Summer Shunting Shelf Project

[mcfunkeymonkey]

Well, now that I've gotten rid of 90% of my Free-moN modules (all except Shoofly!)(and 2 cool 45's as photo dioramas), I finally have some space on my workbench:



[Ignore that "Possible New Shelf Project"--not going to happen/for awhile]

So while I build some structures to finish up the HO logging layout for a friend, I thought I should use the opportunity of a relatively-clear workbench to "finish" the "Alameda Belt In A Box" layout my daughter and I did awhile ago (wow: she was nine when we worked on it, and she just turned 13 yesterday!).
And by "finish" I mean replace those ugly oversized Caboose Industries ground throws with slide switches that 1) won't look like gargantuan catapults and 2) power the frogs (very important!).

Based on recommendations from fellow Free-moNster Mark W, I picked up a variety of slide switches to experiment with:



The Radio Shack are smallest (and more accessible), and the Adafruit are solid, with a slight "snap" throw, and black, but I wanted to try the smaller SparkFun first, mainly because they're smaller than the Adafruit (I could always carve a bigger hole!) and they have a metal cover that goes almost all way around (RS are mostly plastic).

Actually, the most difficult step of the whole conversion is drilling the hole:



But even if you're close to the edge, the plastic is very strong: I slipped the brass rod in and could not break through the plastic.

I popped the Caboose ground throw off, then drilled a hole with a bit slightly smaller than the width of the slide switch:



Drilled another one next to it, then used the Dremel to ream out the space. A triangle file helped square the corners and widen the space so the slide switch slipped in snug:



Originally, I was going to try to slip decoder wire under the rails on the surface, but it looked bad, so I just used ye ol' 22 gauge stranded under & back up:



At least the wires don't hang out too much.

Then I scraped away some paint on the throwbar to expose the copper, and the soldered the brass wire to the throwbar:



I had to re-position one point rail to match the slide switch throw distance, but otherwise it works great!
I was thinking I'd have to use the uncoupling tool (bamboo skewer) to throw the slide switch, but it's still big & sturdy enough that a fingertip/nail can throw it fine.

Careful application of NeoLube on all shiny parts really helps the slide switch disappear:



I still need to go back and do a little touch up ground cover, and I'm thinking about ways to make it look less slide switch and more turnout switch stand, but all in all very happy with the new look (and POWERED FROGS!!!!!!!! WOOT!).

You can see the improvement over the Caboose Catapults already:





One down, 13 more to go!

Thanks for looking.

[mcfunkeymonkey]

Finished an HO build for a client, got a "real" job, cleaned up (but not out) the garage/workbench, so getting back into my own model railroad projects.
Not expecting any more space anytime soon, so working to replace the oversized Caboose Industries "Catapults" with SparkFun slide switches.
Not only smaller & thus better for photos, but also power frogs, which increases running reliability 20000000%.
Which is worth the kabillion hours installing them.



Compare with the Catapults:



[Slide switch at lower right]

So finished installing all the slide switches on the right side of the shelf layout:



And just applying some NeoLube helps the slide switch loose its shine & blend in, even before scenicking.
[Compare NeoLubed left with au natural right]

But once all the slide switches were installed on the right side, it was a good excuse to run some trains & share some video:



A quick video, so pardon the janky light & whatnot.
Just happy to be working on the railroad again.
And spreading the gospel of powered frogs & slide switches.
Cheers!

Thanks for looking.

[wildecoupe]

They definitely look better! With the added benefit of powered frogs. I guess with the turnouts being N scale, these switches have enough travel to move the points fully? Love this little layout. Gives me some ideas for mine. Love your work!

[mcfunkeymonkey]

Thanks for the kind words!

Yes, both the SparkFun slide switches I used & the AdaFruit have a travel almost exact for N scale turnouts.
(So you don't have to put the Z-bend in the wire)

I handlay my turnouts, which allows for a little wiggle room adjusting the throw distance by repositioning the points, but I and others have used these on Atlas C55 turnouts as well and they work great.

The AdaFruit have the added benefit of having a little "click" that holds the toggle in thrown position. The AdaFruit are slightly longer & wider than the SparkFun, so I wanted to use the smaller SparkFun ones on this layout, given the tight spaces already existing.

On future layouts I'll probably use the AdaFruit, as any mechanism to hold the toggle/points more secure is better over the long run.

[mcfunkeymonkey]

Thanks for the kind words.

So I finished installing the 7 slide switches on the right side (the "top" of the layout when folded into a box for travel), & I should have made a video then, as that side was easy!
The turnout I used for making the "How To" video turned out to be the most difficult (at the edge, so support material underneath):



& everything went wrong every time the camera started rolling (of course), but I think I got enough to convey both how to install slide switches as well as why it's important to have powered frogs for better ops.

At the very least, the slide switches are more N scale photo phriendly than the Caboose "Catapults":



[At least they will be after I scenic around them!]
And slide switches power the frogs, which is 20-kabillion-times more important to smooth, happy model railroading than almost anything else.

So here's the "How To" video showing how to install SparkFun slide switches https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9609 for turnout control:

If you're installing on pink foam then cut out a 0.030 / 0.040 styrene rectangle frame that slips over the slide switch, then secure the styrene frame to the foam.

Hope this helps improve ops on your layout.
Thanks for looking!

[mcfunkeymonkey]

Apparently spray tacky doesn't hold up over 4 years:



So I re-glued that.

Back to the slide switches!
Here's a size comparison between the larger Radio Shack ones (with flanges) & the SparkFun slide switches I used for this project:



I think they're too big for N scale, but many people have used them successfully, and with quality scenicking they're not as intrusive as the Caboose Catapults I'm replacing.
I'm using the small SparkFun due to the pre-existing slim spaces between already installed turnouts & track.
I would rather use the AdaFruit ones (on left, SparkFun on right):



So I installed one at the back to try it out:



[Haven't connected brass rods to throwbars yet--that will be after family lunch while watching GSWarriors beat the Cavs again]

Here's a close up for size comparison:



Like I've said before, the AdaFruit are a big larger, but very well constructed, have longer terminals, & have a "click" at end of each travel to hold toggle (& thus points) more firmly in place.
Will be using AdaFruit on my next projects!

Alrighty: kids have finished opening presents, so it's off to lunch at parents' place!
Mother-in-law showed up from Japan a couple days ago (surprise!) & staying with us for 6 weeks (surprise!), & my brother appeared from L.A. yesterday, so will be a crowded table 
(Especially with good food!)
Then it's back to work off the meal by workin' on the railroad:



Have a groovy day, everyone.
I'll try to raise a glass to each & every one of you 

[mcfunkeymonkey]

PROTIP: Don't keep the iron long on the brass wire while soldering to PC board throwbar--it melts the slide switch toggle on the other side of the wire! 

Thought I was going to have to excavate a larger hole to accommodate another AdaFruit slide switch, but it "turned out"  I had ONE more SparkFun left over (and with hole already drilled through toggle!).

So ripped out melted slide switch & soldered in new.

Here are all the newly installed slide switches, with NW2 for reference:





Compare with an earlier photo with the Caboose Catapults:



Can still see those Caboose Catapults from scale Space:



So a little bit of ground cover (tomorrow) & those small slide switches will disappear:



World Champ & MVP Steph Curry (who just moved into my town a few feet away from the old SP line) sez after the win over the Cavs: "Powered frogs & smooth slide switches make for a Warrior of a small switching layout!"



Hope everyone had a lovely holiday today (even those in the Cleveland area).
Now on to Boxing Day, with FOUR Premier League matches back-to-back-to-back-to-back!
http://www.livesoccertv.com/schedules/2015-12-26/
All starting at 4:45 PDT, so Merry Christmas to all, & to all a good night!

[mcfunkeymonkey]

Took the "finished" Alameda Belt-in-a-Box to the Great Train Show at Craneway Pavilion in Richmond, CA this past weekend, and set it up on a table that acted as the gate to our Silicon Valley Free-moN layout:



Some lovely sunlight Sunday morning:









With the table being about 36" high, the layout was a big hit with kids (& parents, who could finally take a break from lifting them up to see our 50"-tall Free-moN modules).

A short video of the NW2 in action (in faux 4K!):



Thanks for looking.