Building Central Valley Model Works Turnouts: 3 Forming Wing and Closure Rails

Please also see my updated building method at:

Central Valley Turnout Refinements

Next take the 2 6.25" closure rails and file a notch into outside of the rail at the bend of the wing rail. File just deep enough until you touch the web of the rail. On the #7 turnout the notch will be about 7/8" from the end of the rail.

Next put a bend in the rails at the notch to form the wing.

Form the diverging closure rail to conform to the template. I do this by running the length of rail through my fingers, imparting a bend as I go. Lay this rail on the template and adjust the curve and the wing angle to match the template exactly.


Lay the straight closure/wing rail over the template and adjust the wing rail angle until it lines up exactly with the template.

Align both rails to the template and tape them down when they are in the proper position. NOTE: The closure rails will be trimmed to the end of the pivot rail in a later step. They can remain long at this point.

Next fill the gap between the frog points and the wing rails with solder to the top of the rail heads.