vinny...aka...bnsf6951
i needed a place to put my ground throws
this is a short slide show on how installed caboose hobbies ground throws. more text in the slide show. thanks for watching. comments, questions & subs are welcome. i forgot to mention an important item...the ground throws...
vinny..aka...bnsf6951
Tortoise Motor Tester
One issue that I encountered building the layout is that occasionally the switch motor installation needed a bit of tweaking before it worked correctly. The tortoise motor always worked, but sometimes the motor position, alignment or extended actuator wire shape was, shall we say, suboptimal. I had been hooking things up, then wandering around with the throttle and triggering the motors with switch commands. But I found this was a pain, particularly when the turnout was in an inaccessible part of the layout.
Hand laying a turnout without jigs
It's not perfect, but I'll describe my trial run of hand laying a #6 turnout, HO scale, code 83. I learned a few things, and I've got some ideas on how to make the next one better.
This is not the only way, or even the best way to hand lay a turnout, but it is my way. I do not use any jigs or special tools, and I make my own plans to fit the application. The only tools needed are a large file or two, a track gauge, and a soldering iron.
I think I know the answer but I'll ask anyway
Weathering CVT Ties before I install the rail
I'm getting ready to install my first batch of CVT ties. I have the homabed down and primed.
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