Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Making cavity for Tortoise machine through foam?

1303 views
3 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 2,360 posts
Making cavity for Tortoise machine through foam?
Posted by kasskaboose on Saturday, April 1, 2023 4:06 PM

Should I continue to make cavities in the 2" foam sub-roadbed for Tortoise switch machines?  The machines will be used to flip hard-to-reach turnouts. The 0.039 piano wire will go through the middle hole of the Atlas Code 83 turnouts.

I made a cavity for one Tortoise and it it worked properly. Unfortunately, that didn't happen through the 2" foam.  Did I do something wrong?

"How to secure the Tortoise once you carve out a cavity?  I screwed the Tortoise to a wood block. The block will get glued to the foam (along the sides of the wood) and on top (to sit underneath the cork roadbed).

Welcome thoughts!

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Saturday, April 1, 2023 5:17 PM

You don't need a big cavity, just a long wire.  I glue a piece of 1/4 inch plywood to the underside of the foam and attach the Tortoise to that.  I even did it through 4 inches of foam once.  Worked fine.  A half inch hole is fine.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    September 2002
  • From: Maricopa, AZ
  • 269 posts
Posted by DanRaitz on Sunday, April 2, 2023 10:31 AM

Circuitron makes a device just for this situation.

It's called the " Remote Tortoise Mount" #800-6100.

Tortoise (circuitron.com)

 

Dan

If women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy .... Red Green
  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 2,360 posts
Posted by kasskaboose on Sunday, April 2, 2023 8:35 PM

Thank you all. 

I need to figure out how to properly bend the piano wire b/c what I currently have won't work.  In fact, I threw out a piece of wire after it got bent and was unable to operate properly. 

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!