New Micro Engineering DCC Friendly Turnouts

[grayfox1119]

Has anyone used any of the new Micro Engineering DCC friendly turnouts yet? Alan Garner's home page as a nice article on them, and as I am just about ready to start building by layout (HO Gauge) I was wondering if anyone had any first hand reports on these yet? They certainly look real good, and from the technical write-up, they should be just what we need.
http://www.wiringfordcc.com/

[jrbernier]

I have seen them - Very nice looking. I have seen two problems though:

1> Lack of anything other than a #6 turnout.

2> They can be rather 'frail'(at least the code 55 ones).

A friend has/had N scale code 55 ones, and they had horrible electical pickup problems. He changed over to Peco turnouts. Maybe the code 83 ones are more 'robust'?

Jim Bernier

[Anonymous]

I have a bunch of the DCC friendly ones on my new layout in code 83 and code 70. I think they operate and look great. They have a dead frog and the point and closure rails are hard wired to their respective out side rails. IMHO, The railhead shape, throw bar size and frogs look more prototypical than Peco or Shinohara.

I do two modifications (yes, I'm picky). I solder a lead to the frog casting to power it. So far I haven't needed to use the leads, but this is extra insurance for when everything is dirted and painted and stuff won't creep through. The other modifiacation is to solder the points to the closure rails rather than leaving them attatched by the just the rail joiner I do both these modifications to to all of my Shinoharas/ Pecos as well.

[grayfox1119]

Good info guys, thank you. I believe that the article I read stated that ME was mfgr'g the other turnouts and they would be available this Fall. In the meantime, I am going to pick up a pair of #6's and check them out.