Improving the looks of Caboose Industries ground throws

[mobilman44]

Back to the OP's subject..........

I had about two dozen CH ground throws on my HO layout, and they lasted the life of the layout - about 12 years - without ANY malfunctions.  Of course a key to that is getting them properly positioned and secured (I used screws).

Yes, they are oversize, and have that "Delrin sheen" that looks so unrealistic (to me anyway).  So I painted them all with a "flat black, rust color, thinner" wash using Testor's paints.  This made quite a difference, and helped them to blend somewhat into the ground cover. 

  

[Overmod]

maxman

Atlas used to sell a package of nail holes for this purpose  They included a little template that allowed you to position the holes easily.  Came in very handy if you couldn't find your pin vise.

Weren't those the holes that were counted to see how many would fill the Albert Hall?

[snjroy]

mobilman44

Back to the OP's subject..........

I had about two dozen CH ground throws on my HO layout, and they lasted the life of the layout - about 12 years - without ANY malfunctions.  Of course a key to that is getting them properly positioned and secured (I used screws).

Yes, they are oversize, and have that "Delrin sheen" that looks so unrealistic (to me anyway).  So I painted them all with a "flat black, rust color, thinner" wash using Testor's paints.  This made quite a difference, and helped them to blend somewhat into the ground cover. 

  

 

I think the interest in the CH ground throws for me is that it is low tech (easy to install and maintain) and rugged. One thing I did was to ensure that the arm was in the upright position when in the "default" position. In other words, when all is aligned for normal mainline running, the few CH ground throws I have (3) are all in their upright position, which I find a bit more convincing in appearance. I did file the top part a bit to make it thinner, a bit like a piece of tin would look like. I painted mine craftpaint charcoal grey. Sure, the paint wears off but annual touch-ups do the job.

Most people don't even know what the real ones look like anyway .

Simon

[maxman]

snjroy

In other words, when all is aligned for normal mainline running, the few CH ground throws I have (3) are all in their upright position,

Don't you lose 1/2 the available throw when you do this?

[snjroy]

maxman

 

 

snjroy

In other words, when all is aligned for normal mainline running, the few CH ground throws I have (3) are all in their upright position,

 

 

Don't you lose 1/2 the available throw when you do this?

 

Actually, I can do the throw and bring it back almost vertical without engaging the switch. I should say that these are tight switches (I don't know the number...), and it does not take much to throw them.

Simon