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.

First post here.  Member for over two years.  Mostly I've been studying, reading, absorbing.  Learning DCC, very excited by what can be done JMRI, computers, occupancy detection, signaling, routes, dispatching, oh just say everything and be done with it.  I built my first computer in 1980.  Worked with communication electronics in the Navy.  Experience on PLC programing troubleshooting and general everything electronic fix it man. 

A little background

I have been looking for ties for use in makeing turnouts for a while. Today I was informed by MicroEngineering that they do not have any ties available and will not have any time soon. They said something about an issue with a supplier or some such.

So the question is two part.

One, where can I can ties for use building turn out,

Two, does anyone have any idea what color to stain said ties to get them to match (or at least come close) to the stained ties that ME sold?

A few points of info.

If you want to achieve perfect track work, buy yourself one of the very small levels that masons hang on a level line.  Mounted on the back of a slow moving gondola or flat car, it will reveal imperfections in track work that simply do not show up on longer levels but which can make a bit difference in the smoothness of train operation.  I've found my mason's level especially helpful when having to work out transitions to and from super-elevated curves, especially one long climbing "S" curve that once drove me nuts with passenger car derails.