With or without using "SWITCH-WORKS PRO"
You should be able to use these instructions to bench or table-top build
an outstandingly accurate, properly detailed and extremely reliable,
NMRA STANDARD, STRAIGHT OR OPTIONALLY CURVED RTR TURNOUT.

The instructions lay out a basic, straightforward and simple THREE-STEP PROCESS,
but the flexibility of the Tool and kits is such that you can customize almost every aspect of the end result, to make either an as fully detailed, or an as simplified and inexpensive, turnout as you desire.

BEFORE STARTING:

Before you start, you should use the links on this page to get copies of the diagrams, parts and tools you need and familiarize yourself with them.

TOOLS AND PARTS:

To build any turnout, you should obtain and have at hand:-

...Two copies of the Turnout Diagram for the exact switch configuration you want.
...All the parts needed to build that particular Turnout (See the appropriate Ultimate Turnout Kit parts list if you are unsure)
...A large enough, extremely flat, base on which to construct (or the Switch Works Pro)
...Bright, even lighting and a magnifying glass
...Small Tweezers for scale spiking. (Tuned to have parallel rough jaws)
...A kneadable rubber pick-up tool for lifting tieplates
...A small clearly labeled partitioned box(s), to hold and keep the cut up various tieplates of different types separate, but allow them to be easily accessible and picked out.
...ACC Gel or slow acting Epoxy and a toothpick or syringe and fine nozzle for placing it
...Barge Cement (or similar) 50% diluted with MEK. And a placement tool as above.
...A cutter (Dremel with cutting disks, rail nippers or a fine razor saw) to cut rail cleanly
...A small flat file to file rail ends square
...Good quality scissors to cut up tieplate frets
...Some solvents for removing any excess glues.
...Now or later, you will need a medium soldering iron, solder and electronic (non-acid) flux, to make electrical wiring connections.

If you are not using a Switch-Works, Pro, you will also need several extra track gauges, and pins, clips, etc. to verify, hold or adjust gauge and other dimensions during construction.

THREE SIMPLE STEP PROCESS SUMMARY FOR FAMILIAR SWITCH WORKS PRO USERS:

Comprehensive text instructions are usually only needed for first time users. Those more detailed full length explanations of each step are covered in the “EXTRA REFERENCE NOTES Sections below. One the build process has been done once, it quickly only becomes necessary to remember the building method as a SIMPLE THREE STEP PROCESS:-

STEP ONE: Lay the Ready-Cut Ties in the TIE FRAME Slots



STEP TWO: Lay and glue the tieplates with the TIEPLATE LAYING TOOL





STEP THREE: Cut and fix the RAILS, FROG, POINTS and THROWBARS into THE TIEPLATE GROOVES and SLOTS:



On completion, you will end up with a complete, self-contained, turnout, that is the equivalent of a commercially manufactured turnout of the highest possible realism, standard and quality.

If you have never built a turnout before, our COMPLETE PROTOTYPICAL TURNOUT BUILDING REFERENCE MANUAL COVERS EVERY ASPECT OF CONSTRUCTION IN THE ULTIMATE DETAIL.

Once however you have built one turnout, the process is so simple and straightforward, that you will likely repeat it very rapidly, without needing to refer to anything except the selected turnout’s diagram.

FOR THOSE WISHING TO BUILD A CURVED TURNOUT, the process is merely interrupted during step three, to CURVE THE PART ASSEMBLED TURNOUT TO FIT THE DESIRED CURVE, AFTER FIXING THE INNER STOCK RAIL, BUT BEFORE FITTING AND FIXING THE REMAINING OTHER RAILS AND PARTS.