Recently read this thread and then happen to find the following link.
https://enginehouseservices.com/model-railroad/ehs-action-link-mounting-bracket-and-linkage-for-tortoise-machine-to-animate-tomar-illuminated/
Appears to be a simple and elegant solution, however I have no idea how well it might function.
JO
Here is a PIX of the mounted serve. Also the Tomar lens has a set screw so you can make finel adjustments after it's installed.
Unfortunately, on it's own. I have the standard Tortoise driving the switch. I could never figure out how to add the signal to rotate far enough with any type of linkage for both the switch and signal. So I came up with this idea of having the servo move the signal. With a 330 ohm resister I can use the same power connections a the Tortoise. (So the same fascia toggle switch will control both.) The gives the servo about 1 1/2 volts. Makes the rotation slower and less pressure on the stops. Could one motor do both jobs? Maybe, but to have rotational and lateral moments using one motor is a problem.
So is the servo driving the switch and the switch stand both at the same time, or just the switch stand on it's own?
Come visit the Railroad Pages
I will have. I am using a cheap Futaba servo and running it at 1 1/2 volts. By rewiring the servo as in the January issue of MR it acts like a rotating stall motor. I simple soldered a long shaft to the bottom the the switch stand and used the circle horn on the motor.
Any pictures of how you linked it up to the switch machine under the baseboard Dan??
Check this out: http://www.rdsrr.com/Pix/waever_01.html and http://www.rdsrr.com/Pix/waever_02.html
Just finished this tonight.
Dan
Art,
I see this is an old post, but did you manage to get these to work/rotate properly?
I'm about to install 6 on a small shelf layout but I don't know if it's worth investing in the 90 degree mechanisms or just rigging something up myself with a simple appendage attached to the main shaft.
Any info on how you ended up getting yours to rotate would be appreciated.
Stu...
Tomar also has some nice looking semaphore signals and train order signals, among many signals. Great if your era is consistent with their use.
They look beautiful.
They are not like caboose. They need to be connected to an existing opperating system. I have 12 hooked up to the Humpyard levers. I found building the mechinism and getting it to work properly was VERY difficult. Some still do not work quite right. The problem is getting them connected to the turnout so they turn exactly 90 degrees. I have just purchaced one of their 90 degree mechanisms but have not had a chance to see if that works either better or easier.
Part of what made my appilcation difficult was having to run the mechanism through 2 inches of foam. If you get some, I would be interested in what you learn. The ones I have that work are really nice. I am powering mine with a 1 1/2 volt battery and that works nice.
Joe,
Here is the 'link' to the Tomar switchstand:
http://www.tomarindustries.com/signals.htm
H-851 - The description/photo shows a ground level switchstand that rotates 360 degrees - not sure if that means manual operatiion. Why not send an email to Tomar and ask them:
info@tomarindustries.com
Jim Bernier
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Has anyone had experience with Tomar's illuminated switch stand. I had seen it in the Walther's catalog but the description is fairly limited. Is this a free standing manual switch which can be used like the Caboose manual switch stands or is it just a signal light to be hooked up to an already exisiting stand or machine?
I have 14 turnouts of which 8 are manual and I would like to get some type of indication as to the direction of the rails without going to the turnout and checking the positions of the points. If these Tomar stands are working manual switch stands they may be the ticket.
Thanks for any info available.
Joe
Rockaway Beach, MO