I lay code 87 track and build turnouts using home made fixtures. Fast Trak turnout templates look nice but they are very expensive. Home made fixtures use lumber scraps and cost literally nothing to make. One tool I find very useful are Rolly-Holders. They are far superior to three point gauges. I use both but Rolly-Holders come as 4 holder sets and hold track in gauge very reliably. Tony Koester did an excellent video on hand laying track for Model Railroad video plus several years ago. He made it very approachable.
Thanks for the tutorial. This may be the only choice as finding most manufactured turnouts in any sort of numbers is essentially impossible now. And the budget can't afford to buy them individually or in small lots, paying separate shipping on each order. It's become like the old days. You want a wooden water tank? Go get some scrap wood and make one! You want a turnout? Make one!
