| If you can't find an answer to your question here, then please feel free to contact us at service@fast-tracks.net and ask! We will do our best to respond within one business day. You may also want to check out the Assembly Fixture Builder's Guide or Video. |
| What is an Assembly Fixture? |
| Sometimes called a 'track building jig', an Assembly Fixture is a tool that holds rail and PC Board ties in position while they are soldered together to form a turnout 'skeleton'. |
| Are turnouts built with an Assembly Fixture compatible with DCC? |
| Yes, any switch made with a Fast Tracks Assembly Fixture is 100% compatible with DCC or DC |
| I have a special requirement. Do you make customized fixtures? |
| Depending on our current production workload, we will occasionally take on custom work. Send an email to service@fast-tracks.net with some details of what you are looking for and we will let you know if we are able to accept your project. Note that customized Assembly Fixtures can be very expensive. |
| I am using a rail code from a manufacturer that you do not have listed on your website, can you make an Assembly Fixture for it? |
| Yes. Just note the rail code and manufacturer in the Special Instructions box during checkout on our website and we will supply a matching fixture. We may need you to send us some small sample pieces of the rail. |
| I have heard that code 70 and code 83 can be used in the same fixture,
is this true? |
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The critical dimensions of Micro Engineering code 70 and code 83 rail are the same, so both rail codes can be used in the same fixture.
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I have heard that I can use code Atlas code 80 rail stripped from flextrack in a code 55 Assembly Fixture, is this true?
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Yes. The base width of code Atlas code 80 rail and Micro Engineering code 55 rail is the same, so you can use the same fixture for both code sizes. Please send an email to us at service@fast-tracks.net before ordering a code 55 rail fixture for Atlas code 80 rail for additional details.
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| What is the projected life span of an Assembly Fixture? |
| A single Assembly Fixture can be used to construct thousands of switches. |
| What kind of point (hinged or solid) can be built with an Assembly Fixture? |
| Fast Tracks Assembly Fixtures can accommodate either point style, but we recommend sold points. |
| Do you offer Assembly Fixtures for G gauge? |
| We have had a number of inquiries about G gauge Assembly Fixtures. It is unlikely that the approach of using aluminum fixtures with PC Board ties will work for G scale, so a different method will need to be developed. We will be investigating ways of building G gauge fixtures in the future. In the meantime, please email us and let us know that you are interested in G gauge fixtures so that we can gauge (no pun intended!) the level of interest there is. |
| The track gauge through the Frog and the guardrails is wider than I prefer, it this normal? |
| The gauge through the frog and the guardrail is within NMRA standards. To accommodate all preferences we have made this in the middle of the limit tolerance that the NMRA suggests. If you think that it should be smaller or larger it may be possible to produce a custom fixture for you. Email us us to find out if we are able to accept any custom work at the present time. |
| Won't the wheels drop into the frog if there isn't something in place for the wheel flanges to ride on? |
| No. When turnouts or crossings are precisely constructed, then wheel drop in the frogs isn't a problem. As wheel flanges very in size from one manufacturer to another it is difficult to fill in the base of the frog for the flanges to ride on, there will either be clearance under the wheel flange, or the wheel will "bump" when going through the frog, so it is best to leave it empty. To learn more about why Fast Tracks built turnouts do not have a wheel drop problem check out this video. |
| Can you really use the base of the rail to reliably set the track gauge? |
| Yes! Rail is formed using a rolling process so the base of the rail is every bit as accurate as the head of the rail. Micro Engineering manufactures its rail to a tolerance of +/- .001" at the base. That's 1/4 the thickness of a regular piece of paper! |
| Won't an aluminum Assembly Fixture act like a giant heat sink making a good solder joint almost impossible unless you use a very large soldering iron? |
| No. Because the rail sits on top of the PC Board ties it is not actually in direct contact with the fixture. Additionally, the PC Board ties act as an insulator preventing the transfer of heat to the aluminum fixture. The only place where the track actually contacts the fixture are the sides of the base of the rail. A 35-45 watt soldering iron will work very nicely for all rail up to code 100. For larger rail codes a 100 watt soldering gun is required simply due to the size of the rail. |
| Modelers have building switches by hand for years. Why do we suddenly need an Assembly Fixture to do this? |
- Better Accuracy
- Consistent Results
- No wheel drop through the frog
- Extremely Reliable Operation
- Easier To Build
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| How heavy are these fixtures? What will it cost to have them shipped? |
| Each fixture weighs between 1.5 and 2.5 Lbs. You can determine exact shipping costs by adding the items you want to the shopping cart. |
| What is your delivery time? |
| Our ships in time varies depending on what you order and our current production load. We provide a projected arrival date for each product that we sell on our website. |
| What if the fixture is the wrong size? Can I return it? |
| Standard fixtures can be returned for exchange or refund if they have been unused. |
| Can you ship to countries outside of North America? |
| Yes. We can ship to most countries. |
| How do I order? |
| You can order your Fast Track Assembly Fixture right here. |
