I've installed the Details West SS-914 switch stands.
They're movable.
Wolfgang
Pueblo & Salt Lake RR
Come to us http://www.westportterminal.de my videos my blog
DJ,
I would look at Caboose Industries 'sprung' ground throws - they are easy to install, and operation is 'rock solid'. They have several versions available:
http://www.cabooseind.com/
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
jrbernier wrote:DJ, I would look at Caboose Industries 'sprung' ground throws - they are easy to install, and operation is 'rock solid'. They have several versions available:http://www.cabooseind.com/ Jim
I have a few of those, they work well.
I think the Caboose switch stands are oversized.
Details West looks better. youtube
NJ International look great. All brass construction and diferent styles for every line.
www.njinternational.com/hoswitch.htm
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
I use the Caboose Industries ground throws. They're easy to install, operate well, and stand up to lots of use. They are manually operated, and so are not "to scale". I believe that both the Details West and NJ International versions operate (move), but require a switch machine to actually throw the points.
Wayne
Thank you, DJ.
I have had some response from people. So I developed this site and each time it became better.
Yes, with Caboose Hobbies or (I believe) Rix, you throw the turnout. But you have to reach into the layout. That has sometimes problems. So I prefer actuation from the fascia. Manually operated turnouts are manually operated.
Sorry to drag this back up, but due to another conversation similar to this one (which I cannot find, as usual), I installed a caboose N scale manual throw on my HO layout.
With some slight modifications (shaving off pins, and drilling a new hole), it works perfectly with my peco insulfrog turnout. I'll try to document the next ones I put in.
Cheers.
I'm trying to model 1956, not live in it.
wedudler wrote: I think the Caboose switch stands are oversized.
Bapou wrote: jrbernier wrote:DJ, I would look at Caboose Industries 'sprung' ground throws - they are easy to install, and operation is 'rock solid'. They have several versions available:http://www.cabooseind.com/ JimI have a few of those, they work well.
I have a bunch of these. Even the N scale versions are grossly oversize in HO and it seems like my op session crews manage to tear the handle off of one of them each session or two. I'm in the process of replacing 'em with some handbuilt switch controllers.
A number of years ago I tried scratch building from brass and piano wire some 'scale' switch stands. They looked halfway ok (albeit being oversize) but it was a quite a project to build them and once installed they proved unreliable as the main solder joint in them was prone to failure.
Worst of all, they main feature of them - twisting the target to operate the turnout - prooved to be a problem. When a train was parked on the track in front then for the track behind that train it was impossible to either find the switchstand to throw a switch or tell which way the switch (behind the train) was thrown. It was possible to deal with this by leaning over the tracks to see behind the train (it's handy being a giant). But that would have become impossible once the second deck went on overhead (also not an option for close to eye level benchwork).
So now I'm building my own panel mounted controls. They're cheap (I can build one for about $1.10 in parts), robust enough so a knuckle dragging brakie won't tear it apart, and panel mounted so it's possible to tell which way a turnout is thrown by looking at the panel knob.
FWIW
Charlie Comstock
Take a look at http://www.railwayeng.com/handstnd.htm. I have not tried them personally (yet). Railway Engineering's other products are quite good. Usual disclaimers apply; I am not financially tie to Railway Engineering in any way.
just a thought
Fred W
fwright wrote:Take a look at http://www.railwayeng.com/handstnd.htm. I have not tried them personally (yet). Railway Engineering's other products are quite good. Usual disclaimers apply; I am not financially tie to Railway Engineering in any way.just a thoughtFred W
The railway engineering handstands are where I got the idea for my twist-the-target switch stands. Mine are (were) a bit different. Here's a web page about mine.
Cheers,
I'm guessing that a suitable bell crank on the bottom of the rotating part of the switchstand would allow it to sit atop both headblock ties, just like the prototype.
Pete,
I've selected the NJ International switch stands, but I'm having trouble figuring out how to mount them. Can you provide some photos?
I'm using S scale branch line stands for my On30 RR.
Thanks,
Steve Austin
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Talking Rock, USA
My model railroad - Elkhorn Iron & Timber Co. http://tinyurl.com/239jd7j
Ach, Du Lieber, Wolfie, you have it all down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jimmy
ROUTE ROCK!
Das ist Gut!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One thing you need to keep in mind is "who is going to be operating the layout." I was going to go with some nice Caboose Industries tall switch stands, then got to thinking about where they would be and who's fat fingers would be operating them, and sleeves catching on them.
Since I was going to have regular operating sessions (and now am) with a crew of guests, I decided to stay with the Caboose Industries HO ground throws so I wouldn't have to keep replacing and repairing them.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.