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July 30, 2008 — New track laying hand tools available
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High quality, specialized tools are the defining mark of any craftsman, and modelers who hand lay their own track are certainly no exception. Using the right tool can make all the difference between a good piece of trackwork and a masterpiece of form and function. Over the next while we are going to be researching and expanding our line of track laying tools, creating the largest selection of specialized track laying tools available anywhere. Today we are starting with the addition of two new tool lines. The first are a couple of selected precision machinists scribes manufactured by L. S. Starrett Company - the premier manufacturer of machinist tools in the World today. A quality scribe is used throughout the track building process to scribe rail and mark PC Board ties in preparation for cutting and trimming. You can learn more about the scribes and accessories that we have available here. We are also adding a line of highly specialized points shaping and finishing files. These uniquely shaped files have been selected for their ability to access very tight locations in the frog and switchpoints. You will find all of the files that we currently have available here. |
July 20, 2008 — New shopping cart and checkout system launched
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We first launched the Fast Tracks online shopping website in 2003 using software specially designed just for us, and for the past five years this software has served us well. But after five years it was starting to show it's age and was due for a major update. So after many months of work and testing we are ready to start using our new commercially written shopping cart and checkout system! Our new system offers a number of important advantages for our customers, including:
Give our new shopping cart and checkout system a try today! |
May 27, 2008 — New tool for filing the base of the stock rail now available
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After one of the longest development times in our company history, we are finally ready to release our innovative new StockAid stock rail filing tool. The perfect companion to the PointForm tool, the Fast Tracks StockAid filing jig makes fast work of cutting the notch out of the base of the stock rail so that the switch points precisely fit against the stock rail when they are closed. StockAids are available for code 40, 55, 70, 83, 100 and 125, and can be ordered from our website now. |
July 3, 2007 — New & Improved 3-Way Builders' Guide Released
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Like the Slip Switch document before, we have released a significantly new & improved 3-Way Builders' Guide that includes detailed step-by-step instructions for building 3-Way switches using hinged points. Our new Builders' Guide includes over 80 large, clear images with detailed geometry drawings and now features larger, easy to read type. If you have purchased a 3-Way switch from us, you need to download this new Builders' Guide now! (13M PDF Download) |
June 11, 2007 — Hard To Find Scales of Unfinished Wood Turnout & Crossties Now Available!
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May 16, 2007 — On30 3-Way Switch Track Building Kits Now Available
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A complete selection of tools and supplies to build On30 3-Ways switches is now available from Fast Tracks. This new line includes Assembly Fixtures, QuickSticks, and complete track building kits for code 70, 83 and 100 rail. You can find more information about On30 3-Way tools and supplies here. |
Apr 30 2007 — New & Improved Slip Switch Users' Guide released
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We are the first to admit that the Slip Switch users' guide that we have been supplying with our Slip Switch assembly fixtures was pretty skimpy and was badly in need of a bit more substance. Well, we are happy to announce that we have finally addressed this little oversight and have released a significantly improved double slip switch users' guide that includes detailed step-by-step instructions for building #6 or smaller slip switches using solid frog construction techniques. Our new manual includes over 80 large, clear images and now features larger, easy to read type. If you have purchased a double slip switch from us, you need to download this new users' guide now! |
Mar 14 2007 — Tie Rack Tie Jigs now available for all popular scales and types
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This simple tool will make easy work of positioning and laying individual wood ties on your layout. Tie Racks are available for all popular standard and narrow gauge scales with three different degrees of tie randomness for narrow gauges. |
March 3, 2007 — Demystifying the NMRA Standards Video
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Used, abused, misused and just plain misunderstood, the NMRA standards have been unjustly blamed for many of the problems modelers have had over the years with with poor operating trackwork, where in fact the standards actually hold the key to building layouts that run both smoothly and reliably. Using snazzy 3D CAD animation and an easy going conversational style of presentation, Tim Warris explains how and why the NMRA turnout standards work, and why Fast Tracks endorses and uses the currently published standards for their products. |
February 11, 2007 — N Scale Curved Turnout Track Building Tools Released
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We have released a large selection of N Scale curved turnout Track Building Kits, Assembly Fixtures and matching QuickSticks laser cut ties. Available sizes and radiuses include:
You can learn more and order kits now from here. |
November 20, 2006 — #4.5 Turnout Tools & Supplies Now Available
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July 21, 2006 — HO Scale Curved Turnout Track Building Kits & Supplies Now Available!
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They have been a long time coming, but at long last we have released our complete line of HO scale curved turnout track building kits and supplies! Track building kits are available in wide variety of turnout sizes and radiuses including:
You can learn more and order kits now from here. |
June 8, 2006 — Curved Turnout Templates Posted
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We have started to post downloadable printable tie templates for our upcoming line of curved turnout Assembly Fixtures, tools & supplies. We have only posted a few so far in HO and N scale, but will be expanding the library over the upcoming weeks and months until we have a complete selection of curved turnouts templates in all popular scales. You will find the curved templates we have posted so far here. Just click on the scale and then select the Curved Turnout option. |
November 7, 2005 — Instructional Videos Added to Our Document Library
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Even the best written and illustrated document is sometimes not enough. You just have to see how something is done to really understand just how easy it really can be. So with that in mind we have produced a series of videos that demonstrate just how easy it can be to construct trackwork with Fast Tracks tools and supplies. For example, watch our How To Solder Trackwork video to learn how to create the perfect solder joint. And then check out our video version of the Fast Tracks Assembly Fixture users' guide to get a better idea of just how an Assembly Fixture works. Even experienced track builders will find these free videos very informative. |
August 26, 2005 — Flexible Laser Cut Wood Turnout Tie Strips Now Available
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One of the most common requests that we get from our customers is the ability to construct curvable turnouts. Well, after many months of development and testing we are pleased to announce the release of our new TwistTies flexible wood turnout tie strips. Extremely flexible, TwistTies can be used to create any radius of turnout and still maintain the turnout size! They can also be used to create straight turnouts. TwistTies are available in HO, HOn3, HOn30, Sn2, Sn3, On30 scales in turnout sizes #4 through #12, and will work with code 70, 83 and 100 rail. |
