Fast Tracks

My next large piece of my railway is working on a yard. Its not that big (about 6 feet x 3 feet ) - HO scale.
I was looking at either a Wye or a 3-way. Looking at the 3-way they look like they might also be able to be (ab)used to make a Wye.
Is that true? If I have a 3-way fixture can I use to to also make Wyes ?

Also how hard is the 3-way to build ? I cant tell from the looks if it takes making a hinged turnout or not ... I'm still pretty novice, (built about 10 switches so far including curved) but not sure i'm up to a hinge yet ...

Suggestions welcome !

Doing the two outside legs of a 3-way would make a good wye. Issue is that the frog placement would be strange and actually rather sharp. 3-way is a very compact arrangement and suitable for yards - but yes, I think building a hinged point would be necessary (though not absolutely mandatory if you do a longer three way; but that defeats the purposes).

A true wye would be better than manipulating a 3-way. With 10 turnouts under belt - it may be time to try a true handlaid exercise!

-ed-

_________________
-ed mccamey-
COSLAR RR - http://www.coslar.us/
NMRA Standards and Conformance Department
PROTO & FINE Scale Coordinator
I estimate I have about 5 pounds of coupler springs somewhere in the vicinity of my workbench.