This time last week I was about to arrive at Mike Swederska’s house. The adventure began as soon as we turned in the driveway. Let’s just say Mikes lives every second of his life HIS way. His driveway is ? of a mile long going past his lakes. I have not gone fishing in almost 50 years but would like to go back and go fishing there with Mike.

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We spent the day with Mike. It was a great day.

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Since I was flying I tried to travel lighter and did into bring my tripod. I probably should have brought it. My photos a bit darker than I would like since I was using my flash.

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I will get the photos and videos to Peter V soon. No link this time if you did not get Stan’s photos you will not get these either.

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Thank You,
Bill Lane

Modeling the Mighty Pennsy, PRSL & Reading in 1957 in S Scale since 1987

See my finished models at:

Look at what has been made in PRR in S Scale!

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See my layout progress at:

Join the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Lines Historical Society
It's FREE to join!??
Preserving The Memory Of The PRSL

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Learning how to hand lay turnouts allows for a lot of peculiar turnout shapes, various curved turnouts, asymmetrical?wyes, and so on.? ?Buying jigs for every possibility is grossly too expensive.? ?Building in place is fun.? If you mess with more?than one gauge, there are more than a dozen versions relating to dual gauge -- I know, because I think I have built at least one of every type.? Some photos are attached.? ?One is of a curved std gauge turnout of 75" and 78" radius that is two feet between the points and the frog, a #16.? You can't buy that!? There is also a photo of one of Dick Karnes' "puzzle tracks" where the turnouts also include a crossing through them.? Amazing!?

Have fun!

Bill Winans

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On Thu, Nov 28, 2024 at 6:47?PM Richard Dombrowski via <heisler3x3=[email protected]> wrote:

I have used the fast tracks jigs in the past and found it goes faster to make all the parts in batches rather than doing one complete turnout. You get into a rhythm and playing music helps too,

Rich D in Maine

On 11/28/2024 3:44 PM, Charles Kinzer via wrote:

I think many feel that building their own switches is some sort of daunting process.? But if you can do some basic soldering, cutting of rail, filing, and such, it is really just a bunch of individual steps strung that I feel are well within most modeler's capabilities.

Most of the switches at the Central Coast Model Railroad at the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum were made using Fast Track fixtures.? Somebody with average skills made most of them.? I don't think there is any high skill level needed for any of the steps.? Just follow the steps they have on their web site.

For somebody balking at the idea of making their own switches, it might at least be worth giving it a try.? Fast Track says the first switch might take you three hours but eventually you can get it down to 45 minutes.? And many sizes AND wyes AND curved turnouts.

Yes.? It is a lot more work than just buying them ready made.? But it does solve the problem of "i can't find ready made switches I need."

Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer

On Thursday, November 28, 2024 at 12:06:33 PM PST, Bill Roberts <bill@...> wrote:

> From: John Hutnick

> Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2024 22:30:17 PST

>

> . . . I suggest . . . building your own. . . Give it a try.

For those who cannot wait for drop-in turnouts, attached is a two-part Dick Karnes article on building your own.

Dick uses an unusual approach to making the frog. I myself have not built any turnouts using his method, so I cannot comment on his technique. Instead, I saved the article to try out on my next layout.

Otherwise, the recent discussion has revealed many options for S scalers beyond the beginner stage. I found the most interesting was the reference by TC Talmadge to the kits from S Scale Track Works <> that include the frog, guard rails, and point rails.

—

Bill Roberts