Good Afternoon.
new guy - A file would probably work better on those Atlas frogs. All of mine, which are "Custom Line" are metal frogs. Many of the Atlas turnouts I have gotten are just fine and need no fine-tuning. I have gotten some with the high frogs though. I think it varies with each batch. Still can't beat the price when compared to other equivalent quality brands. As I said, I use "Custom Line", I have not used any of their "Snap Switch" line, which may be different.
Regarding curves, the string method works if your benchwork is wide enough to provide a pivot point. I had a piece of a roll of .060 "pattern cardboard" that I got from one of the die makers at the place I worked at. I spread it out on a piece of 4' x 8' plywood and used the string method to make a series of half-circle pencil lines spaced 2" apart. After cutting along the marks, I had a series of cardboard half-circles at 24", 26", 28" and all the way to 46". I didn't bother with less than 24" since I didn't intend to have any radii that small. Now I lay them out and trace each side with a pencil and then lay my roadbed between the lines. Good for experimenting with various radii to make things fit. Transitions can also be made by using combinations, or just letting the Flex make its own.
Flex track curves...When you use the Flex track on curves, put the "sliding" rail on the inside radius. That way you just have to trim rail and end ties only. While I think that rail can be cut with any good pair of "flush-cut" pliers, I have found that the Xuron brand made for cutting nickel-silver rail is the best bet. I've used mine for over 25 years without any dulling or other problems. For the corners, I've been known to lay prone on the benchwork on my old layout. Now no trackwork is further than 26" even on wider benchwork, I use a step-stool for scenery work in some corners.
Eric - While rare, we get tornados in December-January here in North Texas.
Chet - You would probably be the only one to know that the Edsel was too new...or you could model late 57 after the new models came out.
I went for 7 years before retiring without a raise. I worked for an aluminum window manufacturer...first was the recession and housing crash, then when it was over the trend had begun for vinyl windows and we weren't quick enough to react. Company lost money from 2008 through 2014. I'm lucky that we stayed open, as I saw numerous competitors go out of business.
Willie
