No tech required, the Tam Valley controllers are prebuilt. Connect the wires and you're off. The wires from the servos plug in - all standard servos come with a plug on the wires, and you can buy extensions so you don't have to cut and splice anything. Since I like building electronic circuits I'll probably use a mox of the Tam Valley circuits and build some of Hans Deloof's as well.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Thanks for the link, but I already have this guys site saved to my favorites. It is a great place. He has a great deal of information. I would recomend this site to anyone, and I have. Thanks again.
Servos are a good option, but i am not up on the type of electronics that are required to run them. The price is right, but I am not sure about the level of tech v.s. the cost of running them.
Jim.
Hi Jim,
Take a look at this link; the turnouts of his layout are Fastrack and he use RC servo and Tam Valley depot supply to move them.
Go to the "the construction journal" and you can find a lot of info's about these servo.
http://housatonicrr.com
I am also considering these servo for my Nscale layout and I use also Fastrack turnouts.
I send you a private message with a link about a video article in MRH.
Marc
I'm sure they have plenty of power to move a Fast Tracks turnout - I'm using them for my layout. I got the cheap sample of the Singlet from Tam Valley and it came with a really tiny micro servo that supposedly not quite strong enough to move an all-rail (no hinge) turnout, but I think it might handle it anyway. The larger standard servos are both cheaper and more powerful and should easily handle a solid rail turnout.
Since I'm using a foam base, I'm not using the simple tick/tock linkage (like a Tortoise), I'm using the method of maing a J shaped wire and running it down through a brass tube. This method is also shown on the Tam Valley site as well as other places.
Hey guys thanks for all of the replies. I have seen the servos before on a website. you are right they are very inexpensive. I wonder if they would turn a fast trak turnout. I used to use them in my old RC boat and plane. I have to admit it was along time ago and they may be stronger know. But I can't ignor the posibility of $4 to $9 a turnout. I am going to have alot of turn outs on my Tehachapi pass, and the better price I can get on these things the better.
Thanks again everyone. This has been a great read.
Jim
If you ever consider rc servos, just do a web search for servos model railroading or servos turnouts. Maybe variations on those words. I found a lot of useful information on the subject.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
maxmanIf you happen to have access to back issues of MR, try to get a copy of the June 2004 issue. There is an article called Santa Fe's Kansas Speedway by Erik Bergstrom.
Ah yes, I remember it like it was only yesterday. Fond memories.
Bergie
cacole This is not a stall motor, nor is it something you can find at a surplus store, but the latest inexpensive switch motor idea is to use a miniature servo: http://www.tamvalleydepot.com/home.html
This is not a stall motor, nor is it something you can find at a surplus store, but the latest inexpensive switch motor idea is to use a miniature servo:
http://www.tamvalleydepot.com/home.html
This is the way I'm going. You can get servos for $5. If not using DCC control, the controller is $4/turnout - $9/turnout. Beats the Tortoise AND even a manual control like BluePoint. And should you have an odd location that's a tight squeeze - there's a whole department in the hobby shop with any number of bell cranks, pushrods, and cables designed to attach to the servo.
Do a Google search for Hankscraft motor. You will get a lot of hits. Might find something.
Just a little more information. If you happen to have access to back issues of MR, try to get a copy of the June 2004 issue. There is an article called Santa Fe's Kansas Speedway by Erik Bergstrom. The model railroad featured belongs to Stephen and Cynthia Priest. In the article there is a sidebar describing economical switch-motor brackets. The brackets are made from 1/8 inch hard styrene and hold the Hankscraft motor in a horizontal position such that the actuating wire comes up under the turnout similar to the Tortoise throw. By the way, he said that he found the motors on the internet from an electronics warehouse (didn't say which one), so maybe you can find them cheaper than what is shown in the Builders in Scale link above.
As an aside, the club I belong to had a bunch of these things (we call them black motors to differentiate them from the Torti) that are being replaced as they fail. One was replaced two weeks ago, and two more were replaced this past weekend. In all fairness we also had two Torti fail. But this was attributed to the fact that someone drilled into them from above.
That Hankscraft motor is sold under the brand name of SwitchMaster or TorqueMaster as a stall motor switch machine, but you're unlikely to find one being sold as surplus.
http://www.builders-in-scale.com/bis/sm-home.html
I think you would be looking for something called a display motor, similar to this: http://www.hankscraftpop.com/3440C1.htm
I think if you look at one of the switch machine vendors out there the motor will look similar.
Does anyone know what type of stall motor I should be looking for when I go onto a surplus site? Like other people I am looking to cut down the cost of my turnouts and the parts to operate them. If I can find the motors, I know I can build the brackets to hold them, and create the switches to change polarity. But can I do this for the cost of a tourtise switch machine ($12.45)?
Any help as to the type of motor I should be looking for would be greatly appreciated.