Waterfront Project | Fast Tracks Turnouts
This week should be fun, as I’ll be building the turnouts for the Waterfront Project layout. I’ll be using what I feel is the best combination of Z scale track and turnouts, Micro-Trains flex track and Fast Tracks turnouts. Yes, the Fast Tracks turnouts do require a bit more work than an out-of-the-package turnout, but once you see the detail and operation of these beauties, you may be hooked on them, just as I am.
I have the jigs, or fixtures, for #8 as well as #4 turnouts. Likely, I’ll be using the #8 turnouts but I’ll be building both versions as I may be able to sneak in that #4 too! Now I have built a couple of the #8 turnouts previously but they were for static dioramas and while my first attempts looked very good, this is the first time they’ll need to pass muster with live trains rolling over them.
Waterfront Project | Fast Tracks Fixtures
One interesting twist is that I’ll be using a resistance soldering unit instead of a conventional pencil iron. Several years ago, I purchased a used American Beauty resistance soldering rig and I got hooked on it almost immediately. We’ll get in to lots of macro shots to show you how resistance soldering works out for Z scale turnouts.
We’ll be doing several short articles on these turnouts and how well they mate up with the MTL flex track.
Category: Z Scale Basics
