Sorry about the nonsensical first version of this posting. Computer huccuped and the post didn't get included. Anyway, I'm trying to find a particular article in MR in the past 15 years that describet building turnout actuators with a knob on the facia on a dowell rod which actuated the points. I've searched the index with no luck finding the article, but I remember reading it. Can anyone remember the year/month of this article? Any help there is appreciated. Thanks
Ron
Owner and superintendant of the N scale Texas Colorado & Western Railway, a protolanced representaion of the BNSF from Fort Worth, TX through Wichita Falls TX and into Colorado.
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n2mopac
Say what...?
-Ken in Maryland (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)
There are probably a thousand ways of installing manual turnout controls. I've mentioned several in previous threads on the topic, none using standard commercial products. Depending on what I'm trying to accomplish, I use several kinds on my layout (plus several different brands/kinds of electric switch motors.)
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Ron,
I can't help you with article information, but I was working on this over the weekend.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss5sZnPcy0w
Jim
Visit look4trains.com
Jim,
Thanks for the video link. Your method looks very interesting to me, but I can't quite see in the video how the dowell, music wire, etc are all connected. Also, where do you buy music wire for this?
Thanks,
Thanks for the video. Your process looks very interesting to me. I can't quite tell in the video how the dowell, music wire, etc are all connected. Do you have any photographs of that or a good description? Thanks.
Ron:
I'll try and get a better explanation up on the web in the next couple of days. Until then, here is the first generation, the ones I am replacing and trying to improve on. It gives a better idea of what makes things happen. The change is how the spring is mounted, due the difficulty in getting the first design adjusted correctly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w50ftJMLJUY&feature=related
Good day,
Try the May 2003 issue of MRR, page 86.
Scott
I think what you might be looking for is in the May 84 MR. It's about choke cable turnout controls. If you go to the magizine index and search choke cable switch control in MR you'll get a couple articles. If you're looking for a cheap easy way to build turnout controls that work under the layout from the facia, I make them from dowels, a Rix PTL and radio control airplane rods. If your interested, let me know and I'll descript how I make them. They cost only about $5 each to make.
Strider, that sounds like a solution close to what I was looking for. The May 03 article is not exactly what I was looking for and my MR's don't go back to 84. If you could give me a good description it would be helpful. What is a PTL?
A Rix PTL is a pivoting turnout linkage that mounts under the layout with a piano wire that sticks up and moves the points. Look under Rix in a Walthers catalog under track accessories, page 273 in the 2012 Walthers catalog. They've been around for a long time. I submited an article to MR a year or so ago for a mechanisim I made for my switching layout, I needed something cheap and easy to make that would hold presure on the points.Even though MR declined the article I saved it. If you'd like send me an e-mail and I'll e-mail you the article with some pictures. It basicly uses a Rix PTL connected to a dowel cam mounted on the facia by radio controlled airplane rods. My e-mail is emayer@mi.rr.com.
I emailed for your article, but one question: will these work with N scale turnouts?
I remember reading the article, too. No idea which issue, but at least I support that the article does in deed exist.
Basically, the operator twists the dowel/knob, and as the string under the table wraps around the dowel, the point is thrown. IIRC, there was a spring to pull it back in to a neutral position (counter to the string pull). The fascia may bave been notched to lock the dowel in place to keep the poitns thrown.
I don't see why not. Check the e-mail address you sent it to, I have'nt received an e-mail from you yet.