Hi Dick; I agree that the emphasis on this list should be on scale products. While I have not used the product, I see no reason to exclude Custom Trax, their products are code 100 and as far as I know NASG/NMRA compliant.
SHS flex and Tom's turnouts is a viable suggestion (if they are currently available) just as HO folks are aware and may still use code 100 track and set track turnouts from various makers. In either case, it is correct only for a few heavy main-line areas, but that is a compromise some people choose to make in any scale. It is not really possible to fully shield new comers from the AF compatible side of S, since as soon as they go to buy rolling stock they will either have to select the right kind, or will receive equipment set up for Flyer operation with the replacement wheels (but not couplers) included. Overall, I think Mike got the help he was looking for. Are you still with us, Mike? Pieter Roos --- In [email protected], Richard Karnes <rnk2202@...> wrote: > > Some of you -- > > I have just returned from a 16-day vacation and have processed through an > amazing number of S-Scale Yahoo digests. There was one particularly > disturbing > thread (to me), the one advising a newbie as to S scale turnout > recommendations. > > This is a SCALE e-list. Granted that there are AF and hirail members here, > but > nearly to a man (woman?), all who have previously chimed in have stated that > they are here to learn things from the scale side of S. In fact, a few have > said they are afraid of posting anything "tinplatey" because of possible > backlash. > > That said, I am providing some backlash here. > > The newbie (I forget his name-- sorry!) is coming from HO. As such, he is > familiar with the implicit concept that anything he ever bought in HO was > compatible with anything else he ever bought in HO. This is because > everything > in HO corresponds to NMRA track and wheel standards. Suggesting hirail and > hybrid turnouts as possibilities for this fellow just opens the door to > confusion and frustration. He obviously has no American Flyer S equipment, > so > the ability to run AF and AF-compatible equipment is not a factor for him. > > To the new fellow: Stick with Tomalco and Shinohara turnouts. You can get > Tomalco turnouts in several sizes and with either code 100 (main line) and 83 > (yards). Be prepared to check the gauge as you lay them because the rails > are > glued to the wooden ties. If not in gauge, heat the offending rail with a > soldering gun, reposition it as necessary, then hold until cool. Spike the > rails in place once the turnout is installed. > > If you opt for Shinohara turnouts, avoid the No. 6 -- It is too short, and > therefore the curved route is too sharp. The No. 8 is good. > > Be aware that if you use DCC, the Tomalco turnouts are available as > "DCC-compatible" for the asking, no extra charge. This means that the points > and closure rails are grounded to the stock rails, and the frog is > electrically > insulated from the closure rails. By contrast, the Shinohara turnout is > difficult to make DCC-friendly because the throwbar is metal. > > Finally, if you are into customizing your trackwork, Bob Nicholson's > suggestions > are worth heeding. He uses HO turnouts as raw material, lenghtening and > widening them to S dimensions. You don't have to construct your own points, > frogs, and guard rails. This works because HO and S flangeway standards > differ > by no more than one hundredth of an inch -- close enough for government work, > as > they say... > > Dick Karnes > ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
