N Scale Model Train Turnout Tie Cutter & Gap Tool #4 & #6 Turnout #2 Wye

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One of the hardest and most tedious tasks of hand laying model train tracks is cutting to length and then gapping the copper backed PCB board cross ties, or sleepers. The Diverging rails are marked DVRG, the Throw bar is T, the Crossing ties just before the divergence are X, and the short ties are either marked S or ENDS. You can see a video here describing this tool: https://youtu.be/oon9SUDLZw0 Each piece of model train track is made from rails soldered to copper cross ties to make the shape and give the skeleton it's rigid strength. Each of the copper ties needs to be cut to a specific length, which changes as the turnout widens, and then gapped in the middle of the tracks to prevent a direct short of the electronic connections. Enter the Tie Cutter and Gap Tool. Each type of turnout, #4, #6 or $2 Wye has there own tool. One for left hand turns and another for rights. The #6 are cut for the #6 3-way turnout and not the regular #6 jig. Not sure the difference ATM. Each of the support copper ties has a slot that allows you to snip them to length and one or two triangle file slots to file the gaps into the ties. Once snipped off to length and the ends filed slightly, add the outer case to keep the ties in place and then use a triangle file to cut the gaps. The one tie just past the diverging rail isolation cut has three gaps and needs to be put in two different slots and gapped twice. This handy tool makes a difficult job easier and much more precise. Love to see any track work you make using the tools - please link in the comments!