They work great, they throw around 25 turnouts on my N scale layout since they were refered in an article in MR during the 80's; none have failed until now.
These motors are offered by Switchmaster but are build as display motors by HANKSCRAFT display motors.
https://www.hankscraftpop.com/motors
Good reference is the FSM which has used a lot of them .
I have ordered a second group with friends some years ago directly to HANKSCRAFT display motors, they offer excellent deal for big quantities.
Many clones of these motors are offered on Amazon or other online wholesaler site, but they are very poor copy, the Hankscraft motor have brass gear inside, they are designed to live a long time,; the clones have poor nylon gears and live only a short time.
I have designed a simple plate to support them and the switch contact to power the frog or signal; the plate is made of aluminium, the aluminium could be substitued by styrene, an article in MR some years ago showed the way to make them.
By mounting the motor this way, It need no linkage and no adjustement since the motor has a 360° travel; using a light piano wire for actuator give enough pressure for my Peco code 55 ( spring removed) or my now used Fastrack turnouts.
power come from two transformer with a common path, this mean only one wire of power is necessary for the switch control the second is a common path between all the motors.
Some says they are necro, but this is also true for Tortoises; servos need device to be operated, a control board; they also need a form of support to put them under a turnout; they need a micro switch for the frog power and if You don't want them you need another board like a frog juicer to power the frog, so I'm not sure it's the simpliest way to go and certainly not easier than install a tortoise or a switchmaster motor ( which is easier to put than a Tortoise)
I also see that most of the big layouts, named empire layout, even build today or in the very last 5 years don't use servo's but for the most Tortoises motors.
Switchmaster motors are rarely proposed as switch machine for unknow reasons but they are great in a ny case
My extension of my Maclauriver in N scale will use exclusively Hankscraft display motor because I have ask an offer to Hankscraft for a big deal and the price are extremly interesting.
I'm also sure to not have troubles with them, some on my layout are working since more of nearly 4o years like some Tortoise, not sure this could happen with servos and the electronic they need to work; course just my opinion.
rrinkerPfft, I said that in my post.
Yeah, but your post also had content and added to the conversation. Much better that way.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
SeeYou190 riogrande5761 whoa. 16 year necro! There it is. -Kevin
riogrande5761 whoa. 16 year necro!
There it is.
Pfft, I said that in my post.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
riogrande5761whoa. 16 year necro!
whoa. 16 year necro!
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
It appears the Switchmaster Switch Machine is still available.
The thread did not outlive the product.
rrinkerThey work very well, are low power, quiet, and don't need a fancy control system because they are stall motors, so the power is left on all the time. The downside is they are harder to install than a Tortoise, and don't provide the DPDT contacts you get with a Tortoise. --Randy
Now that is one necro thread - last post from 16 years ago. Talk about moving on - I use servos now, cheaper than any of them. ANd just as easy to install. They all require just one hole drilled.
I've been using Switchmasters for years on my N scale layout. Once you get the hang of it, they are easy to install. And I consider them better and easier to install than a Tortoise because:1) only a very small hole is needed (1/16"); 2) there is more flexibility in how it is placed in relationship to the turnout; 3) there is more forgiveness in the placement, if you don't get it exactly right. If you need to, use another wire and rebend it or drill a new 1/16" hole (which you can't see anyway). I use them in concert with Frog Juicers to handle turnout polarity. And the rotational action of the Switchmaster can be used for animation (signs, windmills, etc). I use one on my layout as an "automatic Brakeman", I bent the actuator wire so that it rotates across the tracks to keep a train on the main with a grade from rolling during switching of the adjacent customer. Speed of the rotation is controlled by the size of the resistor used.