Handlaying N Scale Track Galleries > Gallery: Simple UP junction (6)
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Some of the ties have been laid
This is the basic set up for a simple junction. It has a cross over, one end of a siding (on left) and a spur (on right). The subraodbed is 5-ply 1/4" furniture quality ply. Dimensions: 10 1/4" x 28". Note the #8 skeleton switches laying to the side. These were made using a Frastracks #8 code 55 jig.
Looking at the closest ends, you can see the main (center), siding (left) and secondary (right) tracks. I've glued the Fastracks quicksticks in place for the turnouts - #8 code 55 on the main and #6 code 40 on the secondary. Note that the lines of individual ties are different lengths. These were cut down from 16' turnout ties. Ths is an expensive and time consuming way to go. Far, far better to use ties of pre-cut length.
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The #8 skeletons have been trimmed to length and are sitting in place. Note the line of ties close to the camera. These are full length turnout ties. Once glued they were cut to length. Don't do this unless you are desperate!
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A view along the main. You can see the ties on the far end of the main are not straight. If you don't get ties straight, the rails will either be located off center on the ties and in line with adjacent track (in which case the track will look bad), or, the rails will be located correctly on the ties creating a kink in the tangent (in which case the track will run bad!).
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This is a more overhead view of the junction. The yellow color comes from shooting without a flash under flood lights in our kitchen. The pcb ties on the skeletons are looking a lot better now they're surounded by the Fastracks Quicksticks. Once painted, they'll pretty much disappear. I think the switches look a lot better than Peco longs.
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Be careful when sanding the ties. Notice the ties for the closest turnout on the secondary (track on the right). See any headblock ties? Oh no! They went click when I was sanding the secondary. No big deal. However, whenever you glue in new ties, you have to do a quick sand once the glue dries.
I still have to glue in cork pads for Caboose Industries ground throws. I'll be using the ones with spst contacts to correctly power the frog.
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A view along the secondary spur. You can also see the turnout ties on the main have been trimmed to length using an exacto knife.
Note the angle of the diverging route from the secondary doesn't line up well with the quickstick ties. I have since removed most of the turnout ties on the diverging route past the frog to allow the spur curve to begin sooner. It's still tightere than I prefer. So how did this happen? The answere is that the plan was drawn with 3rd Plan It using the NMRA switches. It tured out that even though Fastracks builds to NMRA standards, there is room for interpretation in the standard. Long story short, I have since created turnouts to use in 3rd Plan It that have the correct dimensions.
