get a sample of three or four different turnout brands and see-
ing for yourself? Or would you rather follow a forum opinion,
equip a whole layout with a certain brand, only to find out later
you wish you’d gone with a different brand?
The ultimate manifestation of testing is the “chainsaw layout”
concept introduced all the way back in MRH issue 1. It’s a lay-
out you build specifically to test methods and approaches. Just
to make sure you don’t get too attached, we suggested the
term “chainsaw layout” to remind you to expect both great
insights and terrible results (but great learning experiences) on
this test bed project.
Don’t get us wrong – there’s certainly huge value in getting
opinions, and the Internet makes gathering those opinions
easier than ever. But in more than a few cases, making the final
decision also depends on you knowing what YOU prefer, and
the best way to get that answer is for you to do some tests of
the options.
So, next time you have a question about what would be the
best, consider doing some tests to see for yourself. And while
you’re at it, post the results on the MRH forum so we can all
benefit from your discoveries!
Publisher’s editorial - 3
MRH-Sep 2013
