PC Board Ties

Since I am in the long process of disassembling the N scale layout to make room for the new (it's going rather slowly) I've decided to work a bit on my 3x7 Nn3 layout a bit.  It consists of a double loop with crossovers, one siding to the bottom of a coal chute for locomotive refueling and a siding on the opposite side of the inner loop to bring coal into the top of the refueling station.

To complete the layout I need three each left and right Nn3 turnouts, and as you may recall I opted to get the FastTracks fixture and jigs to build them. The turnout building went well, all of them have been tested to make sure the electrical isolation is good and the wheels actually roll through them.  When it came time to try to mount them to the layout is when things got slightly sideways.

I attempted to drill through the throwbars only to find the 1/32" PC board ties don't drill well. I ended up drilling one in half and then I called it quits. I have ordered PC board tie materials for throwbars that is 1/32" thick but 1/10" wide that should be a lot easier to drill holes in for the throwbar actuators. I am going to attempt to use Caboose Hobbies power routing ground throws since the frogs have to be powered.

When the PC board ties arrive I will be changing the throwbars on all of the turnouts. Maybe then I'll get something going on the little layout.